Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.06.16
Cam’s moral code isn’t corrupt
In response to “Unwed fatherhood sets bad example” (Jan. 5 Forum):
All you can ask of any parent is for them to be there to support their child in any way they can.
It is backwards thinking to believe that “strong family values” is the end-all-be-all to determining a good parent.
I’d much rather have a “bad parent” like Cam Newton than be raised by someone like Josh Duggar who always preached strong family values.
Congratulations are in order for Cam and Kia, as I’m sure they will make wonderful parents.
CJ Walters, Charlotte
It’s GOP policies that ‘target’ Americans
In response to “Background checks, gun law enforcement to be beefed up” (Jan. 5):
The president is not “targeting law-abiding citizens, intruding further into innocent Americans’ lives,” as Speaker Paul Ryan says.
People with guns are targeting innocent law-abiding citizens, and not just intruding into their lives, but wounding and killing them, leaving their loved ones to pick up the pieces.
The president is trying to protect all innocent Americans, rather than targeting them.
The Republicans are protecting gun owners.
I’d rather be targeted by President Obama than by a person with a gun.
Let’s get it straight about who’s actually targeting innocent Americans.
Laurie Tanner, Charlotte
Throw the book at those grave vandals
In response to “Confederate graves, markers are defaced” (Jan. 4):
People, it a Class I felony to deface or desecrate graves regardless of who they were when living.
I sincerely hope the law books get thrown at the individuals who desecrated the graves in Raleigh.
Richard Sisson, Charlotte
Toll opponents offer no viable alternative
In response to “Vote signals City Council support for toll lanes” (Jan. 5):
No one likes to pay tolls or taxes, including me. However, the toll road opposition has not provided one firm alternative.
It is fool’s gold to assume politicians in Raleigh will come to the rescue if the contract is canceled.
The Observer should cover the traffic nightmares between Exits 18 and 36 – the real problem.
Provide facts about length and frequency of delays, the number of daily accidents, the road rage and anger, and the impact these problems will have on future growth north of Charlotte. Are these problems not more serious than paying tolls?
Larry Boppe, Cornelius
Build an urban mall on Observer site
In response to “Observer considers move to NASCAR Plaza tower” (Jan. 5):
I urge the developers of the Observer site to consider building an urban mall.
The site has access to I-277, the Blue Line, and bridges the Center City and South End. More than 100,000 people work within walking distance, and 25,300 live within walking distance.
We do not need more restaurants or convenience stores as street-level retail. We need large retail.
The nearby Metropolitan has been extremely successful. How much more successful could an urban mall be?
Deb Park, Charlotte
Get facts straight on Obama, Jarrett, Iran
In response to “Why are we letting Iran bully the U.S.” (Jan. 5 Forum):
Forum writer Dickie Benzie says the president has allowed Iran to bully us and suggests his adviser, Valerie Jarrett, muddled his thought process.
While it is true that Jarrett was born in Iran, a review of her history shows she lived there until age 5 while her father served as chair of pathology at a Shiraz hospital as part of a program that sent American physicians to work in developing countries!
Mr. Benzie represents the worst of the uninformed citizens in our country when he insinuates another person’s motives based on one tiny bit of information he gathered on the Internet!
Doug Samut, Mooresville
Not all government infringement is bad
In response to “Regulatory overreach dominated 2015” (Jan. 2 Opinion):
Viewpoint columnists James Gattuso and Diane Katz found thousands of regulations that infringe on daily life and chip away at our individual freedoms.
These horrible things included energy efficiency, environmental protection and clean power.
Please, government, keep infringing!
Betty Hassler, Matthews
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.06.16."