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Letters to the Editor

French voted against extremism

Outgoing French President Francois Hollande (R) stands by President-elect Emmanuel Macron (L) as they attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II on May 8, 2017 in Paris.
Outgoing French President Francois Hollande (R) stands by President-elect Emmanuel Macron (L) as they attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II on May 8, 2017 in Paris. AFP/Getty Images

Regarding the May 8 news article “Electing Macron, France votes to stick with Europe”: For years the French often have been the butt of many jokes. But Sunday, as a nation, they stood up and voted against extremism and far-right nationalism.

The French should be proud of their victory against far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and what she stood for. But they also were lucky. The French were fortunate to see events unfolding that gave the west Brexit and the U.S. presidency to Donald Trump. They escaped what the U.S. fell for.

Michael Matthews

Cary

Voters may have second thoughts

Regarding the May 7 news article “For the very ill, anxiety over GOP plan grows”: Some people with pre-existing conditions were feeling anxious about the health care bill passed Thursday by the U.S. House.

I assumed that some of those anxious folks voted for Donald Trump. Perhaps a few of them were now having second thoughts about voting for Republicans. Sometimes we get what we vote for and it’s not what we wished for.

Marvin Maddox

Cary

Keep up renewable energy efforts

Great job, North Carolina. The May 4 news article “N.C. gave record $245M in energy tax breaks” gave me hope that renewable energy was becoming more mainstream.

The direction the state took last year was the correct one. It’s time for North Carolina to phase in renewable energy on a large scale. The state also should continue to keep up with California in solar energy capacity and increase other renewable-energy use. Fossil fuels aren’t going to last.

Olivia Merritt

Raleigh

Vote against AHCA

Regarding the May 7 news article “For the very ill, anxiety over GOP plan grows”: My husband, Bill, has suffered from multiple sclerosis for the past decade. Recently, my son, Ike, was diagnosed with epilepsy. Both diseases are entirely manageable with medication but devastating without it.

Provisions of the health care bill passed Thursday by the U.S. House will leave many, like Bill and Ike, unable to afford or access health insurance at some point in their lives. Urge senators to vote against the American Health Care Act.

Jennifer Richmond-Bryant

Chapel Hill

This story was originally published May 8, 2017 at 4:25 PM with the headline "French voted against extremism."

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