LIBYA
Murders of Americans is ‘simply outrageous’
As a Muslim, I strongly condemn the recent, senseless murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
Our beloved Prophet would have never allowed any bloodshed to uphold his honor. Although the film in question was in poor taste (and showed great disrespect to the founder of the second-largest religion in the world), this kind of reaction and loss of innocent life is simply outrageous and uncalled for. My thoughts and prayers go to the families of the deceased.
Libya is a politically unstable nation. My hope is that President Barack Obama and the Libyan leadership will work together to find those responsible for this incident, and to avoid any future episodes. I also hope that our government will keep a closer eye on extremist minds in America who are working to spread hate and disorder.
SAIMA AHMAD, SUWANEE
ELECTION 2012
Please exercise your right to vote
This election could be one of the most important in our history. Who we choose to be our president could have a dramatic impact on our daily lives, and could mean huge changes in the laws. If the following things are important to you, please find out where your candidate stands on these issues.
Medicare as we know it could be replaced with a voucher program. Social Security could be “privatized.”
Voting in America could become much more difficult for millions of Americans. Some want to change the laws to make it harder to vote.
A woman’s right to control her own health care and family decisions could be taken away and given to the government.
We could face even more war, and more money would be spent on defense (instead of on education and health care here at home).
A few billionaires could buy our elections if our Supreme Court continues to allow huge amounts of money to flow into campaigns unchecked. Who is on this court matters a great deal.
We need to remember that people fought and died for the right to vote. When only a few vote, only a few decide for the rest of us. Please exercise your hard-won right to vote.
FAYE GRIFFIN, ELLIJAY
TAX CUTS
Pay down deficit, keep essential services
I keep hearing how tax cuts ( particularly those for business owners and wealthy folks) will stimulate the economy and create a plethora of jobs.
After experiencing the result of years of George Bush-era tax cuts, I can’t help wondering where all the jobs are that they were supposed to create — China? And what happened to the robust economy that we had before the tax cuts? Maybe it is time that we do away with tax cuts, start paying down the deficit, and stop slashing essential services — like public education.
JEAN REBER, DULUTH
