REAL ESTATE
Response to “Millionaire sheds knickknacks.” Metro, Aug. 22
The Dean Gardens manse brings to mind the old adage about “more money than sense.” The fact that Michael Jackson expressed passing interest in buying this property speaks volumes about questions of taste — Neverland East, perhaps? And now Tyler Perry is in the picture to buy it, tear it down, and replace it with an environmentally friendly concrete house. The next chapter in this ongoing fiasco should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.
Bob Eberwein, Atlanta
POLITICS
Voters are better-served by self-critical leaders
Sen. Johnny Isakson is quoted as saying, “Having a politician measure their own success is one of the most self-serving things you can do” (“Numbers tell what lawmakers do, don’t,” News, Aug. 22). If politicians don’t measure their own success, voters are left with only the distorted campaign rhetoric and advertising to judge. Politicians ought to be required to assess their “success” against their campaign promises; their agendas coming into office, their legislative agendas, etc.
Private sector employees, and even government employees, are required to assess their own annual goals — why not politicians? Campaign money assures that only the privileged few (including corporations) who have the extra disposable income get access to “speak” to the politicians. The candidates and politicians need to speak to the voters more directly, transparently and honestly.
Measuring their own effectiveness and success, and communicating it to the voters, will go a long way toward giving the voters the information they need to make good decisions on voting day. The AJC is to be applauded for this article.
Bill Mackinnon, Atlanta
MEDIA
For some, Perdue’s letter a swing and a miss
If anyone still wonders why Georgia ranks among the lowest in education, witness Gov. Sonny Perdue’s letter to the editor (“Girls’ sports deserves better from the AJC,” “Readers write,” Opinion, Aug. 22).
Governor, I suggest you spend more time reading the front page of the newspaper, rather than the sports section. There are much more pressing issues in Georgia that require attention (especially education). Softball (or any other sport, for that matter) should be last on your list of worries.
Georgians deserve better from their governor.
Karen Murphree, Atlanta
Consider the news carefully, objectively
Anyone who tries to stay informed today must face bad news. What makes this worse is that many information sources seek power by deliberately using information (and, sometimes, misinformation) to create fear and hatred.
Creating fear and hatred wins audiences for radio and television pseudo-journalists. Creating fear and hatred wins votes for many politicians. The Internet allows fear and hatred to be spread instantly and widely. All of this leads us to become increasingly hostile and irrational.
Let’s reject the deplorable tactics of fear-mongers and hate-mongers. Let’s consider the news carefully and objectively, then react with a positive course of action. Remember, “It is better to light a single candle ...” Let’s light candles.
Bill Fokes, Braselton
SOCIETY
Sherrod has a job — milking newfound fame
Did anyone actually think Shirley Sherrod was going to accept the job being offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture? To do that, she would have to get down off the victim’s chair and step out of the spotlight — an almost impossible task for a bureaucrat who, before this incident, was almost invisible to the general public.
There was a line in the movie “Casablanca” that went something like, “Yesterday they were just two German clerks. Today they’re the honored dead.”
To paraphrase, why would Sherrod return to being just another bureaucrat when today she is the honored victim?
Michael S. Anderson, McDonough
RELIGION
Founding Fathers never saw this coming
Regarding New York’s proposed Muslim community center: Freedom of religion is a great right — one that needs to be underscored and celebrated constantly. Our Founders believed every individual should be able to hold that right. They had seen this denied in their countries, so that was the one put forward under the First Amendment.
Little did the Founders dream that religions would later come with fuzzy definitions. We now see criminals who demand their “religions” be recognized in prison. We see people like Charles Manson practice a cult religion. We hear stories of parents killing their children in the name of religion.
Never in their wildest dreams would the Founders have envisioned a segment of a religion whose purpose was to dominate the world. Never would they have allowed such a group the freedom to dominate all other religions. That would be in direct opposition to the First Amendment.
If we are to honor that freedom of religion, we must make certain no one else’s rights are trampled or are made subservient. Perhaps there should be an asterisk beside that famous amendment referring to the word “sensible.”
Lyle M. Schroeder, Cumming
