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Letters to the Editor

We got out. Why others never did

Mandatory evacuation: why didn't they leave? Why didn't the city do something?

New Orleans is a phenomenal city. New Orleans is a poor city. The violence you see on TV is not New Orleans. Do not judge our city by the gangs who destroy and threaten, the gun-wielding insurgents who want to hold our city hostage are not the city of New Orleans. They are a small portion of the wonderful mix of the people who make up our city.

Mandatory evacuation if you had the means. If you had a car, you got out; if you didn't, you stayed.

We got out with our families. We are lucky and we know it. Sunday morning before we drove away, we couldn't find the friend whom Helen pays to stay with her mother on weekdays. She'd run out of cell phone minutes. We still don't know where she is. We hope she got out with her family.

The people who were left behind, the people we've seen being picked off rooftops, or floating by, are the people who make New Orleans breathe each extraordinary breath.

We watch the news and see mothers with sick babies, hungry children, the old people lying in our streets. We rage and we cry at the endless images of desperation. This is not Africa. This is not the insurgency in Baghdad. This is America.

Then we see hope; a man in a rowboat gets a family out of a flooding housing project, a woman squeezes a damp cloth over an elderly lady's face.

The people you see made New Orleans: French, Spanish, African-American, Creole, Irish, German, Italian, Yankee, Cuban, Vietnamese, Honduran (and more.) These people came to New Orleans to build a life and built a culture. They are America.

The people who are left behind couldn't leave their jobs early because they couldn't afford to lose the hours of pay. They don't own cars, they don't have credit cards.

These are the people who work behind the scenes to give magic and memories to visitors. They are our friends. They make your bed when you come for Mardi Gras. They wash the pots, cut the vegetables and share their mamma's recipes with you while you sit in that restaurant in the French Quarter.

A lady Helen works with at a hotel has a great smile and tired eyes. Like many, she works three jobs to send her son to a private Catholic school. She used to hope he would join the army after graduation, then get into college. They lived "down the Ninth Ward" until the waters washed it away.

The people left behind are the thread that holds the fabric of New Orleans together. These are the people who are always left behind. They are the bussers at the Windows of the World on Sept. 11. They are the Irish immigrants who built New Orleans' oldest canals. The levee breach at the 17th Street Canal sent waters rushing over their mass grave and into the heart of our city.

We love our city, we are our city and we've lost a part of ourselves. We got out.

Two weeks in Iraq cost $2.5 billion. $2.5 billion could have rebuilt the vulnerable levies. $2.5 billion equals how many lives?

Look at all of our people. Our city is your city. Our people are your people.

Helen G. Hester and Sara B. Shull

New Orleans, La. (temporarily with friends in Peachtree City, Ga.)

Rebuild New Orleans?

Most, if not all, structures will have to be torn down in New Orleans.

To prevent another disaster of this magnitude, land fill should be used to raise the city higher than sea level before rebuilding it.

Ralph Suchomel

Peachtree City, Ga.

Gas was too high

To the owner of the BP station in Peachtree City, I would like to tell you how ashamed I am of you. I have been a citizen of this city for 15 years and have traded at your station because you are a local owner and I believe in trading with locals.

But on Wednesday, Aug. 31, I found out how much you care about your fellow citizens and loyal customers.

You started raising your gas prices on Wednesday and by Thursday you had raised your price to $3.49 a gallon for regular.

Sir , did you purchase your load of gas on Wednesday at higher prices or did you decide to gouge your friends and neighbors in the name of the all-mighty dollar?

Don Stanley

Peachtree City, Ga.

Mayor: Gas prices seem like gouging

I sincerely hope that our state attorney general is going to look into the extremely sharp price increases of fuel by local retailers.

There is no way that the fuel in the tanks at local retail sites has increased by 80 cents in value in a matter of hours because of the hurricane.

The situation certainly has the feel of price gouging and is reminiscent of the extortion imposed from Florida lumber and hardware dealers during Hurricane Andrew.

If our state law does not consider such practices to be price gouging, our state legislature has a new item on their agenda for the upcoming General Assembly. Taking advantage of people in the midst of a crisis is inexcusable and it should be illegal.

Steve Brown, mayor

Peachtree City, Ga.

Benefit rapper could have been part of droll 'Saturday Night Live' skit

There is an old "Saturday Night Live" skit in which a wealthy white man has hired a black reggae band (headed by Eddie Murphy, of course) to play at a party thrown for all of his wealthy white friends. The band fires up and Murphy begins singing the incendiary line, "Kill de white people. Kill de white people" to a Marley-esque reggae groove. It is an awkward moment for the party attendees, to say the least.

A similar, and equally awkward, moment occurred at a live benefit concert to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The arrogant rapper Kanye West departed from his script and injected his own tirade of racially motivated hate speech.

