Cartoonist’s pen should take swipe at Islam, too
Dear Mike Luckovich:
This seems like it would be a great time to use your wit and courage to draw a degrading cartoon of Muhammad to show the Islamic terrorists that you don’t fear them. Just act like they hold conservative or religious values. That should make it easy for you. As we all know, Dick Cheney or George Bush could’ve swooped you up off the street and waterboarded you or taken away your crayons at anytime but you held your ground and stood tall for freedom of speech. Come on Mike, open your box of crayons and make us all proud.
EDGAR CLIFTON, LAWRENCEVILLE
Killers are notorious fringe in Islam
Every faith has its notorious fringe, but the extremists/terrorists who call themselves “Muslims” have outclassed them all in recent years. And now there is the latest monstrosity in Paris. Regardless of their case against the Paris magazine, there is no religious basis whatsoever for their deeds. Indeed, the massive condemnation march in Paris included scores of Muslims as well, and Imams of mosques, in France, in Europe, in the U.S.A., and elsewhere have strongly condemned these murderous criminals.
Similarly, numerous Islamic organizations/leaders in the USA and around the world have issued strong condemnations. While we cannot pretend to represent all Muslims in this area, we believe all would strongly condemn such acts of terrorism. Further, it might be noted that it is not enough simply to condemn such extremism. We as individuals must seek out those who promote or condone extremist narratives that encourage such dastardly acts.
A slight ray of hope: there is the younger generation of future Muslim leaders, who are maturing in open societies and are exposed to the true spirit of Islam, which categorically opposes terrorism and killing of the innocents.
Y. KHALID SIDDIQ, ATLANTA, and S.M. GHAZANFAR, ACWORTH
Hyperbole around water rule
U.S. Sen Johnny Isakson’s statement in “Spending bill is ‘first volley’ in water fight between farmers, EPA” (News, Dec. 23) that the “EPA would be able to ‘shut down every farm and every construction project in the state of Georgia …’ ” under the pending Clean Water Act rulemaking is flat-out wrong. The rulemaking is solely intended to clarify which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act. The Act’s protections are crucial for the millions of Georgians who depend on small streams as the source of their drinking water.
Only three percent more waters will be covered than are covered now. The rule would actually regulate fewer ditches because ditches dug through dry lands would no longer be regulated. The rule would not give any government agency additional powers over farms. Indeed, farmers and developers were among the many stakeholders who have demanded a clearer rule. Lastly, the rule preserves all existing exemptions for farming.
How this rule could be used to shut down farms and construction projects is a mystery — one never explained by the special interests that continue to use inaccurate and inflammatory talking points like this.
Everyone who depends on clean water should support the commonsense clarifications that this proposed rule brings, which will save Georgians time and money and strengthen protections for our rivers and streams.
JULIET COHEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER
