Atlanta Thrashers visit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

My girlfriend got to meet a few of the guys, including Andy Sutton, the 6' 6" Thrasher I got to see crush an opposing defenseman and goalie while scoring on a fast break against the Washington Capitals. He is evidently much nicer in person than he is on the ice.

Nice to see them supporting the local children's hospitals. With them visiting hospitals and the Falcon's Warrick Dunn giving away house down payments, the pro athletes in town may end up with a good rep.

      your note []

Do you think some Southerners are still bitter about the Civil War?

From an AJC Letter to the Editor. Remember, I have to live near people like this.

A recent letter expressed the thinking of a carpetbagger ("Don't give emblem a foothold," Nov. 28). The Union troops were not heroes; they were barbarian, conquering invaders who destroyed much of the South. All true Southerners glory in the deaths of every last one of them.

Many Americans have been brainwashed by the "great American lie" about the righteousness of the Union cause. In the same way that the American states seceded from Britain, the South wanted to freely leave the Union it freely joined. It intended no harm to the other, Northern states.

Unfortunately, a tyrant by the name of Abraham Lincoln resolved to destroy the South to keep it under his boot. Fortunately, Lincoln got what he so richly deserved. I just wish I could have been there when Lincoln got his, so I could have reached down, stuck my finger in his wound and see if I could have made him twitch.

Do you think this guy has a few Confederate Battle Flag stickers on his truck?

I am thinking he went to a different American History class than I did, if he went to school at all. When one side loses a civil war, they are traditionally branded as traitors. Remember the phrase, "The difference between being a hero and traitor, is winning and losing." In order to heal the nation, Lincoln decided not to imprison or hang the losing leaders for treason. He branded nobody as traitors. He instead granted amnesty for all, restored all rights and property, except for slaves, and sought to regroup our great nation.

I am a Southerner, born and bred. I have generations of my family born and raised in Georgia. I do not feel this way. Lincoln was a great man, and chose not to destroy anything. I feel the Georgia Flag that was recently trashed was an embarrassment. It is in the dustbin where it belongs. If you want to celebrate losing, go ahead. Do not ask me, however, to have to celebrate it also by flying the battle flag on my state flag.

Do not try to speak for me.

Edited to add: Responses received by the AJC after printing that letter can be found here.

      your note []

Christian evangelists should practice what they preach.

Back in October, the Rev. Jerry Falwell called Muhammad, the founder of Islam, a "terrorist." .... About two weeks after he made the remark, Falwell retracted it. I think Falwell is an idiot. I will issue a retraction later.

Washington Post Columnist Richard Cohen does not hold back in this commentary, linked to in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He shifts his attack quickly to Pat Robertson, who I choose not to identify with a religious title. Robertson has compared Islam to Hitler. Robertson did not retract his remarks, and has even reaffirmed them on television.

Cohen does not speak well of many of the top conservative religious leaders. He points out how they have become much to powerful in our political system, and how their position is becoming similar to religious leaders in the Muslim countries they criticize.

Oddly enough, Bush is in somewhat the same position as certain political leaders in the Islamic world. He too is finding it awkward to deal with crackpot religious leaders. America's religious fundamentalists are Bush's core political constituency.

The government needs to avoid our war becoming one pitting Christianity against Islam. They are trying, but these Christian religious fanatics are not helping.

Cohen's retraction?

Now I must make my retraction. OK, Falwell is not an idiot.

Robertson is.

      your note []