I appreciate your efforts to preserve the First Amendment to the Constitution. In a democratic society the majority always rules and the minority has the right to be heard. Any one wanting the best for all concerned will be objective and look at both sides of the picture.

While sitting in a traffic jam yesterday on southbound I-85, I realized what a way to make a living (I really meant what a waste). It occurred to me how unproductive all those thousands of people and machinery were.

Where are the people who are educated in cost effectiveness? Does Gov. Barnes and his people ever see all this traffic at a standstill? With fuel prices becoming higher each day, is this what they really want? The more fuel burned and wasted the more tax dollars are collected.

I tried to visualize the interstate system being obsolete and empty. When we watched the Jetsons on TV in the '60s with scenes similar to I-85 and I-285 on the north end, I am sure we expected in the year 2000 to be able to soar smoothly through the air in an air mobile.

As I pondered the negative aspects of this situation, I considered the possibilities of us being able to receive all we need to live via a large tube, similar to the Internet which most of us already have, making it unnecessary to travel.

While I drove very slowly for two miles for about 30 minutes, I read an article in a recently compiled booklet of photographic information: my time was not all wasted. Anyone who is self-employed does not have energy, time and finance to be sitting on the interstate.

As all the above was going through my mind, I remembered a story I once heard and it made as much sense to me as being stuck in traffic. “There was once a homeless man who slept on park benches and the city council didn't like it. One of the city council members decided we will give him a job of shining the old antique cannon at the court house. They did and paid him 25 cents a day. He was very dependable, showed up on time every day and did a fine job of shining the cannon. Until one day he came in and turned in his notice. City council asked him what have we done and what can do to get you to stay. He replied, nothing, I've saved up my money and I am going to buy my own cannon and go into business for myself.”

While it seems there is no answer to the violence, killings and traffic jams in Atlanta, as individuals we still have the right to express our opinions because of newspaper editors like you. The main reason it is proper for individuals to be able to speak is after they have spoken it allows others to see, we have the same view.

Please continue to support the individual by continuing to protect the freedom of speech by encouraging them to write their state representatives and the governor on issues which are dear to their hearts. I have heard in some instances silence means approval. Dale Carnegie taught, “if you don't use it you lose it,” and I am sure this can be applied to many aspects of life, especially, the freedom of speech.

Carleton L. Williams
Fayetteville

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