West was paired off with a lily-white Mike Myers who, as he slowly realized what his companion was saying, looked like a possum caught in headlights.

Despite the utter inappropriateness of hijacking a live benefit show to interject a hateful ideology, the format itself made West's comments absurdly funny, the stuff for another SNL skit (and since Myers is a former cast member, the irony here is rich).

The two were to take turns reading a script about the damage to the levees and resulting destruction of New Orleans. Here's a partial reconstruction:

MYERS: "The landscape of the city has changed dramatically, tragically and perhaps irreversibly. There is now over 25 feet of water where there was once city streets and thriving neighborhoods." [Looks to West for his turn.]

WEST: "I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, "They're looting." You see a white family, it says, "They're looking for food." And, you know, it's been five days because most of the people are black ... America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible ... And they've given them permission to go down and shoot us."

West concludes the bit as though what he had just said was as normal as pie, and looks over to Myers to take his turn. Apparently unable to think of anything else to do, Myers just sticks with the prepared script.

MYERS: (Hesitates) "And subtle, but in many ways even more profoundly devastating, is the lasting damage to the survivors' will to rebuild and remain in the area ..."

To begin his piece with "And subtle ..." as though his words continue West's line of thought, while West's "they're down here to shoot us" was still echoing in the building, is a touch of classic irony.

But then, unbelievably, when Myers finishes his bit, he passes it off to West again, who is just warming up. And before the slow-witted NBC censor realizes what is happening, the self-congratulatory pop star adds this conversation stopper:

WEST: "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

One might be tempted to take on West's outrageous and paranoid allegations. The media has portrayed black families as "looters" and white people as "merely looking for necessities to keep their babies alive"?

I've been a news junkie since before Katrina made landfall, but somehow I missed this. What station is Mr. West tuned into? Is there a White Supremacist cable channel, WKKK, way up there in the 100s?

Indeed, if the National Guard has instructions to shoot armed thugs who are caught raping, pillaging and plundering, then does not West's own assertion that there is license to shoot black people tacitly imply that the culprits are predominantly black?

But G. K. Chesterton once said that it's no use arguing with a madman who thinks that the whole world has conspired against him, or that he is a poached egg. Rather, he just needs fresh air.

Meanwhile, you and I, color-blind as we are, will do what we can to send aid to the hurricane victims.

Mark Linville

Fayetteville, Ga.

F'ville Council, others make it hard to hear at meetings

The recent article regarding the "right or wrong" of using a tape recorder during a public meeting struck a note with me for an entirely different reason: acoustics. Based on the comments and reactions seen and heard after attending a couple of public meetings, this is probably not the only letter written on this particular subject.

As a business owner, there have been several occasions where I have had to attend meetings held in the council chambers. At first, finding it almost impossible to hear comments by those sitting on the dais, I assumed it to be confirmation that my "age-related" hearing loss had truly arrived. However, after observing numerous others (including several young people) leaning forward in their seats straining to hear, I felt slightly better about my own hearing.

However, since these meetings often involve decision-making that affects all of us, it is more than a little irritating and frustrating to hear so very little of the information.

Obviously, the high ceilings and size of the room has something to do with the acoustics. However, I did notice that most of the panel members leaned back in their chairs, away from their microphones. Occasionally someone would lean forward and speak directly and clearly into his/her microphone and the result was so much better.

My compliments to Mr. Eldridge, from Planning and Zoning, for remembering to perform this simple courtesy. Perhaps we need a different meeting hall, a better set-up, better microphones, clearer speaker/amplifier system, or simply a gentle reminder to lean forward and speak loudly and clearly into the existing microphones.

But, just in case I'm wrong, I've scheduled a hearing evaluation.

Nancy Watkin

Peachtree City, Ga.

District voting is most representative of citizens

The issue of district voting for Fayette County appears now and then in this newspaper, as it should. It is interesting to note that proponents of keeping the current at-large system in place share the opinion that going to a system of district voting is nothing more than a racial issue.

With this in mind, let us see how we can take the current system in Fayette County, and take it to the state and the nation to improve matters and the way government represents their constituents.

Let's eliminate the current method by which the United States Senate elects a senator. Using the at-large system as we now have it in Fayette County, there will be 100 candidates on the ballot for all 50 states. When all is said and done, the top 100 vote-getters will be placed in office. No regard to geographical boundary or community of interest is necessary.

Along with this system, you can see where there would be no accountability. It would also be difficult for the voter, should he or she need to talk to "their senator." It would not be a very good system at all. In fact, it would be about the poorest form of representation possible.

So, rather than just take someone's word that our at-large voting system here in Fayette County is best for us, let's look at the other counties in Georgia, other states in this nation, and our own House of Representatives and Senate.

The "racial issue" is nothing more than a smoke screen orchestrated to hide a better form of government, and to keep an entrenched elite of the past in power.

