Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 05.03.15
Bold leadership needed on social issues
Why do we continue to appoint committees to address social problems? This approach never works.
The only way to effectively develop and deliver human services is through research, focused funding, and strong leadership.
Committees work when designing public buildings, parks or works of art. But when it comes to saving and improving lives, the answer lies in implementation of evidence-based, best practices.
Every community across the globe suffers from the same challenges to some degree or another. Shining examples of great success are easily discoverable.
The answers exist and the funders will focus their funding. All we need now is bold leadership.
Will Miller
Charlotte
In response to “Lessons of Baltimore widely apt, activist says” (April 30):
Time for honest talk about what ails black community
Much of what ails the inner-city black community is self-inflicted.
More than 72 percent of black children are born out of wedlock. The No. 1 cause of death for black males ages 15-34 is murder. Blacks make up 39.8 percent of welfare recipients, though they comprise only 13.2 percent of the population.
Until the victimization and misguided finger pointing stops, nothing will change the fate of inner-city blacks.
It’s time to stop burying your head in the sand, Bryan Stevenson. Let’s have an honest talk about the real reasons why there is hopelessness and despair in the black community.
Michael Hicks
Charlotte
Shouldn’t mom who beat son at riot also be charged?
Adrian Peterson whips his child with a switch for disobeying, and he gets charged with child abuse.
The Baltimore mom whips her child with her fists for rioting and she’s lauded with praise and not charged with anything.
Equal treatment?
John F. Cutchin
Newton
In response to “Proposal would ease N.C. gun rules” (April 29):
No guns for dementia patients like my mom; let doctors ask
No guns for dementia patients like my mom; let doctors ask
Doctors have the responsibility of determining when a person is no longer competent to drive, and they should also be able to make that determination about gun ownership.
When my mother got Alzheimer’s, we took her gun away because she was aiming it out her windows at people and talking about shooting them.
Gun ownership isn’t for everyone, and the doctor might be the one most current on someone’s emotional health.
At the very least, it would be useful to know that someone like my mother has a gun.
Jean Wilson
Charlotte
In response to “Abortion is serious decision, wait allows more time to think” (May 1 Forum):
Mind our own business, legislators. It’s my body
Forum writer Katherine Karr missed one very important point in her views on the abortion waiting period.
Every woman owns her own body. Her reproductive decisions are ultimately hers alone.
Attempts to legislate a woman’s body are tantamount to slavery.
In short, MYOB lawmakers.
Rev. Margaret Howell
Charlotte
In response to Our View “Welcome help for foster kids” (May 1 Editorial):
N.C. legislature doing good things for foster children
Thanks for the editorial on legislation to help foster kids. It’s great to see something positive being accomplished by our legislature.
You wrote of the children’s needs with compassion and sensitivity.
Meg Houlihan
Charlotte
Let’s pull together and do something big to help Nepal
The television images out of Nepal have led me to exhort the people of Charlotte to lend our every support to the thousands of destitute earthquake victims!
The hundreds of churches this community boasts should rally together and empty their coffers to help these victims.
Why not contribute every last cent of donations from last weekend – precisely the time when this unspeakable tragedy struck on the other side of the world?
Think of the message this would send to the country and to the entire world!
Bernie Hargadon
Charlotte
This story was originally published May 2, 2015 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 05.03.15."