Muslim American ashamed by attack
The recent attacks in Paris have left me at a loss for words. How can someone claim that they can commit violence in the name of Islam?
The Quran states, "Whosoever killed a person It shall be as if he killed all mankind" (5:33). As a Muslim American, I am ashamed that anybody who claims to be a part of my faith would kill any fellow human being in the name of Islam.
The Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said about the acts of the extremist minority of Muslims, " those who seek to justify their hateful acts in the name of Islam are serving only to defame it in the worst possible way."
We must not let the actions of the extremist minority change people's views of the majority of Muslims who are peaceful and law-abiding citizens.
I hope the world comes out of this attack stronger and more unified against the extremist minority of Muslims; otherwise we let them win.
Sultan Humayun, Tunnel Hill, Ga.
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Deeds, not words needed against terror
Shame on politicians of Western civilization for allowing ISIS to continue to perpetuate these heinous acts on innocent human beings. All you can give is words.
Where are the deeds to eradicate this abomination? Where are the leaders? All I see are the cowards.
Please, Mr. President, step up to the plate. Show us you can lead. Do the right thing.
Dr. Stanley Dressler
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DA must prosecute all cases the same
The newspaper's criticism of District Attorney Neal Pinkston's statements about VRI is not only unjustified but shows a willful ignorance of attorney ethical obligations and the Constitution.
A DA may not "pick and choose" which cases to plea bargain and which to try based upon a political requirement, no matter how appropriate that may seem. The newspaper is wrong in saying that a DA may choose to prosecute cases differently, "inside the law," by manipulating punishments for classes of crimes deemed by politicians to be worthy of special treatment.
If Mr. Pinkston chose to use his "latitude" to punish people who commit crimes in his neighborhood more severely than those committing crimes in another neighborhood, I suspect the newspaper would scream (and I, for one, would expect it to).
The police authorities are well justified in attacking certain kinds of crimes differently from others. But, once an arrest is made, Mr. Pinkston's obligation is to prosecute those cases the same as all others.
Writing that Mr. Pinkston's actions are the result of his fear of "high accountability" demonstrates a lack of understanding his job and disregard for the high principals of the man who holds it.
John C. Cavett Jr.