Juan Matute

Peachtree City, Ga.

Writer slams Free Speech editing, PTC Council

Free Speech is certainly one of our most coveted rights. In fact anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I am a strong advocate of free speech.

However, along with that right comes some responsibilities. For example, you can't yell "fire" in a crowded movie theater. You can't make unfounded and slanderous comments and accusations against individuals.

And according to the editors of this paper they will accept "No personal attacks on private persons" in the Free Speech section.

Which makes me wonder what the editors consider last week's Free Speech comment that I am "equivalent to a political venereal disease." Seems pretty much like a "personal attack on a private person."

I hold no public office and am not employed by a public entity. I pretty much fit the definition of "private person."

Oh, I will admit that I have enough courage to sign my letters to the editor. If the editors consider that as defining me as a "public person," then I can now understand why people don't sign letters.

If the editors' goal is to silence anyone who has courage enough to sign letters, then they are certainly accomplishing it. However if their goal is to inspire debate of issues then they need to begin to do their job and edit.

That being said, let me respond to the comments. I was accused of being an "operative" for DirectPac. Sorry, but I am not an "operative" for anyone. The very accusation brings up the idea of CIA, KGB, secret mysterious "spying," etc.

Folks, let's be real. If I were an "operative" trying to "subvert" our way of life, would I actually SIGN a letter? Of course not, I would simply write to "Free Speech" and make all sorts of unfounded, inaccurate accusations.

As for my DirectPac connection that seems so "dubious," sorry, but whoever you are who professes to know so much about me, you are simply wrong. You need to get your facts straight.

I have not been active in DirectPac for about a year due to my job. I am no longer a member of any committee and resigned as "co-chair" quite a while ago.

I have already addressed the "operative" comment and can assure you that my letters to the editor reflect only my opinion and I represent no one else. As for your "personal attack" on me, well, you obviously have no character, dignity nor courage. Let me just leave it at that.

Another anonymous person challenged my comment about the cost of Wi-Fi at the athletics fields and Councilman Rapson's comments.

I'm not sure what your objection is. My exact quote was that Councilman Rapson said, "It will encourage parents to come to the field and watch their children if they can do work while there. Do you really want $8,500 of your tax dollars committed to entice uninterested parents to come participate in their children's lives?"

Sorry, don't see the mention of "watching games." But thank you for pointing out the validity of my statement. As for the entire issue, I believe you simply missed the point.

Obviously all expenditures of tax moneys should be vigorously debated. I certainly respect your right to think this is a "good" expenditure of our limited funds. I happen to think it is another example of lack of fiscal judgment. I agree it is a small amount, but all the "small amounts" add up to a large amount.

I was actively involved with the soccer and baseball associations for many years here. At that time there was around 2,000 soccer members. The associations are not part of the city government and (at least then) are self-supporting.

If they need Wi-Fi for tournaments and parental involvement, then it is simple math to figure out that 2,000 members assessed a mere $5 each is $10,000, well more than the $8,500 needed to supply public Wi-Fi.

Then the tax money could be freed up to go to other projects that would benefit the entire community.

And this brings up the "Gateway Bridge." Again, it would be nice if (whoever you are) you would get involved in city issues instead of simply trying to be "cute" anonymously. It is apparent that you have no knowledge of any of these issues. You would do well to be informed.

The "Gateway Bridge" is NOT being paid for only by "federal funds." In fact the "federal funds" are only a percentage of the bridge. They are around $400,000. We are contributing around $125,000 of our city tax money. This bridge is far from "free."

As the article in the AJC said, even the city staff expects cost overruns. Guess who will pay for those? That's right, city tax money.

And don't forget the purchase of five acres of land for $850,000 (that's $170,000 per acre) for the express purpose of anchoring the "Gateway Bridge."

After paying off the land alone, the "free" bridge will cost the city around $1.2 million. Add our portion of the bridge and we are over $1.3 million for our "free" bridge. And that's without the expected cost overruns.

As for the "federal funds," guess who pays federal taxes to set up these federal funds. That's right, you and me.

Steve Brown promised budgetary responsibility and strong fiscal management when he ran for mayor. These above mentioned items are only the tip of the iceberg. But even these demonstrate how he has failed in this endeavor.

How about using that "federal money" to offset the cost of building the bridge by the railroad tracks? Then we could free up that bridge money to buy a new fire truck.

We are paying around $80,000 per year to buy the property. How many firemen could we hire for $80,000 per year?

How about we free up the Wi-Fi money to improve a portion of the golf cart paths? Or simply to offset the increasing costs of city employee pay and benefit packages, the addition of city employees, the rising cost of operating city vehicles, etc.?

I don't know about you, but I am paying a whole lot more for gasoline. Many of our citizens have taken pay and benefit cuts. Our taxes on our houses have gone up considerably at a time when our simple day-to-day cost of living is also going up.

