On Brett Kavanaugh, we must rely on our common sense

If unprovable allegations of sexual misconduct over 30 years ago can override overwhelming testimony of Brett Kavanaugh’s high moral character, what can happen to you and me? Are you willing to give up “innocent until proven guilty” for yourself?

Sixty-five women who know Kavanaugh have vouched for his character. Two women who had dated him in high school and college vouched for him.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein received the allegation in July and turned it over to the FBI, who declined to pursue it. Why didn’t Feinstein bring up this allegation during the normal course of the judicial hearings?

The accuser passed a lie detector test. However, memory is tricky and very often faulty, especially among those who are most convinced of their good memory. If allegations are unverifiable, we must rely on our common sense.

—Margaret Shea Smetana

Pinehurst

Factory farms

As Florence’s deadly floodwaters continue to rise, it comes as no surprise that 26 of the state’s estimated 4,000 factory farm waste lagoons have already failed or overflowed, posing a grave public health danger from toxins like E. coli bacteria and salmonella.

Sadly, many of the flood’s greatest health impacts are being dealt to some of the state’s most marginalized residents, people who in many cases already wrestle daily with the foul smells, unhealthy air and threats to drinking water supplies posed by factory farms.

State officials who have played an ongoing role in limiting common-sense oversight of factory farm pollution knew it was never a question of “if” North Carolina residents would one day face the additional health hazards posed by flooding of factory farms; it was simply a question of “when.”

—Perrin de Jong

Asheville

Remember Puerto Rico

On Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. A year later, scars remain and basic needs still lack in terms of housing, medical, mental health, and education. While this day should be a time for reflection and honoring survivors, along with remembering those who are with the Almighty, more must be done beyond solemn tributes.

In view of President Trump’s denial that 3000 American citizens died due to Maria, “The National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018,” introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (H.R. 6103) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (S. 3076) should be supported by our N.C. delegation.

The bill creates a 9/11 style commission to investigate the federal response before and after Maria. This commission will not only investigate what went wrong but also address other issues the island has had since claimed as a U.S. territory in 1898. This is not unprecedented and what led to reforms after Hurricane Katrina.

On the first anniversary of Hurricane Maria, with nearly 90,000 Puerto Ricans calling North Carolina home (around 11,000 in Wake County), I urge the creation of this commission so the preventable tragedies of Maria does not happen again.

—John Verdejo

Raleigh

Nike explosion

The internet exploded a couple of weeks ago when Nike revealed its decision to make former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick the new face of its ad campaign surrounding the 30th anniversary of the “Just do it” slogan. The level of attention this “controversial” issue has received is astonishing.

Most of the attention is coming from people who disagree with Kaepernick for his decision to kneel during the national anthem. Disagreement is a normal part of political discourse; however, the way people have been acting is just appalling.

The solution those against the Nike ad have come up with is to destroy their clothes and post videos and pictures on social media. People are cutting the “swoosh” insignia from their socks and you can even find multiple videos of people burning their own shoes. What does this accomplish other than ruining perfectly good shoes?

—Nicholas Kowalski

Greenville

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