Jimmy Carter’s cancer; Christian Taylor

Jimmy Carter’s cancer

I was stunned by President Jimmy Carter’s announcement that he’s suffering from acute melanoma.

I first knew him as Georgia governor. I later served in his administration as an economic development adviser.

I have never known a more dedicated public servant, despite his critics.

While in the White House, Carter never lost his fervor to bring lower- and middle-class people into the mainstream. It was a fervor he retained after his presidency.

His work with Habitat for Humanity is well known, along with his many other humanitarian endeavors. He has a Nobel Peace Prize to attest to his dedication to these principles,

He is a man of great courage and faith, which should serve him well in this crisis.

I pray for him now in hopes he will remain with us for a little while longer.

— Tony Magoulas, Bedford

Christian Taylor

Your article extolled the virtues of Christian Taylor, the young man fatally shot by a rookie policeman. (“Mourners bid farewell to a ‘young lion’ for God,” Aug. 16)

Much was written about him as an enthusiastic Christian, a good athlete, a team player.

Buried in the middle of the article was a short paragraph saying that security footage shows Taylor breaking a car windshield, then driving his car through the glass front of an auto showroom.

I’m sure this young man had many good qualities, but obviously obeying the law and respecting others’ property were not among them.

Why do people (including the media) not realize that if they break the law or refuse to obey law officers, something bad is going to happen to them?

They take chances when they put themselves in these positions.

And you, the media, only emphasize the poor victim.

You never take the position of saying, “This was a tragedy. Too bad he didn’t obey the law. If he had, he would still be alive.”

I’m sick to death of the media playing up the victim instead of the crime the victim was committing.

— Sherri Graf, Cleburne

In discussing Christian Taylor’s death, a friend of his family named Bernard Waller said he would redouble efforts to reach teens and children and help parents acquire the tools they need to help their children stay out of the criminal justice system: “We can’t sit on the sidelines anymore.”

I celebrate his position.

Not only have I taught secondary education for 15 years, I have also held a daughter as she died.

Her death was caused by a medical condition, but I can assure you that a mother’s heart breaks no matter what color her skin is.

May we work to eliminate whites ending the lives of other whites, blacks ending the lives of other blacks, either color ending the lives of fellow children of God, and, certainly, lives ended by unjust police action.

Working on the plan with Bernard Waller is a start.

We must use our positive energy for a positive outcome.

—Kay Keglovits, Arlington

This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Jimmy Carter’s cancer; Christian Taylor."