READERS WRITE

JEFFREY T. COX, DALTON

Congress needs to step up, fix VA fiasco

Kudos to AJC Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Brad Schrade on his illuminating article on this shameful situation, “VA may have purged records,” (News, June 29). Having no connection to any living veteran, I did not think I would feel a personal connection to this story. I was wrong. This article alerted me to the egregious behavior inside the VA, which appears to be caused by pressure from our own government and driven by money.

I am outraged. The very people who put their lives on the line for love of country are being treated in a most contemptible way. I can only imagine the helplessness and frustration they have felt during the past few years as they try to get the medical and psychological treatment they deserve.

To all those members of Congress who are currently consumed by the hysteria of re-election, especially those who over the years have lost touch with reality inside their self-created bubbles of privilege, I want to shout, “Listen up! You are responsible for our wounded and our weary soldiers. Stop your power-grabbing and simply do your jobs!”

I hope all Americans, myself included, will find a way to get Washington to step up and fix this and other pressing problems. Stop the posturing. Now is the time for problem solving.

JOAN PIEDMONTE, MILTON

Those condemning South for slavery need to look again

A couple of points re: the letter writer, “The real crimes of past centuries,” (Readers Write, June 29). When admonishing others about their sins of the past, the writer would do well to first remove the mote from their own eye. Slavery, historically, was practiced throughout early North America. The South was just the last to give it up. It bothers me when those condemning the South for their history of slavery do so while looking down their nose at the South as they ignore their ancestors’ savagery toward the Native Americans. While the South has given up slavery and moves forward, how many in both the South and the North actually seek to rectify the evils perpetrated on Native Americans. I mean, really — their homes and lands were forcibly taken by those who lusted for their land and gold. Then, to add injury to insult, early immigrants to North America forced Native Americans onto government-provided lands called reservations, where even today they still suffer.

WALT FARMER, MCDONOUGH

Hobby Lobby decision damaging on many levels

Last Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that for-profit businesses can opt out of laws that are incompatible with the religious beliefs of the owners. The Hobby Lobby chain had resisted providing insurance coverage for birth control and emergency contraception because they passionately believe that life begins at inception.

Now they don’t have to. It is a dark day for America.

This ruling not only targets women, but it also appears to elevate the concerns of fundamentalist Christianity above those of other religious perspectives. All this is implied by Justice Samuel Alito’s message that the ruling is limited to contraceptives under the health care law. The exemption would not extend to blood transfusions, antidepressants, medications derived from pigs, vaccinations and other treatments that different Christian or non-Christian faiths might object to.

I heartily agree with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg when she says, “The court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield.”

Fair-minded Americans who value women and separation of church and state should not only boycott Hobby Lobby but also the Supreme Court.

REV. ANTHONY MAKAR, SENIOR MINISTER, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF ATLANTA.