Don’t group all six constitutional amendments together

I take issue with Mark Nance’s statement in “Six reasons why NC should ‘Nix All Six’ of the amendments” (Oct. 28) that the proposed Victims’ Rights Amendment should be nixed. The sweeping assertion that all of the proposed amendments should be voted down amounts to a rhetorical sleight-of-hand. The Victims’ Rights Amendment is long overdue, and badly needed.

As it is now, victims of heinous crimes often have little opportunity in court to express how the crime perpetrated against them has affected their lives. Likewise, they are often not given advance notice of court proceedings or of the final disposition and sentencing of the defendant, which potentially puts them at risk of meeting the defendant unexpectedly on the street.

This deficiency would be corrected by the proposed amendment, which provides enforcement procedures to guarantee those rights.

Great strides over the past years have expanded and improved rights of the accused. Now, we need to provide the same compassion and concern for victims of crime.

Paula Powers Warren

Raleigh

Stopping hate

I hear about violence every day. As the CEO of the N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the focus of our work is with intervention and prevention solutions. We know that the connections between persons committing domestic violence and perpetrators of mass shootings are compelling and too great to ignore.

We are undoubtedly at a period of U.S. history in which societal violence has heightened, fueled by the accessibility of guns and the far-reaching effects of social media. Violence is encouraged with words designed to evoke fear —fear of those who worship, appear, or express in ways that are different from ourselves. The divisive rhetoric and action of our political leaders feed the division and opens the door to create harsh animosity. This is not us. Our government leaders are failing to lead the nation towards civility.

This is a call for all leaders—those of scout troops, families, businesses, organizations, school committees, health care and educational institutions, and particularly those in positions of authority—to speak strongly and decisively against actions and words that support white nationalism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia, and to encourage moral conversations that discourage divisiveness. We all must represent humanity. Our lives depend on it.

Dana Mangum, CEO, NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Durham

Bond coercion

The arrogance of the Wake County commissioners is on full display. If we don’t pass the bonds they will raise our taxes and spend the money anyway, despite decreasing enrollment projections due to parents having other choices. If we pass the bonds they still have to raise our taxes.

The county commissioners are all Democrats and every voter can vote for every commissioner in every district. That’s a Democrat idea. It keeps Republicans down. In a few days please vote Republican.

Paul Terrell

Fuquay Varina

Louisville shooting

I am surprised that The News & Observer has not printed an article about the white supremacist who tried to force his way into a Louisville African-American church last week. Because he could not get into the church, he moved on to a nearby grocery store where he shot and killed two senior African-Americans.

This is as significant as last week’s bombing attempt and the shooting in Pittsburgh. Trump can say he has nothing to do with these killings, but any of us who have listened to his rants of hatred know he is responsible.

Nick Gervase

Holly Springs

Silent Sam redeemed

At last we read the truth about Silent Sam by film and art historian, Kevin Lewis (“Silent Sam is not just a symbol; it’s a masterpiece of art,” Oct. 29). Thank you for printing such a well-written piece.

Lewis says Silent Sam “is a timeless study in the sadness and isolation of the average soldier in any war.” I see a poor, destitute soldier looking in the distance and thinking about the desolation awaiting him when he gets home. He was a poor young man, without slaves, just grim sadness on his young face. How wrong and arrogant are those who spend a part of their youth railing against inanimate statues instead of helping their fellow man.

A mob tore down Silent Sam, a beautiful piece of art that had stood 75 years. A number of other countries, for example England, proudly keep their statues as a representation of their history. We destroy representations of our past so we never learn from it.

Eunice Brock

Chapel Hill