Guidestones

originally published December 6, 2006

My wife and I were recent visitors to Athens and we read with much interest, amusement and enjoyment the recent feature on the Georgia Guidestones [Nov. 15]. The writing was quite good, evoking humor, intrigue and much interest. If we had not been leaving the day we read it, we would have driven out to Elberton and had a look at the Guidestones. We would like to be notified, if possible, when the next feature like it will be written. Keep up the good work! Let’s hope we all make it that long!

Jim Welbourn

West Palm Beach, FL

Lyle's Thanks

originally published December 6, 2006

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of my supporters for their confidence, time, finances, endorsements and votes. Truly, my campaign for the District 5 seat on the Clarke County school board was a very worthwhile experience, and one that I will long remember.

Thanks for supporting me and let us continue to support programs and initiatives that are in the best interest of all students in Clarke County’s public schools because as our youth are today, so will our world be tomorrow.

Annie Mildred Lyle

Athens

On Child-Rearing

originally published December 6, 2006

Wow, what a disappointment Elise White’s piece “Children Keep You Humble” was [Nov. 29]. Of course, natural childbirth, and natural parenting in general, is not for everyone. But, what a shame that Ms. White sees childbirth and nursing (and, it seems, mothering in general?) as constituting a series of “humiliations” and “indignities.” I know Ms. White requests she not hear about natural childbirth, so I’ll just quickly note that the unmedicated birth of my daughter was a VERY positive experience, despite, or perhaps because of, a manageable amount of physical discomfort. And, I’m sorry to hear that Ms. White finds a nursing baby to be such an “uncomfortable” sight. Ms. White’s view, although all too common, is really counterproductive if we are to cultivate a culture in which mothers are encouraged to breast-feed their children. Because Ms. White is clearly a thoughtful parent, I probably don’t need to tell her that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast-feeding for a minimum of one year, and the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of two years. I hope that our goal as parents (whether we choose to breast-feed or not) would be to contribute to an atmosphere where mamas aren’t made to feel ashamed of doing what is, in the opinion of the medical establishment and child-rearing experts worldwide, the best for their child.

Christine Harold

Athens

Dogs & Coppers

originally published December 6, 2006

Oh… “Brilliant!” as in Billy Connelly’s Guinness TV advert. Po’lice Cheese Lumpkin’s great idea to train his po’lice against “apparently 'aggressive'” dogs or a slight tweaking of the new “shoot first, ask questions later, because you are justified in Florida and good ol’ boy Georgia” law, regardless of species, dog, bull, pit, human, etc. is so much stale, tepid air, publick lip service. My experience with dogs, not “bulls,” and po’lice tells me the latter are scared s’itless of the former, and are therefore a dog’s worst enemy. I find cops absolutely unqualified to handle canine affairs, hands down, guns drawn, shoot, baby, shoot. As to pits and bulls “running wild,” it sounds like the old West or ancient Rome. The only “clear and present danger” I find are fearful “folks” with “issues” with “training” and guns. Good sense, not so much, i.e. canine sensitivity, hah! Too wimpy, just shoot ’em. Cops calm and assertive? “Certainly” as Curly would say.

Paul Nelson

Athens

Taxi Troubles

originally published December 6, 2006

Does any one else who doesn’t live on the Eastside have problems getting a taxi to take you home on Friday and Saturday evenings? On several occasions, I’ve been told by cabbies that they won’t take me to my Newtown address - they only service the Eastside. Not to get too dorky, but this appears to be in violation of section 6-14-4 subsection (c) of the ACC municipal code: “No company shall refuse to accept, without reasonable cause, a call for service anywhere in Athens-Clarke County at any time the company has available taxicabs or shall fail or refuse to give an overall service to the public.”

Taxi companies, while private enterprises, are granted a license to provide a valuable public service. They provide door-to-door transportation for those who cannot afford to own and maintain a private vehicle; for those no longer physically able to drive themselves due to age or physical infirmity; for those not served by public transport or when public transport is not available; and finally, they also provide a safe and sober way home for those who find themselves in no condition legally to drive themselves after an evening’s entertainment.

When taxi companies and/ or individual drivers discriminate based on what they perceive to be the most lucrative or high-volume destinations, this leaves private citizens with few options and all of them bad: wait and hope for a taxi that will take them to their destination; walk to their destination which may or may not have the benefit of sidewalks or streetlights and risk being struck by a vehicle; some may even choose to drive themselves home. Granted, all of these are private choices made by individual citizens; however, active enforcement of existing public policy can reduce the number of these choices being made.

I’m calling on our elected and unelected officials to remind taxi companies of their obligation to provide service to all Athenians, and not just the ones who live in high-density apartment complexes on the Eastside. Likewise, if you’ve ever found yourself in the uncomfortable position of trying to convince a cab driver to drive you home, let your commissioner know about it.

Kurt Houser

Athens