Since Steve Brown promised, "... raising your property taxes will [be] the last resort and not the first line of defense. No more wasting precious dollars on pet projects," is it really so "subversive" to hold him to that promise?

I would like to point out I am supporting no candidate for mayor or city council at this time. I do not personally know, nor have I met, any of the candidates.

I will be happy to explain my opinion to anyone who is interested. Simply e-mail me and I will send you a copy of Brown's Web site from 2001 and all his promises and let you decide for yourself.

As for the "Free Speech" section, I, for one, am tired of anonymous accusations, slanders, and outright insults. It is time for the editors of this paper to do their jobs and edit these unfounded and unwarranted insults and attacks out.

Truth be told, it is our responsibility to hold our government accountable, but to simply hurl anonymous insults at private individuals only goes to show the true lack of character of some of our citizens. Unfortunately it also reflects on the character of the entire community.

If you want to "debate" any of my comments please feel free to e-mail me.

Jim Stinson

[email protected]

The editor replies: Letter writers and Free Speechers alike make adult choices to enter into public debate about polarizing political and moral issues. Those who willingly step into the public kitchen should not complain about the heat from the public stove. It is not this paper's job to protect the sensitive feelings of participants in the political process.

Questions about PTC Fire Department responses

I recently read the answers to the questions posed by The Citizen to Chief Stony Lohr of the Peachtree City Fire Department. I would like you to get some clarification on a few of them.

#6. The number of personnel needed to change the ISO rating to a 3 is never given.

#7. Of the other cities mentioned, to my knowledge, none of them provide EMS ambulance service to their communities. The ambulances are operated by outside agencies and they merely first respond to the incident.

I would like a comparison of how many people they have responding per fire apparatus. What are the other departments' ISO ratings?

I would also like another question answered. By implementing ESCI's plan labeled A which included automatic reciprocal aid with Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services, how often does the Peachtree City Fire Department foresee equipment and personnel responding to Fayette County and how will this effect the overall operations of the Peachtree City Fire Department and the level of service to the citizens of Peachtree City?

Jeff Felmet

Firefighter Paramedic

Peachtree City, Ga.

Tyrone survey: Make your views known

To the citizens of Tyrone: Mayor Lee and the Town Council recently sent a survey requesting your comments on the master plan for Tyrone, including the site for the new library. Please look at the survey carefully and be aware of the following:

1. The town does own the land at Shamrock Park but the deed has a clause that prohibits its use for anything that is not related to recreation. The Town of Tyrone would need to get the Fayette County Board of Commissioners to approve a change to the current deed.

2. If the park is used for the library and other government buildings, it will be forever lost as a family park. If Tyrone ever decides to build a family park in the future, the costs will be prohibitive.

3. It is obvious from the survey that Mayor Lee and the Town Council support just one of the options and withheld information about their plans from the citizens for months. There are alternative sites that have not been investigated.

Please read the survey carefully and honestly express what you feel would be in the best interest for all the citizens of Tyrone.

Judy Jefferson

Coordinator, The Tyrone Neighborhood Alliance

Tyrone, Ga.

Direct-PAC supports annexing W. Village

In 2006, the newly-elected mayor and the rest of the Peachtree City Council - which could easily have two new members after the upcoming election - will certainly have to address the issue of the West Village annexation early in their four-year terms, probably during the first six months.

For that reason Direct PAC is highlighting it as one of the most important issues during the upcoming political campaigns for the mayor's position and the two City Council seats currently held by Councilmen Rapson and Weed.

Nothing has changed since early 2004 when the latest reincarnation of a West Village annexation was brought forth and promoted by the current mayor.

Without discussing in detail the inappropriate and possible illegal methods used by the current mayor in promoting this partial and unacceptable annexation plan, it is Direct PAC's position that a complete West Village annexation is in the best interests of Peachtree City government, its citizens and business owners.

A complete West Village annexation means that all the land north of the land owned by John Wieland Homes all the way to the Tyrone town limits should be included.

Direct PAC feels that the two main reasons for the lack of progress on a West Village annexation (partial or otherwise) is:

1. The perception that the annexation was being pursued by the current mayor on behalf of only one landowner, possibly in violation of the city's annexation moratorium; and

2. That the current mayor refused to consider the obvious and logical alternative, which is to include all the landowners in the proposed annexation.

In fact, the four current council members could not even bring themselves to vote for a simple proposal to lift the annexation moratorium slightly which would allow city staff to use its expertise to evaluate and plan for the inevitable growth on the city's west side.

Whether the City Council was reluctant to proceed because of its disbelief that the former anti-annexation gadfly and candidate, now mayor was pushing such a thing or because of its concern about a future legal challenge since the process began illegally or simply the fact that the proposed annexation was partial and did not include all landowners is uncertain.

