The one thing Trump must do if he’s sincere about unity | Opinion

We’re watching

After the shooting that threatened his life, it’s said that former President Trump would like to bring the country together. It is clear that to begin healing our country, he must begin by doing one simple thing — admit that he lost the 2020 election and stop expecting his followers to agree with this toxic lie. We’re watching…

Louise Woods, Charlotte

Taking stock

Steve Bannon, Roger Stone and Peter Navarro, all convicted of crimes, are glorified by the Republican Party. On the day he was released from prison, Navarro was given a spot at the RNC podium and received a rousing ovation.

The party then nominated a candidate for president who has 34 felony convictions, has been found civilly liable for sexual assault, and still has multiple felony charges yet to be adjudicated.

What have we become as a society? Am I cynical because I’m old, or because I really should be?

Joel B. Miller, Hickory

A Trump gun bill

I encourage all politicians to support a bill called the Donald J. Trump Safety and Gun Control Bill. The former president was shot with an AR-15. Let’s take a knee in unity to save America from gun violence. Send a message to the NRA and put such a bill to a vote. Let’s save this country!

Randall Lemly, Charlotte

Sane gun laws

Now that gun violence has struck the body politic at the highest level, it’s time for politicians to widen their focus and proclaim that gun violence has no place in American society. Yes we need to cool our political rhetoric, but what we really need to do is make assault-style guns inaccessible to the public. Americans have been begging politicians for decades to adopt saner gun laws. Perhaps it is time to listen and act.

Deb Park, Charlotte

Weaponized?

Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat, was just found guilty on all counts in his corruption trial. Earlier this year, Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, was convicted on felony gun possession charges. Were those verdicts the result of a justice system weaponized against political figures, or do they represent accountability in a court of law based on evidence presented to jurors?

Arnie Grieves, Huntersville

My America

I’ve always believed America is stronger with a two-party system and often split my vote. This election I’ll be voting only for Democrats because of my fundamental beliefs about the America I want to live in. It’s a country where the U.S. remains in NATO, corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share of taxes, everyone is free to marry who they love, contraception and IVF are available, and abortions are legal and safe in cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother. It’s a country with sensible immigration policies and gun control legislation. It’s an America where separation of church and state, rule of law, voting rights and fair elections reign supreme.

Dianne Mason, Matthews

Meck school clubs

Regarding “Stipend changes raise concerns for non-athletic school clubs,” (July 16):

Non-athletic activities are an important component of a student’s secondary education. In high school, I spent spare time in the photography darkroom and backstage with the theater department. Those two skills were my primary source of discretionary cash through college and put joy in my life for the next 50 years.

For many students, these activities are the only reason they stay in school. They should be funded. School is not just the “three Rs.

William C. Barnes, Charlotte

NC floods

Because America dragged its feet in response to climate change, FEMA spends more and more on flood resilience. In North Carolina, coastal storms keep increasing in intensity and sea levels are predicted to rise 4 feet by the turn of the century. So we need to spend money to elevate legacy properties in floodplains or rebuild them in safer locations. But for every house moved out of a floodplain, 10 new properties are built in the region. These new developments must be assessed for flood risk and taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be wasted to save such vulnerable projects.

Sandra O’Neill, Cornelius