This is Viewpoints for Friday, Sept. 25, 2015
Bringing focus
It seems that nearly every day the news reports another tragedy where lives are claimed by someone using a gun. From churches, schools, universities and even our home towns, gun violence is an inescapable reality that we live with in the United States. Internalizing this fact urges one to question if gun control advocates have it right, if taking guns away from Americans would stop the violence.
Taking a look back into history tells us that unrelenting gun control will do to firearms what Prohibition did to alcohol. Attempting to eliminate or control the estimated 270-310 million guns in the U.S. is an unrealistic goal that, even if accomplished, would fail to meet expectations.
No matter what control measures are placed upon the manufacturing, distribution and sale of firearms, people will still find a way to get them. The focus and effort needs to be placed upon mitigating gun violence and educating Americans. We need to pour our resources into law enforcement, safety education and cleaning up our culture. We have to stop glorifying violence and promoting physical resolution to simple stresses that come with life. We have to fund mental health institutions to help those with illnesses get treatment. We have to focus on the one squeezing the trigger, not the trigger itself.
— Blake Southerland
Cochran
In a deeper mess
Monday’s article concerning U.S. soldiers having to ignore Afghan allies’ (a term used loosely) abuse of boys, horrified me. When two soldiers tried to intervene they were reprimanded. One has left the service, the other will be asked to retire.
U.S. policy of nonintervention is justified by the excuse that “it is intended to maintain good relations with the Afghan police and militia units to fight the Taliban.” I would like to ask any person with any sense of morality exactly how to maintain good relations with anyone who they knew acted with such malice. Hearing the screams of these boys at night, having to try to sleep and maintain their sanity, is just too much to ask of anyone, soldiers included. Could you be cordial and amiable and train someone who you knew was so abusive?
If this is a matter of “Afghan criminal law” and our soldiers’ hands are tied, my question is why are we training criminals and giving them guns? This policy has been repeated many times by the United States Government, with terrible results. This is absurdity at its highest.
What a shame we are taught as Americans to stand up for those who are mistreated and abused. What a shame Americans are rewarded for heroism, for doing the right thing, the moral thing. Think about what this does to our soldiers in Afghanistan who have no power to intervene when so terrible and inhumane behavior is occurring in plain sight. What would it do to your mind? What does it do to our soldiers? Does it promote good will and love of country? How about cultivating, hatred, anxiety and the other mental and physical problems which will haunt them the rest of their lives.
It’s our men and women we send at our expense. We should demand some humanity from the people we are trying to help. Otherwise we will only be digging ourselves into a deeper mess.
— Terri Frolich
Macon
Do we waste $50,000?
If my emotions had their way I would want the biggest and best baseball complex for Macon that money can buy. Alas, fiscal responsibility won’t allow for that. While perhaps a meager sum, I do not concur with $50,000 being spent for a feasibility study.
In the not so distant past, specific studies with nearly matching results and recommendations have been published for Augusta, Savannah and Columbia, South Carolina. Taking a pages from their playbook should be considered before engaging another study. I do not think for a nanosecond that the results would be much different than what’s currently published. At the end of the day we won’t be any wiser — and we will have wasted 50 grand.
Of note is the comparison of Savannah’s Grayson Stadium and our own Luther Williams Field. The same issues plagued both venues, and due to indecision of Savannah leadership, Columbia, South Carolina, will now be the home of the Sand Gnats.
Here are the test questions: Do we conduct major renovation of Luther Williams Field or go whole hog at the cotton mill location? The history of Luther Williams is not lost on me, I have sat in those hallowed seats while soaking wet from sweat. But after all, this is Macon. When Hell needs heat, they borrow some from us. I also have sat on top of the dugout with my young son in recliners after being selected for best seats in the house — like Ed Grisamore would say, “a Norman Rockwell” moment.
Do we host an independent or an actual affiliate team? The Pine Toppers and the Macon Music were epic failures, while the Peaches, Pirates and Redbirds had actual affiliations.
What can we afford? Major renovations to Luther Williams are likely to exceed the cost of a new venue if the existing studies are any indication. The trend these days is to build a new and exciting venue with all the bells and whistles, maximizing the fan experience.
Whichever course is taken, let’s use the $50,000 for something else — and I’m not talking about those infernal drones, either.
— George L. Fisher
Macon
Suggestions for the pope
Now that the pope has arrived in the United States, I have an idea that was truly heaven sent. The pope is one of the elitists who likes to go around the globe and tell other people and countries what they need to do or not do.
Keeping with this theme, I suggest the pope load up “the Pope One” airplane with illegals who have entered this country illegally as well as locate the largest ship he can find and scour the Mediterranean Sea for refugees seeking asylum. I’m sure they will truly love Vatican City and all the freebies that go along with refuge there.
I’m confident he can convert Muslims to Christianity but then they would become infidels per the Koran and be subject to retribution and ultimately death for converting. By the way, he is a big believer in climate change so I wonder what is the carbon footprint of “Pope One?” Gee, what’s a pope to do?
— Michael Snipes
Kathleen
A second chance
I’m a ball player at the age of 31 who played at a two-year college and gave it up but shouldn’t have. I call it wasted talent. I guess what I’m saying is that I think they should have open tryouts for the new team. Maybe give those of us who should have tried a little harder a opportunity. Just saying.
— Lance Hancock
Sandersville
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 9:30 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 ."