RELIGION
Response to “The multihued face of terrorism.” Opinion, April 10
Kudos to Sally Quillian Yates and her peer attorneys for such an enlightening piece. As an African-American Muslim, I don’t face the stigma of being a suspected terrorist as much as my brothers and sisters from foreign countries, but the discrimination I face is multifaceted. I am discriminated against by the racist because I have dark skin, by many African-Americans because I am not Christian and by many immigrant Muslims because I am not foreign.
I applaud America for upholding the freedom of religion upon which this nation was founded. Because of this, I am able to practice my religion freely without any governmental interference here — more so than any other nation in the world.
While we continue to face the challenges of the small-minded who seek to disparage us, we also strive to keep our focus on building institutions for our children to inherit. We are aided by bold leaders of courage such as these U.S. attorneys, who are not seeking followers but whose clear voices seek to shine a bright light on the darkness that seeks to sully the American countenance.
Sabir Kasib Muhammad Sr., Conley
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Keep investigating the Stringer case
Kudos to Bill Rankin for uncovering a true injustice regarding Charles Steven Stringer (“Felon has pals in high places,” Metro, April 10).
As a former chairperson for the Georgia Crime Victim Emergency Fund, I take personal offense that this individual should be allowed out of prison after serving only two years of a combined 15-year sentence. I am all for people getting second chances, but only after they have paid their debt to society. I am even more angered that our own elected officials have the audacity to engage in ex parte communications with the judiciary on behalf of this individual. I do not know who is worse: the convicted felon or the elected officials.
When all is said and done in this case, an investigation needs to be conducted as to how this situation ever occurred in the first place. Hopefully, Rankin will continue his excellent investigation and enlighten the public further.
David H. Moskowitz, Dunwoody
TECHNOLOGY
Create security solutions that don’t use passwords
Regarding “Password overload” (Living, April 10), why aren’t the Silicon Valley cyber-geniuses working out affordable, non-password security solutions? Voice recognition; iris scanning, and electronic fingerprinting are all current technologies. They need only be applied to consumer electronics. Expensive? All electronics are, at first. Let the rich folks buy the first generation. After the improvements are made and economies of scale come into play, the rest of us can afford it.
If people would demand it, the moguls of the e-gadget industry would find a way to deliver this — but most users are too distracted by “cool apps” that let them track the pizza delivery guy, or tell all their friends where they are this instant.
If today’s user mind-set had prevailed when the wheel was invented, only toys would have wheels — and we’d still be moving things on sledges pulled by oxen.
Adrian Fillion, Atlanta
POLITICS
At times, sadly, race is a factor for Obama foes
It’s true: Criticizing the president is a right, a privilege and even a responsibility (“Criticizing our leaders is a right unrelated to race,” Readers write, Opinion, April 10).
Although I like and respect President Barack Obama, there are times when I disagree with him. I don’t think he’s right on every single issue, and I have no problem saying so. However, there are those out there who disagree with him on all things. There are those who have issues with his very existence.
I submit to you that my fellow citizens who can find no agreement with this president are suffering from a severe form of racism. They’d never admit it publicly and they don’t have to, but in my mind it’s about racism — just as sure as the sky is blue. It’s a painful truth; its a shame, and it’s disgusting.
Eric Pearson, Atlanta
SOCIAL SECURITY
Put U.S. lawmakers in same boat as rest of us
Congress needs to be part of the solution, especially as it applies to Social Security and Medicare. They speak about solutions that apply to everyone but themselves because they have their own guaranteed, well-paying pension plans that everyday Americans don’t.
If Congress is serious about solving the entitlement programs problems, let them take the first step: give up the golden parachute plans and be in the same plans as the rest of us. The situation as it is now is like having the fox guard the hen house. Since the laws don’t apply to them, they will make up any plan because it doesn’t affect them.
Enough with their phony words, promises and actions. I suggest that they make changes — or voters will make changes in 2012, as they did in 2010.
Don Memberg, Atlanta
SOCIETY
Demographics change, but truths stay the same
As we contemplate the racial (and other demographic) changes in our country that the census has revealed, we need to remember that the most important thing is not the color of our skins — but the content of our characters.
David Lawson, Decatur
