Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Forum: Why Gov. McCrory finally lost my support

Gov. McCrory just lost my support

In response to Our View “Medicaid plan puts poor at risk” (Sept. 24 Editorial):

Is there any doubt that HMOs are businesses whose responsibility is to provide a return to shareholders, not to provide quality health care?

Where are the voices of church-goers, their pastors, and leaders of organizations that serve the poor?

They should be calling for reform in North Carolina “based on caring for our citizens and not for a group of stockholders,” as Rep. Nelson Dollar said.

Hopefully, the Observer will identify how much money HMOs or their surrogates contributed to House and Senate members who voted for this bill.

My wife and I have voted for Gov. Pat McCrory for the past 20 years, but he has just lost two votes.

George Szalony, Charlotte

Don’t judge Muslims on the acts of a few

In response to “Carson: Muslim shouldn’t be elected president” (Sept. 21):

Radical Muslim groups have risen to fame recently on terrible deeds, but the acts of some don’t brand the Muslim faith.

I am a Christian, and I know that people judge my religion based on those who insult the LGBT community, even though not all Christians support them.

Ben Carson shouldn’t be judging the faith of millions by the actions of few, nor should he get away with it so easily. Everyone here is an American, no matter their faith.

Anna Hallihan, Matthews

Bank customers, employees forgotten

In response to “BofA board doesn’t exist to serve CEO” (Sept. 23 Forum):

It’s good to hear that boards don’t serve the CEO. But a little disturbing to learn they instead serve the shareholders.

It would be nice if someone important were looking out for the employees and customers.

William C. Barnes, Charlotte

I want more than pomp with the Pope

In response to “Pope urges U.S. to care for Earth, poor” (Sept. 24):

The mainstream media abrogates its journalistic responsibilities with its bedfellow coverage of the Papal visit.

A critical analysis of the Pope and the Catholic Church would demand answers to the following questions:

Did the Church intentionally choose this Pope to distract attention from its criminal conspiracy to protect pedophiles?

Are the very slight nudges in Catholic doctrine the Pope has announced concerning gays, abortion, and divorce significant or just homophobic/misogynist lite?

How much money from the church’s tax free coffers will it dedicate to combat global warming?

Jason Huber, Charlotte

Inexperienced junior senator? Like Obama?

In response to “I don’t trust Tillis’ judgment on Iran” (Sept. 23 Forum):

Forum writer Joe Wall said he would not trust Sen. Thom Tillis’ judgment about the Iran nuclear deal because he is a junior first-term senator with no foreign policy experience.

Apparently he forgot that the person responsible for brokering the Iran nuclear deal in the first place was also a junior first-term senator with no foreign policy experience before he became president of the United States.

Michael Dover, Charlotte

Ahmed’s teacher put student safety first

In response to “Inventive student cuffed for ‘bomb hoax’ ” (Sept. 17):

The writer is a Randolph Middle School student.

The teacher’s reaction to Ahmed Mohamed’s clock ought to be commended. Teachers should always put safety first, and in her eyes it appeared to be a bomb.

She made the right decision in calling the police, keeping the safety of all children in mind.

However, being handcuffed, interrogated, and taken to a juvenile detention center can be quite traumatizing, especially to a child.

The police, whose actions display a hint of discrimination, certainly overreacted.

Sreyas Adiraju, Charlotte

Next, they’ll find the Dough Boy offensive

In response to “Petition: Remove statues in South End” (Sept. 23):

First, we had the Native Americans opposed to the Redskins name.

Now, some Latinos are opposed to the decor outside a local taco restaurant.

Next thing you know the overweight people will be going after the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Will this ridiculousness ever end? Like Mad Max on John Boy and Billy says: “People get a life.”

Larry Hoopaugh, Chester, S.C.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Forum: Why Gov. McCrory finally lost my support."

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