What is certain is that the current mayor and council did not get the job done and John Wieland Homes, who has shown admirable restraint so far, will almost certainly be proceeding with development and construction plans early in 2006.

For those of you offended or confused by the description of the current mayor as an anti-annexation gadfly and candidate, please check his 2001 campaign Web site (specifically page 32) for his then-views on annexation.

His campaign website is no longer active, but it has been preserved and the info posted on our website at www.directpac.org.

The question left for the new mayor and council to address is:

What are you going to do?

Nothing? That will guarantee that Wieland's development will occur in unincorporated Fayette County on one- or two-acre lots with septic tanks near Line Creek and an unsafe surface crossing of the railroad.

Or will the new mayor and council act decisively and begin the annexation process properly and legally with professional input from the city's planning and development staff?

This will enable the West Village to be developed as revenue-producing part of Peachtree City with higher (but manageable) density served by sewer and featuring developer-funded amenities as well as a safer bridged crossing of the railroad that has some chance of relieving traffic congestion at Ga. highways 74 and 54.

Replacing the current mayor is simply a necessary first step to this very important process. Nevertheless, the new mayor and both the existing and newly-elected council members will have to exhibit extraordinary leadership skills in order to diplomatically work with all the players in the drama that will surround any annexation proposal.

There is no place in this process for members of city council who say that "their default position on annexation is no" or that "they were elected to oppose any annexation whatsoever" or a free-lancing mayor who believes it is appropriate for him to make annexation proposals without input from the city Planning Commission or staff.

Those that need to work together with Wieland and the city are the current residents of the partially-completed West Village, RAM Development, Fayette County Commission, town of Tyrone, Georgia Department of Transportation, CSX Railroad, Atlanta Regional Commission and the private landowners who own and control the property north of Wieland's ownership.

It is fortunate that John Wieland Homes is the major landowner in that area. Not only are they truly committed to build and develop a quality product, but they also have demonstrated a willingness to do what is best for Peachtree City.

Direct PAC's position is simply that a complete and legal annexation of the West Village land could be beneficial to the entire city of Peachtree City and it should be pursued aggressively using city staff and all other resources n which includes the many fine Peachtree City citizens who are knowledgeable about this annexation.

Direct PAC's question for all candidates for mayor and city council is:

What will you do to make this happen should you be elected to a leadership position this fall in Peachtree City?

Direct PAC will be posing this question (and others) to all candidates that qualify to run for office in the upcoming election. Their responses will be posted on our Web site.

Rick Schlosser

For the Executive Committee of Direct PAC

Peachtree City, Ga.

Would this generation of citizens make it through WWII?

I want to address myself to the debate about what happened under Democratic presidents and Republicans. I am neither, but used to be a Democrat of the old kind. The Democrat party of today bears no resemblance to the Democrats of the Hubert Humphrey era.

Under John F. Kennedy, Cubans trained by our country for quite a few months were promised that if they held the beach at the Bay of Pigs, the U.S. would provide air support. At the last minute while these Cubans were begging for the much promised support after landing, Mr. Kennedy changed his mind, betrayed them and they were slaughtered, imprisoned and tortured by the butcher of Havana.

Jimmy Carter brought us the highest inflation rate in my life, the highest interest rates, the highest gasoline prices adjusted for inflation, equivalent to $3.12 per gallon in today's dollars, the Iran conflict, the imprisonment of our embassy employees and Marine guards.

To show the decay of our armed forces during his term one has to go no farther than the attempt to "rescue" the prisoners in Iran further adding victims.

The economy suffered quite a blow under Mr. Carter. Also we had him to thank for the Mariel boat lift where Castro emptied his criminals, spies, and drug dealers on us.

During the Clinton administration, Mr. Carter almost as a self-appointed envoy, was responsible for agreeing to provide nuclear reactors and fuel to North Korea with the false hope of hoping they would "behave" if we gave it to them, and you see what we are facing today.

Mr. Carter seems to take an anti-American side just about every time he makes comments to the media, but let somebody on the other side say the same thing and they are crucified for it.

Under Mr. Clinton's presidency we allowed Loral and Hughes to sell rocket guidance systems technology to the Communist Chinese government in exchange for political contributions, and you can see now that now they have leapfrogged at least a generation in rocketry advance and satellite deploying.

One day we will have to battle them; it is just a matter of time. Not very long ago one Chinese general threatened to launch an attack on our country if we were to protect Taiwan.

Under the Clinton administration we sent our armed forces to the Balkans to prevent Christians from killing Muslims with no authorization of Congress or the UN. We were promised they would be out by Christmas, but they are still there. You would think that we had earned some respect from the Muslims.

We also had the Mogadishu debacle of "Black Hawk Down" fame. We withdrew and that encouraged Osama Bin Laden to comment that we were a paper tiger that would not fight.

