Someone burned my neighbor’s Harris yard sign. Hate like that won’t heal us. | Opinion

Hate won’t heal us

Three times this month our Kamala Harris yard sign was vandalized. Thursday night, a neighbor’s similar sign was not just removed, but burned. The difference: He is Black. I am white.

It is impossible to speak to someone who wanders around your neighborhood late at night bent on destruction. If they would knock on my door and “say it to my face” in broad daylight, I would try to understand why they’re so angry. Getting past my own outrage is difficult, but well worth the effort. Acknowledging that people have a right to their fervently held beliefs can lead to an opportunity.

In this country, we have the unique chance to respect each others right to disagree and refuse to retaliate. Hate won’t heal the wounds of this country. My sign may be in tatters, but my vote remains intact and sound.

Dan Busch, Charlotte

Transit dollars

Lawmakers in Raleigh insist that 60% of a proposed local transit tax go toward roads and not mass transit — which relieves road congestion. So even when Mecklenburg County wants to work on congestion and supplies part of the money, lawmakers in Raleigh get to decide how the money is used. Having mass transit going towards Lake Norman, Matthews and the airport would go a long way toward improving the city/county for the next century — not the last century. Is this just one more way of Raleigh being jealous of and thumbing its nose at Charlotte?

Jeff S. Bassett, Charlotte

NC teachers

My wife and I recently had dinner at a Blowing Rock restaurant where we met a very nice server named Abby. She just graduated from Appalachian State with a degree in education. She is ready to begin student teaching at Watauga High School, which will allow her to keep working at the restaurant. She told us she’d like to stay in North Carolina to work, but couldn’t afford to live here because of the low teacher salary. It is a shame that a graduate of a state-supported university can’t afford to work here. Our state leaders brag about lowering our taxes and our large budget surplus while our schools open with a shortage of teachers. Misplaced priorities.

Scott Padgett, Concord

Collapse of Roe

The writer of “How did Roe fall?” (Aug. 24 Opinion) seems to have no idea of how women have truly suffered due to the end of Roe.

The author fails to mention how many of the Supreme Court justices lied during their confirmation hearings because they said they would not overturn precedent. Yes, this was a concerted effort from the right wing to push through their agenda, even as unpopular it was. The right, which advocates for small government, still believes it has the right to interfere with a women’s right to make a decision that is none of their business.

The author was correct about one thing: “the sting of pro-life losses at the ballot box.” They will continue, count on it.

Laura Reich, Charlotte

Cutting down trees

In recent years, city leaders have said how concerned they are about Charlotte losing its green canopy. Yet, they continue to permit developers to plow under thousands of acres of trees in and around the city, without making them replace more than about 10%. I live in an older neighborhood and developers are plowing down trees to cram in houses on any space they can. Instead of making decisions that have such negative impacts, city leaders should talk to the people they represent.

Take a drive down Robinson Church Road and see the results. Not just neighborhoods are affected, wildlife is too.

Kristine Fisher, Charlotte

GOP norms

Regarding “NC Justice Berger won’t be recused from major cases involving his father...” (Aug. 23):

State Supreme Court Justice Philip Berger Jr.’s refusal to recuse himself from a case involving his father highlights a disturbing trend in GOP politics. Many elected Republicans seem to feel political norms don’t apply to them. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson demands voters ignore his past business failures, bankruptcies and bigoted comments. State Rep. Tricia Cotham expressed offense when called out for switching to the Republican Party after she was elected as a Democrat.

Michael A. Clark, Charlotte