Don’t portray bipolar as evil or dangerous
As a professional counselor helping people with a bipolar diagnosis, I found “Doctor points to bipolar disorder” (Metro, March 2) highly offensive. Those diagnosed with bipolar disorder do not have a character flaw or suffer from a moral weakness, but a chemical imbalance which leads to a lifelong battle. When properly treated, those diagnosed can lead healthy and productive lives. They are not a threat to society. I hope the AJC would write articles based on the achievements and positive outcomes for the thousands who live with bipolar disorder. They bring creativity and color to our lives and are represented in all areas of society. They create jobs, music, art, books and movies. They should be given the opportunity to show another side of bipolar disorder and its positive impact on our lives.
Vilda S. Brannen, Founder, Clinical Director, Trillium Springs Counseling
It’s silly to deny that Luckovich skews left
A reader recently opined that the AJC was wrong in adding the “From the right” cartoon. He stated Mike Luckovich hits a middle ground and skewers absurdities on both sides (“‘From the right’ addition just wrong,” Readers write, Opinion, March 5). Show me how many cartoons Luckovich has presented lambasting a Democrat (or the president) this year. I bet there are dozens on Republican candidates. The reader wants to know if there are plans for adding a progressive, liberal comic. The AJC has one already: Mike Luckovich.
John O’Donnell, Cumming
Legislators fixated on a divisive slogan
In the news, I ran across the recent frothing over the “In God We Trust” stickers. I am glad members of the Senate have time to waste debating a sticker on a license plate instead of tending to important business. I am shocked that the Revenue Department was so callous as to not include “In Allah We Trust,” “In ? We Trust” and “In Nobody We Trust” (as well as others), to ensure that others can respect their deities (or lack thereof) on their license plates.
Jason Kilpatrick, Kennesaw
Officials’ dumb ideas make driving riskier
On a recent weekend, I drove up I-85 to South Carolina. I noted two things about HOT lanes. The car fee varied from 2 to 4 cents, and I saw zero cars (or one car) using the HOT lane from beginning to end. Taxpaying drivers who paid for the roads had to make their way up I-85 in five lanes instead of six. Each driver was placed at greater risk due to greater vehicle density. Isn’t one objective of government protection of the people? As it currently functions, the HOT lane (and the HOV lanes) are another government social engineering project that are a mistake. At a minimum, let’s shut the thing off on weekends.
Allen Buckley, Smyrna