Then came the American embassies in Africa, the USS Kohl, and we were promised that these al Qaeda terrorists would be found and punished; nothing happened. Add to this the Elian Gonzalez saga disgrace.

George Bush was blamed for 9/11 and even after the 9/11 commission reports we are finding out that Able Danger members of the military intelligence, especially Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, knew that a full year before 9/11 that Mr. Atta was in the U.S. being tracked along with his cohorts and that Pentagon lawyers would not allow the sharing of information with the FBI and other intelligence agencies. Now there is suspicion that the Army shredded their investigations.

I don't have any problems with people opposed to the war in Iraq, that is their freedom of speech right, but when they descend to personal insults, they lose their arguments right there. If they want to criticize, have at it, but do it with facts and offer proof, but refrain from personal attacks.

There also seems to be a belief by some folks who honorably served our country that a President that has not served in military combat is a chicken hawk and has no right to declare war.

In looking back through the history of this country the members of the armed forces at any time amount to roughly 7 per cent of the population. Does that mean that the other 93 percent of the population does not count? And what about the president who loathed the military?

I have heard the stories our heroes serving our country in the Middle East tell and they do not match the continuous reports of doom and gloom that the majority of the media reports every day.

While 1,800-plus deaths are not happy news and I realize that their families experience a lot of grief, I wonder if the folks of today that think this amount is too much had lived at the time of the battle of Iwo Jima, and the D-Day invasion realize that 1,800 deaths is nothing compared to the deaths of our thousands upon thousands that we lost in WWII or Vietnam. Maybe we should watch "Victory at Sea" one more time.

Finally, if WMD did not exist, why then did we found the following:

- 500 tons (that's right: tons; make that 1 million pounds) of yellow cake uranium. It was found at Saddam's nuclear weapons facility (yup, he had one of those too.)

- 1.8 tons of partially enriched uranium found at the same place. You know, the stuff you need to make nukes.

- Hidden centrifuge parts and blueprints.

- Two dozen artillery shells loaded with Sarin and mustard gas.

Gerard Jansen

Peachtree City, Ga.

Public praying boils down to politeness

Titling my previous letter (Aug. 17), "Christian prayer inappropriate," would have reflected my thoughts better.

Please understand where my concerns come from.

When I went to public elementary school, prayer in the classroom was permitted. In school I was taught my teachers' religions, at home and church my parents' religion.

While I appreciate diversity of thought, the fact that those religions each insisted that theirs was the only way to get to Heaven and that meant my wonderful Uncle Henry (who was Jewish) would not be allowed in their Heaven caused me to realize that for me it is your actions, not your words or outward show of devotion with praying, that really matter.

Sometimes our citizens and elected officials seem to forget that. Anyone who knows me understands how much I have needed and appreciated prayers, especially these past few years.

A little less anger and more consideration for others would better reflect the wonderful people who make up this community.

There tends to be valid concerns on both sides of issues. For example, smokers can still smoke; they just need to smoke where their smoke will not damage others. Can't we have Free Speech with a little more thought and fewer put-downs?

At times when people pray to Jesus in public events I am very conscious that within my own family there are Christians, Jews and Buddhists and others who do not chose to belong to any formally organized religion but who are wonderful, kind, giving people who I love and respect and certainly hope to share the next life with.

Public meetings need to be a place where all citizens feel comfortable and included. Coming up with truly nondenominational prayer that will not exclude any one in our community takes effort. Too many don't make that effort or are unconsciously excluding others.

A moment of silence gives us a chance to be grateful for the blessings we have been given without defining it as any specific religion. On Aug. 18 Governor Purdue requested a moment of silence at 1 p.m. to honor those Georgia military personnel who have given their lives in the Middle East. I agree that a nondenominational moment of silent prayer is more appropriate in today's religiously diverse America.

Kathie Cheney

Peachtree City, Ga.

Why don't bands like Sandy Creek's get in paper?

I was wondering why the marching bands that provide entertainment at many football games in and around Fayette County aren't publicized or congratulated for the work they do and for the entertainment they provide.

I, for one, am in the Sandy Creek Patriot Marching Band. I am sick and tired of the focus being on football, baseball, cheerleading, lacrosse, etc.

Marching bands work just as hard physically and emotionally as any other sport. Some athletes say we even work harder.

I would just like to see some articles in favor of marching bands in this paper. The only band that is recognized in this and other papers is the Fayette County Marching Band.

We, Fayette County, have others such as McIntosh, Starr's Mill, Whitewater, and Sandy Creek. Rarely is Sandy Creek in this paper unless it is for their regional championships in football. Please, someone do something about this.

Daniel Ross, 11th Grade

Sandy Creek High School

Tyrone, Ga.

