This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015
Apology
As one Macon citizen and Christian, and I am sure I speak for thousands of others. I want to apologize to our Middle Georgia Muslim community for the vandalizing of the Islamic Center of Macon this past weekend. I hope I am wrong, but my guess is that if this had been First Presbyterian Church, Mulberry Street Methodist Church or my wonderful church, The First Baptist Church of Christ, the news report would have claimed headlines on the front page. Hopefully, our good law enforcement folk will apprehend the frightened people who shamed us all.
— Walter B. Shurden
Macon
Homegrown terrorism
This week, a child in our community was gunned down in a hail of bullets while she sat in her home. She is one of over 500 American children killed by gun violence since the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre three years ago. Terrorists killed 14 peopled in San Bernardino. But since that day less than two weeks ago, nearly 100 times as many Americans — 1,200 — have died in gun violence.
Politicians and demagogues distract us with talk of foreign terrorism, which has resulted in the deaths of 3,400 Americans — most on one terrible day 14 years ago. But, they lack the courage to confront the real terrorism that threatens America — the terrorism of gun violence.
Gun violence is a brand of terrorism that slaughters 88 Americans a day, butchers over 30,000 Americans every year, and has massacred over 400,000 Americans since September 11, 2001. It is a brand of terrorism that has killed more Americans in the last 14 years than all American combat deaths since the Civil War. Even ISIS terrorists might balk in horror at the idea of causing such bloodshed.
Americans must face the facts. Our very way of life is threatened. But the threat is not foreign terrorism. It is the horrific carnage caused by gun violence. Whether our political leaders admit it or not, America is at war with the terrorism of gun violence and we are losing very, very badly.
Every bullet-riddled body rushed to the hospital and every family, neighborhood and community terrorized by gun violence is a reminder of how badly we are losing the real war on terrorism.
— Brad Belo
Macon
Country of immigrants?
It makes absolutely no difference where your heritage roots rest. Any people such as Asian-American, African-American, Hispanic-American, European-American or any so-called hyphenated American, except for perhaps Native American. You choose to be a American and if you wish to hold on to another heritage, you should get out of the United States. We may be a country of immigrants, but we are immigrants who, over 200 years ago founded this country and started our own heritage.
In the United States of America we sing "God Bless America," we say "The Pledge of Allegiance," and "In God We Trust" is our motto. We celebrate Christmas as a day commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and each and every one of us Americans are free to say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah without the persecution of some arrogant political bureaucrat who is afraid to stand up for our founding principles. Additionally, some misguided governmental employer, nor any employer can dictate how you wish to express the festive season.
We are a Christian nation founded on Judeo-Christian principals. And in 1789, this nation, as a new Christian nation, was dedicated to God by George Washington in the city of New York.
Lastly: Anyone who desecrates our flag should be considered a potential enemy. Anyone serving or has served in the military took an oath to protect this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Think about that if you consider desecrating the flag.
— Gary McCall
Warner Robins
Who are the terrorists?
H.M. Hughes' letter accusing Jews of being terrorist. I wonder if he's really thought about that statement a little bit. Jews have lost half of their people to out- right slaughter. For the past 3,000 years almost every nation in the world has condemned or killed the Jews. Look what Hitler did in the 1940s. The U.S. sent a boat load of Jews back to the death camps in Germany.
I guess Hughes would call police terrorist, too. Don't we give them guns and the power of life and death over the bad guys who try to harm others. Who attacks first? Not the Jews. Even today, young thugs are killing Jews on the street. Don't Jews have the right to defend themselves? Or should we let the Muslim terrorist just kill Jews for sport?
The terrorists are using religion to kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. Are we to let ISIS kill in the name of Allah? It is necessary to give weapons to people who just want to live in peace.
That is part of our Second Amendment. Freedom means we have to fight back or live in bondage and die.
— Brian T. Reid Sr.
Gray
Top secret clearance
Why is it legitimate for President Barack Obama to demand "background checks" for legal gun buyers when he's never passed one himself? When he releases all his records (college, passports, name changes, Social Security, Selective Service enrollment, etc.), I'll be more receptive to his demands for more information on citizens like me.
— John Brogden
Warner Robins
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 9:46 PM.