This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015
We love you
Dear Muslims in Macon-Bibb County, I am a 63-year-old man of European descent (Scotch/Irish). I was born in Georgia and have lived here my entire life. I was brought up in an evangelical church. I didn't know anyone my age who didn't look like me until I was 18. And, I need to tell you something. I don't hate you. In fact, I love you and am happy you are my neighbors. And, I believe there a lot of folks like me in our community who feel the same way.
— John Chandler
Macon
Our heritage
On Thursday, Gary McCall said "if you wish to hold on to another heritage, you should get out of the United States," and that "In God We Trust is our motto." He's right about that last part, but I happen to like the one it replaced: "E Pluribus Unum," or "Out of Many One." McCall might not believe it, but we are made stronger as a multicultural nation, not weaker. If he doubts that, he needs look no further than the Constitution, which bears the fingerprints of the Magna Carta, French and English political thinkers and Greek philosophers. How bleak would our country be if our founding fathers had rejected that heritage?
— Ross C. Hardy
Macon
The worst, not the best
We have been saddened by the graffiti that someone wrote on the Islamic Center of Macon, an act of vandalism that can only be viewed as damaging to our community as well as to our country. Responding to evil in one place by engaging in evil in another place only makes things worse.
Having lived and worked for more than three decades in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we know what it is like to be a minority. Welcomed by many, we also on occasion saw examples of discrimination and violence directed against Hindu and Christian minorities. Yet, no matter what the circumstances and no matter what the differences, friendship and peaceful coexistence are both possible and rewarding. We have certainly found this to be true, both in the United States and in Pakistan.
Our friendships with Muslims started in Pakistan and continue to this day, involving people from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. We have Muslim friends here in Macon, have been guests in their homes and have invited them to our home. They enrich our lives and make all of us better people.
Humans everywhere are imperfect. Anger is a universal feeling, and fear of the unknown sometimes leads people to do terrible things. But defacing places of worship and lashing out with hatred and anger against those who have nothing to do with violence committed elsewhere is the worst possible way to respond, representing the worst rather than the best of what our country and our community should be about.
— Bettie R. and Hubert F. Addleton
Macon
Corruption
America has wallowed in the filth and corruption of career politicians for many years. Some things can't be fixed or patched. It's time to "clean out the barn" and start anew. That includes local, state and federal career politicians. We desperately need people in office with common sense, not political savvy. We have a president who bypasses Congress and writes executive orders to accomplish what he wants. Ten thousand potentially dangerous Syrians are coming to this country to be housed, clothed and fed by our tax dollars while 30,000 veterans are sleeping in the streets. This has to stop. Voters, do not be fooled by the lies that are told. Remember this when you go to vote.
— Louis Kitchens
Gray
Extreme crackdown
Time for a major reality check. As bad as the news streaming from California is, when we look at the data throughout America, our biggest threat is found to be born in America. When the largest income stream is derived from drugs, those individuals involved will stop at nothing to be No. 1. Just last week a local church was possibly used to acquire items to sell to get drugs. They broke out car windows to steal easily sold items. Crack and dozens of other drugs are found throughout Bibb County. Gangs control several areas. We unknowingly have them cruising every subdivision in Macon-Bibb County.
Our jails and prisons have turned into a circus. So crowded, they are constantly seeing the same folks being caught and then released. No room is the message, but there is an answer. Oh, I know the ACLU and dozens of other bleeding heart minority supporters will say no way, but the time for drastic action is way overdue.
The Arizona sheriffs' incarceration system has a very low recidivism rate. Barbed wired areas with outhouses and beans and rice. No TV or cell phones. Work gangs daily. Harsh penalties for tough guys. Pink and yellow uniforms. Cut off all drugs and Playboy magazines. No music. Church every week. Fifty acres adjacent to the swamp with zero chance of escape. We must end every chance of freedom for all criminals now.
— Joe Hubbard
Macon
Come home
Bob Norcott's call for boots on the ground on Sunday was ridiculous. George W. Bush's two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have failed and are failing. Now Norcott calls our president a coward for actually being against boots on the ground in Syria. The citizens of these countries cannot even defend themselves and are on our payrolls. They are untrainable.
Sept. 11 happened because al-Qaeda told us to get our troops out of Saudi Arabia and away from Mecca and we didn't. ISIL wants us to not get involved in Syria. The Russians want us to leave President Assad alone. Syria is a can of worms so we should go home and let these fanatics fight it out.
We have wasted a trillion dollars on the quagmires and sinkholes of Iraq and Afghanistan. Let them kill each other for whatever reasons and bring our soldiers home. Declare victory and cut our losses. Let's use our power by protecting Americans and our country.
— Frank W. Gadbois
Warner Robins
Bogus call registry
The Do Not Call Registry is another worthless piece of government legislation passed by our so-called Republicans and Democrats in Washington. I signed up for the do not call list, and I'm still getting calls. The Federal Trade Act does not protect people against unwanted calls. I have received calls starting at 7:30 a.m. and going until as late as 10:45 p.m.
One has to ask where are all these originating from and why. They originate somewhere in India (they speak very little English, do not know how to pronounce my name and cannot say their own name in English).
My favorite caller tells me my computer is sending error messages that can be fixed by them for a fee (I think not), or I owed for a magazine renewal I did not order. I called the magazine and verified that and told them about the scam. My medical records show I had a bladder sling operation. That's a new one on me and my bladder.
The most annoying are robo calls from people running for office, their wives and staff headquarter starting before polls open and lasting until polls close. Four calls in one hour is just plain abuse of the telephone.
— Rita A. Keller
Macon
Disagree with respect
The recent outpouring of hatred toward our local Muslims really disturbs me. Even more disturbing is that most of the ones expressing such hate probably do not even know a Muslim. I am fortunate to have many as friends. We have worked community projects together. Just as I tell people in other countries not to judge all Americans by the "Ugly Americans," I ask people not to judge all Muslims by the hate-filled radical ones. If we allow these radicals to drive us apart, they win.
Out of the 353 mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2015, 75 assailants were identified, killing 198 people. One was a white female, 34 white males, six Latinos, 30 African-Americans, one Asian-Pacific, one Native American, one Hindu from India (family murder/suicide) and three Muslim (one in Chattanooga). More than one of these was found to have several assault rifles and explosives.
Because my religion is important to me, I understand that their quite different religion is no less important to them. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote: "For though my faith may not be yours and your faith may not be mine, if we are each free to light our own flame, together we can banish some of the darkness of the world."
I firmly believe this value, one of the most important constitutional rights we have, must be upheld. It is part of what makes our country great. We have the right to disagree, but let's disagree with respect and with godly love.
— Betty Taylor
Warner Robins
This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 8:15 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 ."