Info-tainment culture elevates gossip to level of 'news'

We have not yet reached the point of crisis fatigue in America. The exponential growth in communication technology, coupled with the demands of a 24-hour news and entertainment cycle have facilitated the decline of our popular culture toward a gossipy, drama-of-the-week style of national discourse.

I know this comes as no shock to anyone who is tired of worrying about Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson, killer flu virus, flesh-eating bacteria, Laci Peterson, SARS, or the even the runaway bride, but eventually we have to give up these obsessions with our favorite soaps if we are ever going to get any serious work done.

My grandmother, who all her life practiced a severe and ascetic form of religiosity, once confessed to me that she had recently started watching "those stories." By this she meant soap operas, and she was ashamed of this little pleasure in the way only a Puritan and a grandmother can be.

In America, our neo-fundamentalism has likewise abetted the desire for a delicious indulgence (churches remain a wonderful venue for gossip and drama), though we have entirely eliminated the guilt once associated with such intercourse by elevating it to a national level and calling it "news."

But it isn't entirely, or even mostly, the fault of the new conservatism or new fundamentalism that we are a nation of soap watchers; these are merely symptoms that themselves worsen the disease, just as the alcoholic's drinking worsens his alcoholism.

The pathology of our insipid post-modern info-tainment culture is far more troubling.

It is actually the sine qua non of a nation that has past its peak: this obsession with triviality, this search for new heros and villains, totally familiar to anyone who has studied the cultural landscape of the declining Roman empire.

The problem is that our nation's glorious (occasionally tragic) youth is over, and we are left like old women with nothing to do but trash the neighbors over tea, always on the lookout for a new and improved scandal.

So what happens now? What about the young people and those who will come after them? Should we all just give up, divide into our respective demographics and take our places in front of the TV, as the marketing people would have us do?

We are already over-medicated, over-marketed, and over-sexed, while simultaneously being under-awed, under-loved, under-informed, and under-ecstatic.

A friend says, "You know, it all began with the Declaration of Independence. Free the people and you free the psyche. And once the psyche is free..."

What he means is that we have lost whatever it means to be an American, to believe in something greater than ourselves; no longer needing to fight for life or liberty we have given up everything to the relentless pursuit of happiness.

Which brings me to the story of our latest national love interest: 18-year-old Natalee Holloway of Birmingham, Ala., who left with her senior high classmates for a week of fun in Aruba.

No doubt the details are familiar: A beautiful young girl, honor student, from the heart of the American South goes missing in a tropical paradise. According to published reports she is seen leaving a bar in the early morning accompanied by a local man. Then nothing.

As of this writing Natalee's fate is still uncertain, but it doesn't look good. Not much chance for a happy ending here.

I don't know Natalee Holloway. I don't know anyone who knows her. I don't even know anyone from Birmingham, Ala., but I sense in her story the terrible yearning, the need to chase after some elusive happiness, that is so much the mood in America today.

What was she hoping to find in Aruba? What was she hoping to find in that bar? And why are we so fascinated with her story when we have so many tragedies in our own lives?

It reminds me of the accounts of the ancient alchemists who kept searching for the right formula to turn lead and other base elements into gold. This is what is happening all over America, from the television studios in Los Angeles to the charnel houses of downtown Athens, Ga.

It still remains for us to see how this story will ultimately play out. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe things aren't so bad. Maybe gossipy superficiality is beneficial, OJ was innocent, and interest only loans are a great idea. Maybe the Pawn-Your-Title places on every corner are a sign of a healthy economy.

And maybe Natalee Holloway of Birmingham, Ala., will be found alive and healthy and safe somewhere.

All I can say with certainty is this: right now the good soul of America is sitting on a tarmac in Atlanta listening to the jet engines power up. She checks her things: cellphone, credit card, other base elements. The ticket reads New York or Las Vegas or Cancun or Biloxi but the destination is always the same: Aruba.

Chris Jansen

Athens, Ga.

Columnist Brown got global warming talking points from the GOP

Sounds like Mr. Brown recently picked up his "talking points on global warming" from the Republican Party headquarters.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration (like Mr. Brown) has chosen to ignore (or deny) the facts of global warming. And, Congressional leaders from the House Energy Committee have elected to investigate the backgrounds of leading climate scientists, instead of their findings.

However, the global warming models have remarkably predicted the anticipated climate changes we are reading about every day.

From glacier retreat, to rising sea levels, to increased storm intensity, to warming oceans, to heavy flooding, to disastrous droughts, to killer heat waves, to outbreaks of deadly diseases, to insect damaged forests, it is all unfolding simultaneously (as predicted), from all corners of the Earth, with startling consequences.

Skeptics like Mr. Brown will claim these events are isolated anomalies. But when looking at these reports in their totality, it all points to the same cause: global warming. Even though the Earth has experienced several ice ages in the past 400,000 years, the pace of today's global warming is unprecedented and man-made.

