Trump is trying to wipe out a free press
Journalists are just doing their jobs
I voted for Trump, but have to agree with Miami Herald writer Leonard Pitts 100 percent about how Trump is trying to stifle our free press. A journalist’s job description is to ask questions.
I visit the Philippines often, and have learned that over 150 journalists have been killed there over the past few decades. One likely reason death like that is so rampant is because journalists there are afraid to expose a corrupt policeman, politician or rich businessman in fear for their lives.
We need to guard the free press with all our might, no matter how much we love a politician.
Robert Parker, Hickory
Trump had already dealt with enough
Leonard Pitts was of course critical of President Trump for trying to put the brakes on journalist Jim Acosta. White House Press Corps members surely have guidelines for their jobs as well as behavior. However, Acosta’s action toward Trump could be seen as aggressive and unprofessional by many even if Trump certainly could have handled the situation better.
To the point of it being a journalist’s job to ask questions: Pitts failed to mention that President Trump stood there for more than an hour answering dozens of different questions from dozens of different journalists. One could hardly say that is not cooperating with the demand for answers from the press. It would be unusual for anyone to take that many questions at one press sitting, if ever!
Bill Kniegge, Waxhaw
A one-party town sounds like trouble
As a native of Charlotte, I’m sad to see the city has followed the unfortunate pattern of becoming a one-party town after this past Election Day. It seems there is no accommodation for different views.
Can you name a Democrat-controlled large city with a clean and respectable reputation? As the old saying goes, “You are a product of the company you keep.”
Floyd Prophet, Kannapolis
Health care for all is a human right
The fact that insurance companies must exclude people with preexisting conditions in order to maintain profitability is proof that our privatized healthcare system does not work.
We allow these companies to profit from the necessity of health care at the expense of reasonable medical coverage for all Americans.
The fact that we provide Medicare is a clear indication that private health care is unsustainable among populations that have a higher risk of health problems. Why do we treat individuals under 65 differently?
Health care is not charity and it’s not a business opportunity. It’s a human right.
Philip Curley, Charlotte
Why attack Elizabeth Warren here?
In response to “Dress as a Mexican for Halloween? I’m having second thoughts” (Nov. 9 For the Record):
Maysun Dietrick wrote a thoughtful article about dressing for Halloween as something we’re not. I appreciate her comments on this subject.
However, I’m not sure why she felt it necessary to throw Elizabeth Warren under the bus more than once. I don’t recall Senator Warren claiming “every day, or at least on days most convenient to her” to be Native American. I also haven’t noticed her “parade around as something she’s not.” All I’ve seen is Senator Warren responding to negative questions about her heritage.
Is Ms. Dietrick of Native American heritage? If so, I may have missed her reason for mentioning the senator in her article in the first place.
Susan Griffis, Hickory
Our country cannot help every victim
In response to “She fled from a man she feared would kill her. She hoped for asylum in Charlotte.” (Nov. 8):
I’m sure the violence Paula is fleeing from is terrible, as domestic violence is for millions of American women here each year. However, to get to the U.S., Paula passed through two other nations where her husband does not live (including Mexico) who are now granting asylum to other migrants and members of the “caravan.”
Why did Paula not seek asylum in those nations? Also, Paula stated that her husband never raised a hand to her children, so why make them partake on a perilous journey all the way here?
More needs to be done by the president and Congress to fix our broken immigration system. The U.S. cannot afford to take in all the world’s victims.
Michael Spina, Matthews
Let’s fill-in-the-blank America
In response to “The story of America’s next mass shooting” (Nov. 11 Opinion):
Taylor Batten’s brutal, brilliant column left out one fill-in-the-blank:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to (enter details of the latest massacre here and those whose deaths apparently won’t be enough to get our country to do something about the gun culture that leaves blood on our hands).
Ken Garfield, Charlotte