An oversight in the great chicken debate
Re: “Eat mor chikin,” July 31
Columnist Cal Thomas repeats the nonsense that there is an ongoing “war” against Christians in America. This is simply a fantasy. Thomas correctly points out that Chik-fil-A President Dan Cathy has a right to express his views as they pertain to marriage. He (Cathy) is also within his right to believe American society is rotting for turning away from God. I don’t share this view, being an atheist, but I respect Cathy’s right to his views. However, Thomas, while upset that Cathy is supposedly being denied his First Amendment rights, seems only too willing to complain about others exercising theirs. Surely, Boston Mayor Menino went too far and was wrong to suggest that he would unfairly and illegally target Chik-fil-A and try to block the company from opening new restaurants in the city. However, others who are withdrawing their support from the restaurant chain and calling on patrons to boycott the chain are simply exercising THEIR First Amendment rights to express their dissatisfaction with Cathy’s stance. Both sides are right.
Cathy has indicated he would not discriminate against anyone, regardless of gender or orientation, but that he merely supports “traditional, Bible-based” marriage. (I wonder, as a heterosexual nonbeliever who’s been married for 16 years, would Cathy not recognize the validity of my marriage?) Likewise, those who do not wish to patronize a restaurant chain because of the views of its leaders are free to not eat there. Customers haven’t the right to demand Cathy change his views, and Cathy can’t demand people eat at his restaurants. Everyone must act as his conscience dictates, and accept the consequences of those actions (loss of customers or loss of waffle fry snacks.)
Jason Ramage
Woodbridge
Who’s the real laughingstock here?
Re: “NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg becomes a laughingstock,” July 30
It’s a pity you didn’t bother to read your columnist, Mr. Gregory Kane. In his Commentary, Mr. Kane found fault with Mayor Bloomberg’s criticism of the presidential candidates, President Obama and presumptive Republican candidate Romney, for expressing their regret for the loss of lives as a result of the shootings in Aurora, Colo., but failing to “stand up and tell us what they’re going to do about it”. Mr. Kane pointed out enacting restrictive gun laws “is the job of Congress, not the president.” “Presidents only get to sign the laws Congress passes.
Somebody needs to send Bloomberg a civics book.” You should be sent another copy of the civics book, for your editorial, only two pages earlier, proclaims, “Obama has only himself to blame for the dismal economy.” It is Congress that has been a total failure these past three and a half year. Where is the enacted legislation addressing the need for revising the present Social Security program? Where is the enacted legislation revising the today’s Medicare? Where is the enacted legislation eliminating the agricultural subsidies? As every economist will tell you, these nondiscretionary expenditures are a major source of the budget deficits we are experiencing. But there is such rancor on the Hill, with partisanship seemingly more important than addressing the needs of the nation, that for all intents and purposes we no longer have an effective legislature in this country.
Fritz R. Kahn
Washington
Disastrous narrowing of Diamond Avenue
Re: “Traffic worsens as D.C. narrows Wisconsin Ave.,” July 30
I read Ms. Farmer’s article with some amusement because I would like to see an article entitled “Traffic worsens as Gaithersburg narrows Diamond Ave.”
While I understand progress is necessary, “smart” growth involves “smart” traffic design, but Marylanders have none of that and Gaithersburg in particular with the new Archstone Apartment complex on Diamond Avenue. My one-mile trip to the MARC commuter train went from five minutes to over 20 minutes and Archstone isn’t fully occupied.
In April 2011, I wrote to the Gaithersburg Planning and Code Administration identifying some obvious flaws with the road design of the centuries-old surrounding streets. Among their less than practical responses was completing Teachers Way to the other side — by the way, this road goes past the middle school.
What’s worse is instead of widening East Diamond Avenue to accommodate 400 units worth of cars, the city narrowed the road by creating on-street parking. A few months back, I pointed out the obvious issues before this part was completed (Pedestrians already jaywalk into oncoming traffic; People opening cars doors into oncoming cars), but received the usual gobbledygook from the city’s Public Works contact. If the city knows they’re creating traffic/pedestrian problems, then it’s negligence when someone gets hurt. Then the city should be found guilty of reckless endangerment and/or depraved indifference.
Doreen Turczyn-Toles
Gaithersburg
