Letters to the Editor - July 18 2007

Defending Chambliss, vampires in higher education and more

March of vampires in Higher education

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Corporate con artists selling rainbows to naive and disadvantaged kids who are striving to start out their lives with an education, but wind up instead with a useless degree and a crushing debt burden (cover story, “The student trap,” July 12). And the federal government abets the scam by promiscuously backing loans to the con men’s sham schools.

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Another example of private industry doing the job better than government can – that is, if you consider the main job to be taking advantage of the vulnerable and crushing their dreams in the process. The march of the vampires in U.S. higher education.

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Dean Poirier, Duluth

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In defense of chambliss

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In response to “Saxby’s ‘perfect’ flip-flop” (Word, July 5) I must defend the senator and contend that such criticism is unfounded. As a former senator in the student government, I know that although I’ve doubted the outcome of a project would be what I wanted, I still worked on it because I wanted my views included, as the senator agrees, and even though some of the people I worked with didn’t share all my views, such as Kennedy, I would commend them for their contributions. His actions and comments could just as easily be explained by the legislation changing along the way so as not to include certain measures he insisted upon, or his learning new information that caused him to reconsider his decision accordingly. He may’ve even voted against the bill in the end because a group of his constituents approached him with a request. My group “RESULTS” asked him to co-sponsor development legislation related to new strains of TB and global basic education, and he responded by co-signing a letter, initiated by Sen. Isakson, asking for the highest possible funding for basic education. Having listened to Sen. Chambliss’ views on immigration online, I believe that he is open-minded, fair and realistic.

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Misty Novitch, Decatur

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Lost world article

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I was surprised to see that a person of your experience and background would release an article (Arts, “The lost world,” June 28) such as this. False media has led us to a place in our society where we believe whatever we see in the news or our local newspaper. Why couldn’t you find a few creditable sources to substantiate the facts in your interview rather than guessing, or lying, for the sake of writing an article? Nothing you said about Kadesh was positive or true. That’s what most people like you do, fabricate something you know nothing about. I am a product of the Nubian Nation’s teachings, and yes, it is a cult that cultivated and nurtured me into being self-conscious, self-aware, self-empowered and self-sufficient. It has encouraged me to read and research the origins of my ancestors, in an effort to know who I am in this foreign land called America. Unfortunately, my dear, I did not get that information in my world history class. Don’t allow the fog of deception to dupe you into believing a lie before getting the facts straight. We have thousands of innocent women and children in Iraq dying every day; some may say this is genocide. Don’t you think that deserves the critical eye of the media? I think your camera man’s lens needs to be focused in another direction.

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Kia Savage, Atlanta

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‘Shake-up’ outstanding

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What a spectacularly well-done article, Scott (cover story, “Shake-up at the AJC!”, July 5)! I will miss reading Tom Baxter, but know that I have you to fall back on at CL.

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Wonderful writing, sir ... I truly learned a lot ... good background, fine research and certainly beautifully written ... as always!

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Jean Warren, Dunwoody

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patriotism

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Patriotism is one thing, but looking to feel better about oneself and one’s nation by creating a false sense of superiority over another is merely a display of ignorance. Particularly when you are basing that superiority on hypothetical figures and estimated projections.

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Of course, I am referring to “the French are being lapped” tidbit in “Booze news” (Corkscrew) in the July 5-11 edition.

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The habit of “France bashing” vocally by Americans truly does little to endear you to any foreigner at all. In fact, it serves to continue the international trends toward hostility to Americans whenever they leave their country.

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It is even less welcome in a column (by nature) destined to be “international,” and serves to underscore the writer’s partisan nature, and remove objectivity and value from the section.

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I congratulate you as being part of the problem.

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Ron Savage, Decatur