Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 07.01.15
Obama’s display of gay pride divisive
One of President Obama’s election promises was to bring people together, yet he insulted many Americans by lighting the White House in the rainbow colors of gay pride on Friday night.
How can any American rail about the Confederate flag and approve of what amounts to flying the gay flag? Both are divisive symbols for vast numbers of people.
This “in your face” decision by our president makes the divide even greater.
Don Reid
Charlotte
In response to “$10 bill plan miffs Hamilton fans” (June 28):
Let Alexander Hamilton be, he’s important part of U.S. history
Let Alexander Hamilton be, he’s important part of U.S. history
There are some things in life I don’t understand. The most recent is this push to replace Alexander Hamilton with a woman on our $10 bill.
Our founding fathers, including Hamilton, are the sacred part of our history. Diminish one and you diminish all.
Put a woman on the $20 bill. It would be more consistent with the unveiling in 2020 and with what that year represents.
Let Hamilton remain standing shoulder to shoulder beside Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Henry, and Franklin.
Don’t tarnish our history!
Jim Beatty
Charlotte
Fundamental question: Why is U.S. so obsessed with guns?
I am for gun control, but it seems like the argument gets bogged down by “invoking” any change to the Constitution as sacrilege, rather than the document being a reflection of a specific time and context.
The more fundamental question to address is: Why does our country have a love affair with guns?
Until we understand the culture that produces this mentality, we aren’t getting to the heart of the matter.
Ellen Martin
Charlotte
It’s the behavior of criminals that must be addressed
Yes, let’s do away with all guns. I’m sure after all law-abiding citizens turn in the guns they use for protection all criminals will also willingly line up to turn in their weapons.
Following that “logic,” let’s outlaw forks. Everyone knows forks are causing the obesity epidemic!
Blaming a gun for the behavior of a criminal is the same as blaming a fork for causing someone to overeat: Ridiculous.
Mike Vee
Concord
In response to “Get government out of the marriage business, it’s a religious ceremony” (June 29 Forum):
Marriage is a legal contract,so can’t take government out
It is true that the dual nature of marriage in this country does, at times, cause problems, particularly when we start to debate the “definition” of marriage.
The Supreme Court decision was not about the religious definition of marriage, but the civil (i.e., legal) definition.
Marriage is a contract, and as such has many ramifications: tax status, legal custody of children, child support, benefits upon a partner’s passing, and on and on.
We really cannot take government out of the picture without also throwing out all massive ramifications associated with tying the knot.
Jim Cunningham
Charlotte
Rea Road project has been a disaster; heads need to roll
After three years and $22.5 million, work on Rea Road – one year behind schedule – is dying a slow death.
There needs to be a complete, objective review of every aspect of this contract, from pre-bid to punch out, with the goal to ensure that a train wreck such as this will never be repeated by Charlotte DOT.
Heads need to roll.
John Walsh
Charlotte
My plan to save those historic front pages outside Observer
As a native Charlottean, I appreciate the role the Observer has played in the city’s history, and how the paper documents the world on a daily basis.
As the paper prepares to vacate its South Tryon Street property, I call on it and Lincoln Harris to preserve the historic front pages along Church and Stonewall streets.
Perhaps these could be incorporated into Romare Bearden Park, preserving some character in this era of rampant development.
Henry Schoenhoff
Charlotte
This story was originally published June 30, 2015 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 07.01.15."