This is Viewpoints for Monday, Feb. 1, 2016
Sloppy caption
The Times of London ran a photo of Naftali Bennett (an Israeli politician) at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The caption included, "... Judaism [sic] holiest site, during a tour in Jerusalem's old city."
The Times subsequently amended the caption. It eliminated "... Judaism [sic] holiest site." It now reads: "Naftali Bennett visits the Western Wall during a tour in Jerusalem's old city."
The assumption that the Western Wall is Judaism's holiest site is a common error. It appears in all too many media outlets. The Western Wall is not the holiest site in Judaism. The holiest site is where Solomon's Temple stood on the top of the Temple Mount and right now, there's a mosque on that very spot. Jews are not permitted to pray "on top." The base of the Western Wall is the nearest Jews can approach their holiest site for prayer. Fifty feet up and a 100 feet to the East. That's where Solomon's Temple stood and that's where Nehemiah built the second temple, and where Herod reconstructed it.
Aside from the caption being factually inaccurate, it is important to ensure that the press present correct and accurate information. Israel's enemies are trying to delegitimize the Jewish connection to Palestine, to Jerusalem, and especially to the Temple Mount. Relocating our "holiest site" from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the wall supports their lie. Give Israel a break.
— Hill Kaplan
Macon
Problems ignored
For decades knowledge of our "dump" has been as toxic as our inability to deal with racism. Our leaders sadly are seemingly always putting the wagon before the horse. The millions of dollars spent connecting Mercer with downtown might well be defaced in order to deal with our antiquated and deplorable sewer system. As stated before, while downtown prospered, the rest of the county suffered.
Bass Road is a primary connector that is far more important than Forest Hill Road. (Does anyone know who oversaw the contract surrounding Forest Hill Road's nightmarish delays. Were there no penalties for failures?) The traffic is and was more extreme. We went months without pot holes being filled or roadways cut.
Now that our leaders are fighting for power over personnel termination rights, hopefully the first to be removed will be the individuals managing the ill-conceived waste and garbage programs. (They just raised our fees, too). Like others, I have limbs sitting for over a month. Remember, the money they (commissioners and mayor) are spending are our tax dollars.
— Joe Hubbard
Macon
Bombs versus guns
When I responded to Frank Gadbois' letter on gun control it wasn't my intention to get into a war of words with every self-anointed intellectual who chose to disagree with me. But the response from Ross C. Hardy requires a reply.
Hardy' statement that I implied all terrorists are left-wing nut jobs is a flat out lie. I never mentioned terrorists in my letter. That was strictly a fabrication he used to throw in the names of three horrible criminals. Timothy McVeigh and Eric Rudolph used bombs to commit their crimes. Gun control would not have stopped them. Robert Dear, a man with a long criminal history and mental problems did use a gun in his attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic, but gun control laws wouldn't have stopped him either.
His rambling account of gun ownership, recreational shooting and his evolving opinion of the Republican Party are off subject. As to his offer to contribute $25 to my favorite charity, that's real cute.
I seldom write to the editor and twice in one month is enough to last me for a long time. But I will continue to read the contributions of others, both the intelligent and the insane.
— Bill Copley
Gray
Weapons of choice
I realize Ross Hardy was attempting to comment on two different subjects in his most recent letter. But I think he should try sticking to one next time. Because in his listing of "left-wing nut jobs," he mentioned two people, Eric Rudolph and Timothy McVeigh, who had no problems killing and injuring people without firing a single shot. Or to put it in modern terms, defends gun control by mentioning people who didn't use guns for terrorism.
— Dave Whitaker
Danville
More investigations
Both Terry Thompson and Mike Smith made reference to Hillary Clinton's Benghazi in their letters. They made reference to her infamous statements. "What difference does it make?' "Was it because of a protest or was it ... guys out for a walk who decided to kill some Americans?" We now know Hillary emailed her daughter and told her it was a terrorist attack.
I am not a conspiracy theorist. There was a reason why the ambassador was in Benghazi and why the consulate was attacked. It is obvious the administration does not want us to know what really happened. I am not going to speculate. This is a good example that the administration's cover-up is much worst than the real events.
This is the same deceptive policy the administration is using to cover-up the Fast and Furious gun swap with the Mexican drug cartels. Some of the guns that were part of this foolish scheme are being recovered and some were used in the commission of crimes. One was used to kill a Border Patrol officer. Congress has requested documents but the administration is not providing them. The same tactics are being used to withhold requested documentation in the IRS, VA and email scandals.
Congressional hearings are one way to obtain information. But if the requested data is not provided, Congress should request the FBI to conduct an investigation to determine if any crimes were committed, either by commission or omission. Congress could offer immunity to those who testify and their testimony identifies those who committed a crime. I believe this is the only way we will ever learn the truth when a questionable event occurs and the administration is not forthcoming with facts.
— Jim Costello
Perry
This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 8:06 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, Feb. 1, 2016 ."