If Republicans condemn Roy Moore, will they hold Trump to the same standard?

Why condemn Moore, but not Trump?

Thank you Senators Burr and Tillis for doing the right thing in speaking up regarding U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore – despite that he has so far denied being a sexual predator. Now what are you going to do about President Trump – who has admitted to being a sexual predator?

Bicycle culture won’t work here

I think it is wonderful that they follow traffic laws in Berlin, and have a positive bike culture. I also think Charlotte’s prolonged lack of enforcement of our everyday laws would put a damper on this happening in Charlotte.

I see everyday occurrences of texting while driving, deep tinted windows, ear shattering bass music and car mufflers, abusers of stop signs, speed limits, traffic lights, drunk driving, head and tail lights not working, turn signals not working. I can’t imagine this working in Charlotte, but I’m with you in the hope department.

As for the outlandish, aggressive, disrespectful drivers of Charlotte, I think you are out of control and without better law enforcement, you will only become worse.

Avoid jail by following the laws

The opening sentence of the Observer’s editorial left me flabbergasted. It says “The poorest among us should not be responsible for funding the criminal justice system, nor should they be punished simply for being poor.” First, the “poorest among us” do not have sufficient funds for basic necessities so it escapes me how they would fund anything. Secondly, they are being punished for breaking the law not for “simply being poor.”

While I am sympathetic to the plight of the poorest among us, in a society of laws, actions have consequences. The best way to avoid fines and jail time is to simply obey the law. If certain laws are deemed unfair, especially to the poorest, it is the job of our legislators to change them – not activist judges.

I don’t trust James Clapper

In reference to James Clapper being called a “hack” by President Trump: let’s see, Mr. Clapper is a high profile Democrat. Many Democrats are bent on destroying our sitting president so, if it walks like a duck and smells like a duck, Bingo! Political hack!

I trust anything a Democrat says as much as I trust my ex-wife.

HIV patients deserve compassionate care

What we need in a Mecklenburg County health director is a compassionate person who understands the depth and breadth of the health issues our county faces.

HIV infection rates are reduced when we have effective outreach and education programs, when we focus on family issues and effective parenting, and the effects of poverty in our community.

When I was the counselor at Metrolina AIDS Project we treated all of our clients/patients with respect regardless of how they got the disease. It didn’t matter if the person had been infected in utero or as an adult, they got compassionate care. And we worked on education and outreach in the community.

We treat anyone with cancer or heart disease with compassion. And that’s how we need to treat people with HIV.

Can we just talk to each other?

America’s gun violence problem will not be solved by more laws but by more love. A nation that once believed you should “love your neighbor as yourself” has become a nation of stone throwers. Everyone believes their way is correct so they point fingers at the other side. Vilification leads to violence and it’s practiced in our schools, our churches, on our Facebook pages, and in our news media.

The left has become extreme, but so has the right. We need to come to the negotiating table on all issues that divide us. We need to consider our problems as “our” problems and stop pointing fingers. Let’s just stop:

▪ See the other side

▪ Talk without accusation

▪ Opt for compromise

▪ Prohibit vilification

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 5:27 PM with the headline "If Republicans condemn Roy Moore, will they hold Trump to the same standard?."