We cannot afford to ignore the harsh reality of "runaway climate change."

The question is whether the MSM will let reporters like Mr. Brown mislead their readers with outright lies and distortions; or if they will cool the rhetorical hyperbole from the talking heads, and shine a non-jaundiced eye on our destructive behavior (before it's too late).

Just ask the people in the drought-plagued Midwest about Mr. Brown's theory of crop's "doubling." Just ask the people of 150 Inuit tribes of Alaska who have relocated due to sea level rising about his "no clear trend" assessment. Or Mr. Brown can meet Enele Sopoanga, the UN ambassador from Tuvalu, who predicts his island nation will be the first to be wiped out by rising sea levels.

I could go on and on with examples that show global warming is happening all around us. I'm actually a little shocked that a highly paid college professor could be trekking blindly against an avalanche of data.

The good news is that by adopting a "green model" of human activities instead of a "fossil fuel intensive model," we can cut this century's predicted temperature rise in half (by 2100).

Does Mr. Brown rejoice in the fact that the U.S. is only 4 percent of the world's population, and yet we emit 25 percent of the world's carbon emissions?

Mr. Editor, you asked me what I thought about this article, and I got to tell you, you're not proofreading. Mr. Brown's piece should have been in the science-fiction department.

But, thanks for asking.

Marc Boyd

San Jose, Calif.

Letter failed to identify 'neoconservatives'

Kevin D. Arnold wrote a thought-provoking letter. Kevin did not identify the people who are responsible for the present predicament we find ourselves in.

The answer is that the White House was hijacked by the Neocons, people we never even voted for. To understand how they took over in Washington, D.C., you have to go looking the information on the Internet. Here is an excerpt:

"...contemporary neoconservatism is not simply a term for ex-liberals or leftists. Indeed, in its present incarnation, many second-generation neoconservatives, such as David Frum, Jonah Goldberg, and Max Boot, have never had affiliations with the American left. Rather, neoconservatism represents a fundamentally new version of American conservatism, if it can be properly termed conservative at all.

"By displacing traditional forms of conservatism, neoconservatism has actually solidified the hold of the left on political and cultural discourse in the United States. The deep and continuing chasm between neocons and more traditional American conservatives, a topic of this paper, indicates that this problem is far from being resolved." -www.theoccidentalquarterly.com.

Fritz Adam

Fayetteville, Ga.

Parker always takes side opposing conservatives

Oct. 19, 1994, marked the first printing of my numerous letters to the editors. It had to do with the "Contract with America" and it came before the GOP took control of Congress.

I have had letters mailed to my house in response, both pro and con, and numerous phone calls made to my house, as well. I figured that was a hazard of the trade.

Lately, a certain Timothy Parker has seen fit to sit back and wait for me to write another letter to the editor, so that he could lend his vaunted vocabulary to vast verbiage in an attempt to laud whatever is the opposing side.

I have written about many different topics, but Mr. Parker always takes the other side, no matter what it is.

Let's see: 1. He thinks the French are brave. Jokes have been told about their cowardice and I did not make any of them up. "If you love the French, raise one hand. If you are French, raise both hands." "The shortest book in the world is 'Great French War Heroes.'" "For Sale: French rifles, never fired, only dropped once."

2. He likes the ACLU. Enough said.

3. He disagrees that the liberal wing commandeered the control of the Democratic Party in 1972 when they ran George McGovern for president. Democrat Zell Miller agrees with me and says so, in no uncertain terms, in his incredible book, "A Deficit of Decency."

Perhaps, if Mr. Parker cared enough to write about a subject, then I could respond to his letter. But then again, that would require that he have an original thought and liberals have a difficult time with that task.

Besides, I would rather set the table.

Kevin D. Arnold

Fayetteville, Ga.

Quit smoking by using this free state resource

Tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths. The longer a person has been smoking and the more packs per day smoked, the greater the risk. Stopping smoking at any age lowers the risk for lung cancer.

Fortunately, for Georgia smokers, there is a free resource that can help you quit the tobacco habit for good.

In 2001, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) launched the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line. The Quit Line (1-877-270-STOP or 1-877-2NO-FUME for Spanish speakers) provides free counseling, a resource library, support and referral services for tobacco users ages 13 and older.

Callers speak with health care professionals who devise a unique plan for each individual.

In many cases, Quit Line callers have already tried several "quick-fixes" such as the patch, gum, inhaler or even going cold turkey.

Unlike many resources aimed at helping smokers quit, the Quit Line provides thorough follow-up care.

Smokers have reported marked success in their efforts to go smoke-free thanks to the Quit Line. To date, more than 40,000 Georgians have called the Quit Line for help.

Stuart T. Brown, M.D.

Director, Georgia Division of Public Health

Georgia Department of Human Resources

Atlanta, Ga.