We make it hard for victims to speak out

Victims speak when they’re ready

Some say it took a long time for those women to come forward about Roy Moore. I agree. If the charges are true, it was a long time for them to live with the disgust of what he did to them, how he used them, stole their dignity, their self esteem. It was a long time to watch the hypocrite cloak himself in self-righteousness, thumping his Bible, while they personally knew his true shadow self. It takes a long time to get the nerve to face a condemning public, knowing many will scoff and throw their own stones.

I myself salute these brave women for speaking their truth. It has been a long time coming.

‘Pro-lifers’ don’t follow through

Rick Mendoza’s comments on the “pro choice crowd” are just another example of the hypocrisy of many conservatives on this issue. As pro-life advocates they beat their chest while professing their beliefs on the sanctity of life. Abortion, to them, is simply murder. Certainly we all see issues differently, as do pro-choice advocates who believe women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and health.

What is galling, is that on the other side of the issue they do everything within their power to cut or eliminate programs to prevent unwanted pregnancies or to provide support for children born into needy families. Apparently, when it comes to supporting the beliefs they so sanctimoniously advocate, their voices go coldly silent. Own what that means – hypocrisy.

In spite of flaws, Trump is effective

It is ridiculous that Forum writer Ray Brayboy and others are hoping and praying that President Trump will wind up doing what President Nixon did by resigning in the face of almost certain impeachment. While Trump is probably the most blunt and bullying of any former president, these personal characteristics are far outweighed by his accomplishments during his first 10 months in office.

The ‘War on Christmas’ isn’t real

No one has ever tried to take Christ out of Christmas. That is a choice for Christians alone. What is asked from others, though, is that Christians leave Christmas where it belongs, in homes and churches, not in government buildings. Rep. Pittenger should be reminded, apparently, that he serves at the privilege of, and for the benefit of, all residents of his district, not just those that are of his faith.

Waiting on Democrats to defeat Pittenger

Having just viewed Robert Pittenger’s shameless appeal to religion masking itself as a political ad, I am once more reminded of how poorly the congressman serves the interests of the entirety of his constituents.

Resorting to flogging a phony “War on Christmas” and perpetuating this Republican rant against so called political correctness, Pittenger fails to be inclusive and ignores the diversity of his voters.

My own wish for the holiday season would be for a credible Democratic opponent to emerge who could return the congressman to the private sector.

Public service is clearly not the place for him.

Education is more than job training

When I went to a university in the early 1970s, I neither believed nor expected that I would have job skills when I graduated. I was there to get an education and hoped to gain the knowledge that would allow me to learn a variety of jobs skills after I was employed. Neither math nor chemistry is liberal or conservative. If parents want their children to learn job skills, they need to send them to a technical college, not a university.

This story was originally published November 28, 2017 at 5:12 PM with the headline "We make it hard for victims to speak out."