Letters to the Editor - Try us first April 08 2004

It was extremely interesting to read your article on “extended stays” at Fulton County Jail, as I was there during the same time as John and Kris. Soon after my release, I even wrote a letter to Georgia’s attorney general, carbon-copying several other government officials. Thus far, no response whatsoever.

They say that they are overcrowded and in need of a larger budget when it is the deputies that are employed there who are actually creating and sustaining the problem.

I thought about sending Creative Loafing a copy of the letter, but I thought I’d at least give my elected officials a chance to make an effort. I know — what color is the sky in my world?!? I guess Creative Loafing is the only organization that gives a rip. Maybe I should just send my tax dollars to you!

-- Alan Powell, Atlanta


br>?In depth
You published the best article on theonomy I have ever seen (“America the Theocracy,” March 25).

I never thought of Creative Loafing as a newspaper that would write anything more than fluff.

-- Randi St.Denis, Roswell


br>?Cancerous growth
Kudos on your insightful cover article “America the Theocracy” (March 25). I, by chance, saw it when my husband and I attended a Religious Liberty seminar (sponsored by the Southern Union of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church) in Charlotte, N.C., recently. It is a fascinating report on the frightening agenda of the Christian Reconstructionists. I hope that some of your investigative insights might get further media attention because I’m convinced that most Americans are totally unaware of the sinister goals of these extremists and their cancerous influence on many mainstream denominations.

Framing American policy in “moral” and “faith-based” terms serves to further marginalize the First Amendment. As pointed out in our seminar, the First Amendment is designed to protect minorities, because democracy is based on majority rule.

-- Glenda G. Hass, Charlotte, N.C.


br>?What’s the difference?
Kudos to John Sugg for his well-researched “America the Theocracy” (March 25). Many dismiss this movement as fringe, and those issuing warnings of its intentions as conspiracy theorists. The Republican Party, in allegiance with these nutcases and their puppets, is well on its way to subverting our little democracy. Why many fail to see the difference between this movement and hostile fundamentalist Islam groups is beyond my comprehension.

-- Russell Tanton, Marietta


br>?Hope it happens
Wow, great piece on Atlanta and our many banana republics (Fishwrapper, “Atlanta’s many banana republics,” March 25). I really liked it, and not just because you used one of my favorite words: balkanization.

Solutions are so difficult to come by in the Atlanta metro area because of so much nepotism and profiteering at taxpayer expense.

Wayne Hill actually is, surprisingly, a bit of a visionary on this issue. I hear he actually proposed the very forward-thinking concept of making Gwinnett County into Gwinnett city. My parents live in those parts and hate the idea. But you think about it, it really makes sense to consolidate, at that level, police services (I think the complex gang problem would be at the very least thwarted more effectively), water, transit, etc. Instead of the Norcross, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, etc., police departments trying to stop gangs, you could have Gwinnett city with its consolidated resources and integrated communications work as one to crack down on gangs. This example is so applicable to Gwinnett’s many other problems.

I don’t think Atlanta is going to ever be able to consolidate on the perfect level. Too much money, too much ego is involved. However, a hybrid approach toward regionalism would be a huge step in the right direction. Consolidation of some sorts would make the taxpayer burden less and effective government more — but then again, this means city workers and their votes would be lost.

The how of it, the problem of too many politicians/businessmen is a toughie. But I think when you come down to it, we are going to have to turn to the state to set things in the right direction. Having the state come in and force a regional approach to a regional collection of city-states is about the only solution. The problem then is can a [Gov. Sonny] Perdue administration produce a forward-thinking approach to our urban problem.

So many problems, so many egos, so much money, so many newcomers that aren’t involved.

I hope it can somehow happen in spite of itself.

-- Jon Avery, Atlanta


br>?Is there an echo?
Try to imagine what it feels like to have the legislative body of your state government tell you the love you have isn’t valid and is in fact so deplorable that the most sacred document of our state must be changed forever to oppose this love. What will it feel like when and if the majority of the voters in the state echo the same condemnation?

-- Tony Johnson, Stone Mountain


br>?Result would have been same
I apologize for continuing on with the “Learning to hit a lick” story (March 4 and 11), but I have to. Everyone is saying poor Falicia. What about the people she killed? It is truly sad she was influenced, but we are all given something called a choice. It still all comes down to her choosing to do this. Also, I’d like to respond to the young lady who said if Falicia had another chance, she would do right. Most people are products of their environment and few can escape that. I’m not saying that it cannot be done, but the reality is most of the time it just does not happen. It is not the grandmother’s fault that this happened. Let’s face it: Falicia’s mind was not stable. Whether it was a Florida pimp or an Atlanta pimp, the result would have still been the same.

-- Sunray Ceasar, Stone Mountain

?Insight
I’m just now getting around to reading Cliff Bostock’s columns (online) from the past few months. Regarding “Legalizing prejudice: How the body becomes a political site ” (Headcase, Feb. 12), I found it refreshing to read a piece on this emotional and inflammatory subject written with a pragmatic approach. If more people could view the world in a clear and intelligent manner, instead of being clouded by learned prejudices, our society would thrive and there truly would be liberty and justice for all. Thanks for your insight.

-- Clifton Plumley, Alpharetta