This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015

Against Zebulon development

This is to respectfully state my opposition to the upcoming rezoning application submitted by a local developer who subsequently plans to build the Lofts at Zebulon apartment complex in north Macon.

To build a group of four-story apartment buildings and a number of restaurants on a small tract of land surrounded on three sides by single family residential dwellings defies all logic, sound wisdom and common sense. The project appears to be all about greed and deception and a total disregard for the peace, tranquility and homogeneity of a long-established neighborhood.

Moreover, there are publc safety concerns that have not been adequately addressed or anticipated. The volume of traffic during the peak hours on Zebulon Road is already restrictive and hazardous for elementary school children, residents and commuters. Adding another traffic signal, as proposed by the developer, will certainly not facilitate or control the increased volume of traffic to the already congested area.

If this were an issue of eminent domain that would stand to benefit the entire community, I would not be opposed to progress. However, this is an attempt at "spot zoning" for the sole purpose, interest and benefit of a developer who has not considered the long-term implications to the neighborhood and community at large.

I would hope that the Planning and Zoning Commission after careful deliberation and study disapproves this entire proposal. To do otherwise would speak volumes to other subdivisions and neighborhoods across our community. Hopefully, our fabric of government charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the "quality of life" of its citizens will do the right thing and prevail on this matter.

-- John Vasquez Sr.

Macon

Always critical Shanks

When will Bill Shanks quit finding fault with Georgia football? Last week he criticized them for not getting rid of Mark Richt. This week he criticized them for announcing that Richt's departure was by a "mutual agreement to part ways." That was the way Richt wanted it, or it wouldn't have been said. And now Shanks thinks that the new coach, Kirby Smart, needs to be given "complete autonomy with this football program" to the same extent that Nick Saban has. Even Saban didn't get "complete autonomy" during his first year at Alabama. Georgia football needs a lot of things, but more advice from Bill Shanks is not one of them.

-- Charlie Adams

Fort Valley

Good Sunday read

I buy the Sunday paper but peruse the other issues quickly at work from my employer's copy in the break room. I must admit the one feature I never miss is the comics. One or more of them always makes me smile. I read them in the same order every issue. Doonesbury is always last; it makes me think and tests my knowledge of current topics. Most of the time, I understand the joke. Viewpoints usually only gets a quick visit, because the past few years it mostly scares me, but today it was a little uplifting in letting me know I am not as alone in my thinking as I thought. I identified strongly with Bob Carnot's somewhat foreboding observations on "Trump times" and Bill Ferguson's treatise on human devolution. Donald Trump reminds me of the popular drunk at the office party. He is the center of attention, entertaining, telling all the great tales, insulting rivals and complementing choices of neckties, buying drinks, wowing the ladies, but when it's time to go, you definitely don't want him driving you home.

For a while now Dr. Bill Cummings has had kind of a highbrow running word battle with other learned men above my intellectual and theological level about who is the better Christian, and today Dr. 'C' countered with an honest practical Christian's playbook that hit close to home. Then Charles Richardson reiterated some of my darker concerns of the current mood of "the people" that I hope won't trump the Constitution. So all in all it was a good day for The Telegraph, and then to top it off, Viewpoints printed a Mercer fan's complaint of the lack of press coverage of Mercer men's basketball team. I think this current team will force a change to that. They are very exciting and at 8-1, I think they are destined to perform great deeds on the court. Their next home game is Jan. 2. Maconites should go see this team for themselves. During a long upcoming road trip, they will play Auburn, Arkansas and Ohio State before coming back to Georgia at Kennesaw State. Then things get serious with conference games the rest of the way to the NCAA tourney, I predict.

-- Robert Hadden

Lizella

GI Jane -- combat ready?

In a historic decision, the military has been directed to open up all military combat jobs to women ending a decades-long ban against them serving in front-line units. I can't speak for the other services, but the Marine Corps should've been exempted from allowing women to serve in combat positions. However, in view of the final decision in this regard, the Corps should be allowed to integrate women into boot camp programs with male Marines and that traditional boot camp training should in no way be altered or watered down to accommodate them. The fighting capability of Marines during war should be second to no enemy we face on the battlefield, and our potential adversaries must clearly know this.

Are we ready to put women in the ring with the toughest male fighters? If not, we need to rethink potential roles women should play in combat. Hand-to-hand combat is sometimes required during the course of war. Personally, I would rather put my uniform back on rather than see my daughter in combat.

I doubt very seriously that the average female recruit could lift another recruit on he shoulder (fireman carry) and run for more than 200 yards; however, I am very confident that there are many "GI Janes" who could probably accomplish such a feat with ease, but we're talking about the average female, 145 pounds.

If boot camp remains as it is and it should, you can anticipate a high degree of discharges due to the physical and mental challenges all Marines must endure to earn the title Marine. Lastly, I am 100 percent for any woman serving in combat if they met the physical and mental challenge inherent in boot camp, if they're able to demonstrate what it takes and make it through the extremely arduous training, they would deserve the right to be called Marine and declared combat ready.

-- John Haugabrook

Warner Robins

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 8:14 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 ."