Delegate calls for rebuke of Bledsoe
Thank you for sending a reporter to cover the Fairmont City Council meeting reported in the Dominion Post on Wednesday, concerning the horrible remarks made by Councilmember Bledsoe about Delegate Danielle Walker and California Sen. and Democratic VP candidate Kamala Harris. Delegate Rodney Pyles and I want to make it very clear that we strongly support our Monongalia County House colleague and condemn the remarks of Councilman Bledsoe.
In addition to those mentioned in the story, a number of Legislators traveled from afar through heavy rainstorms to speak in support of Walker. Delegate Amanda Estep-Burton came from Kanawha County and read a letter from the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Delegate Sammi Brown drove from Jefferson County and Delegate Cody Thompson, drove from Randolph County. I also spoke to the Council members. Pyles was not able to attend because of COVID concerns.
Ministers from Fairmont and Morgantown were in attendance and spoke in support of Delegate Walker, as well as many citizens from both communities who shared their displeasure with Mr. Bledsoe’s remarks with Council.
The name-calling of black women elected officials by Bledsoe on Facebook must end. Calling Harris a whore and Walker satanic is language that should have been inappropriate since some time after the Civil War.
It was especially hurtful coming from an elected official who is supposed to represent all of the citizens of Fairmont — black, white, women, and men.
Bledsoe deserves a severe rebuke from Council. Whether his comments will discourage new businesses and residents to come to the “Friendly City,” or whether they justify removing him from Council is now a question for the citizens of Fairmont.
Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer
Morgantown
Voters need to make their voices heard
“A vote is the best way of getting the kind of country and the kind of world you want,” said Harry S Truman. Voting is a fundamental right in a democratic society. This privilege has been reached through painful steps over decades as history reveals via constitutional amendments, the 15th, the 19th and others.
What makes this election unique is the worldwide pandemic that has descended on America a few months back, propelled the country to number one on the world stage. Globally, there are 22 million confirmed cases of COVID 19 including 780,000-plus deaths, according to WHO, and the U.S. leading with more than 5 million cases and 170,000 deaths. Lack of proper leadership, disregard for science and misrepresentation of facts led to this catastrophe.
Voters all need helpful tools to get them to ballot box. Statewide options include early voting, mail-in voting, and voting on election day. The prevailing pandemic climate dotted with health concerns, economic downturn and awakening of racial injustice, make it almost impossible for families to cope with in this election cycle. But families have survived through robust human spirit. That will transcend here in this election cycle also.
We need to enable voters to exercise their franchise in a free manner, providing polling places without intimidation and mail-in voting encouraged especially for health reasons.
The United States Postal Service has been a people -friendly institution of long standing, delivering mail, pensions, prescriptions and other useful services especially to seniors. Elected representatives need to make sure that USPS is Voters’ ally during election and always.
Leadership matters, unity matters, and we need “a president for all American families.” Democracy is on the ballot this time. So, we are obligated to remember that all of us should consciously exercise the political tool of franchise by mobilizing our family, friends and community in this endeavor.
Syamala Jagannathan
Morgantown
Senior in nursing home wishes all well
My window into the world
I am writing today with a broken arm. I am currently in a rehab nursing home in Fairmont; home next week.
It’s been the start of my journey of healing. Also it’s been a time to reflect on society and our new way of life. It is increasingly difficult for everyone including seniors. I’ve been in quarantine mostly. My family must visit me at my window briefly just as some seniors must do elsewhere.
I look forward to home with my cats and music and computer. My hope and prayers are for all to be safe and well.
Ellen Pirlo
Morgantown
Democrats shouldn’t pander to win
A lot of conservative-Republicans tell me that Democrats pander to minority groups, and not because they genuinely care about these people, but because they need their votes.
By 2042-2044, more than 50% of the USA will be non-white, and if they can get their votes, the logic goes, they will always win the Presidency and both houses of Congress.
I would absolutely love it if this happened, because then we could pass a lot of new and important social programs that would help the poor, the near-poor, the lower classes, and the middle classes to be able to have their survival needs met and to be able to pay their bills, but I believe that it is morally wrong for some of my fellow Democrats to pander to and to bow to minority groups as a strategy.
Stewart B. Epstein
Rochester, N.Y.
Former WVU professor
