Political rhetoric is still protected free speech
“Harris condemns Trump rhetoric” (DP-09-18-24) Harris stated in the interview that Trump’s rhetoric should be disqualifying. “When you have that kind of microphone in front of you, you really ought to understand at a deep level that your words have meaning,” Harris said, without mentioning Trump by name. “Let’s turn the page and chart a new way forward and say you can’t have that microphone again.”
Apparently, Harris is against free speech, or maybe she’s just against free speech for Republicans.
I don’t agree with everything Trump does or says but I do believe in free speech, which is a given right in the U.S. and shouldn’t be limited just to her.
Brenda Bonnett
Arthurdale
‘We can disagree without being disagreeable’
I recently attended a fundraiser for Monongalia County Special Olympics at Texas Roadhouse. When I left the restaurant, I found a vulgar sticky note on the side of my car, just below my old Biden Harris sticker. It read: “F… Biden! (I’m editing here) #Trump 24, #You’re the problem.”
My son, who has intellectual disabilities, asked, “Why did they do that?” He was perturbed. A friend who was with us said it could have been worse; my car could have been damaged.
The note just made me sad. I have several pro-choice and pro-environment stickers on my windows. Sometimes at an intersection the folks in the car next to me will say, “I like your stickers!” Nearly a third of West Virginians share my liberal views. That means two thirds disagree. But they are not my enemies. They are my neighbors. I would prefer that they vote for honest, honorable, law-abiding candidates who are in government to improve the lives of their constituents. But if they choose to vote for a felon who seeks to line his own pockets, that’s their choice.
We can disagree without being disagreeable.
I’m optimistic about the future of West Virginia (as long as we protect our water and air). When the coasts flood, we have the high ground.
Nancy Abrams
Morgantown
Preston Sheriff Fields the right man for the job
Continuity in leadership is working in the Preston County Sheriff’s Office.
With the recent successful investigations into school threats, and in working to keep the school and community population safe, it has become clear that Sheriff Jim Fields is the right man, in the right position, at the right time.
Other successes on criminal apprehensions by our sheriff’s officers on violators driving into our county from nearby jurisdictions further are a testament to the professionalism demonstrated by our Sheriff’s Department.
As a past Kingwood police chief and now managing editor of the independent voice of law enforcement, the BLUE Magazine, I regularly work with law enforcement leaders from around our country. Believe me when I say we should be both satisfied with and grateful for the efforts of our local law enforcement.
Joel E. Gordon
Masontown
Why surprised by Trump debate performance?
In his column on Sept. 13, Hoppy Kercheval wastes many words feigning surprise that Donald Trump was unprepared and undisciplined during his recent debate. Why?
Trump is well known for overconfidence, laziness, impatience and lack of interest in details and facts. That is why staff and military leaders during his term as president were so frustrated when they tried to brief him on what he needed to know as president and commander in chief.
None of his other so-called debates involved anything other than inappropriate name calling and personal attacks. Now that Trump is showing his age and the effects of his declining mental state, why would any observer expect a cogent, relevant, in-point presentation from him?
Richard Cohen
Morgantown
Lies about Springfield endanger immigrants
Following the recent presidential debate, many of us chuckled at the numerous cat and dog memes mocking unfounded, outlandish claims about Springfield, Ohio. The sinister downside of so-called “leaders” amplifying these claims? Their incendiary remarks quickly led to intimidation and threats of violence toward Haitian immigrants, refugees and Springfield public officials, including bomb threats that forced school closures.
My memory of driving through Springfield several years back centers on home disrepair and apparent vacancy in what must have been once-lovely neighborhoods — perhaps unsurprising after 50+ years of population decline.
Sadly, the racist scapegoating and ignorant backlash immigrants are facing in Springfield are also part of American history. Recent news reports say the large Haitian community is stimulating the economy, diversifying the city and, understandably, creating the usual infrastructure challenges of rapid population change.
It’s a scenario similarly connected to various waves of immigration to the U.S. over the past two centuries or more. Reuters reports: “For their part, city officials, local educators and the business community say that once the short-term disruptions are overcome, a growing population will add to a nascent revival. … ‘We needed a workforce,’ to fill jobs in a resurgent local manufacturing sector and staff a growing number of warehouse and distribution centers, said the director of the Greater Springfield Partnership. ‘They are coming in … working hard and they want to make money.’ ”
I challenge each of us who’ve scrolled through the furry online images to spend equal time speaking out and condemning the subsequent harmful acts and ongoing rhetoric. Such hate speech by those with political influence, who (presumably) should know better and must do better, endangers lives and public safety, making Haitian immigrants and city leaders targets for extremists.
Voters must remember which candidates for the country’s highest public offices recklessly peddled these racist falsehoods and therefore cannot be trusted to uphold the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
Bonnie Brown
Morgantown
GOP may be against abortion, but Bible isn’t
Let’s be clear, life is precious including that of the mother. The Bible (thousands of years old) is used by both sides to determine when life begins and was written in a world when abortion was practiced and viewed with nuance. The term “abortion” is not found in the Bible (Religious News Service, July 25, 2022), Do these interpretations really matter in a world where medicine has progressed?
Why is it that many Evangelicals and MAGA Republicans want modern society to go back to the dark ages but only selectively? For instance in biblical days, if a man struck a pregnant woman and caused more than a miscarriage, the perpetrator could suffer reciprocal harm, up to life for life (Exodus 21). Today, women who exercise a medical decision concerning their pregnancy or doctors providing medical advice about that pregnancy can be criminally prosecuted and jailed for taking action for the mother’s health.
Republicans claim that they value freedom. Instead, they are stripping citizens of rights for not mirroring their narrow-minded view of the world. Nor are they embracing a multi-cultural and religious society. They have become the interference party and a party that lacks objectivity and respect for others. They want to ignore science and modern medicine while hindering doctors from providing health care.
When Republicans invoke God are they saying God is cruel, no longer cares about all his flock, is encouraging selfish behavior and name calling? Wouldn’t God appreciate a person capable of determining what’s best for their family and their health? Wouldn’t God be thankful for modern medicine and how it provides for a better life for all?
Shouldn’t women have the right and freedom to make medical decisions, especially those that only impact them and their family? If freedom and progress matter, consider voting blue!
Mary Ann Liberatore
Morgantown
