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Kulash pays
price for honest efforts
Editors:
A surprising controversy has arisen out of CAUTION Macon's suit
against the Macon/Bibb County Road Improvement Program: the involvement
of Walter Kulash, a nationally respected traffic system planner/engineer
and an expert witness called by CAUTION.
One suspects that
this is an attempt to divert attention from the more substantive
issues raised by the case, or another attempt by local officials
to discredit Kulash.
A citizen legitimately
expects hired or contractual professionals paid with public funds
to promote the public interest. Unfortunately, professionals hired
by the Road Improvement Program are forced to act as political operatives,
loyal to a political boss rather than to the general interests of
the taxpaying public.
Their recommendations
support the "cause de jour" and change with the political
winds (witness traffic counts). This is the price of eligibility
for public contracts in Bibb County extracted from these individuals
and firms.
Kulash reflects
what is best in the profession - a man who honors his professional
commitment to the public that pays him. He saw no conflict in his
allegiance, as his professional opinions have been constant.
Unfortunately,
we have created an environment where an honest professional is placed
in the unholy conflict of choosing between the public interest for
which he is ostensibly hired, and loyalty to the narrow interests
of the political operatives who sign his paycheck. In this environment,
Kulash is an embarrassment to his local peers - as a professional
willing to act in the public interest.
In so acting,
Kulash brings the competence and credibility of local "professionals"
into question. As is often the case, a good and moral man makes
less dedicated or principled men look bad in relief. We must do
what is necessary to keep Kulash engaged in saving Bibb County from
itself!
Daniel Fischer
Macon
Rocker critic
also guilty of a slur
Editors:
I sit here amazed and appalled after reading an article in The Macon
Telegraph concerning the uproar over John Rocker.
Although I do
not hold to his view of the world, my jaw drops when I hear the
comments of the Rev. Gerald Durley of The Concerned Black Clergy.
He is quoted in the newspaper as saying, "We will not tolerate
the intolerance of this ignorant redneck from down south Georgia."
Am I dumb as dirt
or what, but is this not the same recrement that flows out of Rocker's
mouth? This person who calls himself "reverend" wants
the Braves to fire Rocker from his job. Where was the reverend when
the thug from the Knicks attacked his coach or when Albert Belle
was being his reprehensible self, or when Dennis Rodman was, well,
Dennis Rodman?
If Durley wants
Rocker to lose his job for making racist statements, then Durley
needs to do the same for himself. For some, "redneck"
is just as offensive as "fat monkey."
I also am concerned
by the lack of response from the ACLU and the media over the protection
of Rocker's constitutional right to free speech. The ACLU jumps
at the chance to protect freedom of expression when it comes to
nude bars or filthy art. I guess the media think they are the only
ones entitled to that protection under the Constitution.
David Bronson
Byron
Rocker should
fight testing ruling
Editors:
The media assassination of John Rocker has been appalling to many
people. However, the order for him to undergo psychological testing/therapy
for exercising his legal right of freedom of speech should deeply
concern and frighten all American citizens.
I urge Rocker
to refuse this outrageous and illegal order and to take his case
to the courts. Despite what the "politically correct"
media report, he has millions of supporters who would gladly donate
to the very noble cause of protecting everyone's right of freedom
of speech.
If professional
sports want to test someone, they have plenty of foul-mouthed, drug-using,
clothes-stealing, religion-bashing, ear-biting, wife-beating, prostitute-buying,
hitman-hiring, referee-assaulting, coach-choking, point-shaving,
game-throwing hoodlums to choose from.
Mike Wolff
Macon
Questions for
Teasers supporters
Editors:
A Jan. 6 letter by David Lawrence criticized the Rev. Andy A. Cook
for his letter on Teasers in Warner Robins. I would like for him
to respond by answering a few simple questions:
1. What is his
idea of what kind of artistic expression nude dancing is?
2. What kind of
honor would he suggest be bestowed on the owners and dancers for
their contribution to the betterment of the city of Warner Robins?
3. Since we are
a republic, and we are governed by laws and our laws put in force
by our elected officials, didn't Cook's letter appeal to the right
body?
4. Since when
is dancing naked in public places a freedom guaranteed by the Bill
of Rights?
Sollie Barrett
Macon
Gen. Lee: A
god and noble man
Editors:
Jan. 19 is a paid state holiday to honor Robert E. Lee.
Lee is best remembered
as a military genius, but he was also an educator, and, more important,
he was a man of sterling character and the epitome of a gentleman.
He was respected and admired by even those who opposed him on the
battlefield. Gen. U.S. Grant refused to accept Lee's sword when
offered in surrender.
When Virginia
seceded, Lee was loyal to his native state at great sacrifice. When
he left Arlington, his home across the Potomac from Washington,
to offer his services to Virginia, his property was confiscated
and he was never able to return there. Defeated, he suffered hardships
like other Southerners.
Through the years,
millions of Southern boys have grown up to become better men because
they were exhorted to emulate Robert E. Lee. On his birthday let's
pause and remember this good and noble man.
T.J. Campbell
Smyrna
Super athletic
events costly to state
Editor:
I am constantly amazed at how seemingly uninformed many people seem
to be regarding politics and the shenanigans that go on.
Of course the
Super Bowl will cost taxpayer money. In addition to direct payments,
there are the tremendously increased costs for police and other
securities. There is no evidence it will ever be recouped.
It does, however,
bring prestige to the state, or so we are told. It brings prestige
only to Atlanta, a city I believe also costs the rest of the state
many tax dollars.
We will never
know how much the Olympic Games cost the taxpayers of this state.
Was money made? You bet, but none, as far as I know, went into the
state coffers, and neither you nor I received any direct benefits.
Given my wishes, all these events would occur elsewhere.
Jerry Bush
Milledgeville
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