12/13 Letters: The hypocrisy behind Senator Thom Tillis’ ‘Support Our Troops’ Santa hat

Tillis Santa hats

Seems Sen. Thom Tillis is offering up Santa hats with a choice of four slogans this Christmas season for $25 to support his 2020 re-election. One of the choices is “Support Our Troops.”

Sounds patriotic on a Santa hat until you remember the following: Last year Tillis supported President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at our southern border.

By so doing, Sen. Grinch approved taking $3.6 billion from the defense budget to spend on this wall.

Guess where cuts of $80 million fell? On North Carolina military bases.

I’d like a Santa hat that reflects the true spirit of Christmas, please. Not hypocrisy.

Linda Sutton, Durham

Silent Sam, UNC

Many people are outraged that UNC has decided to not only gift Silent Sam to N.C. Sons of Confederate Veterans, but to also provide the organization with $2.5 million.

People from across the state and country have threatened to never give a another dollar to UNC. In contrast, we plan to give generously every time UNC sends a request to us for a donation. We will send back every envelope stuffed with copies of Confederate dollars in recognition of the Board of Governors’ secretive and misguided decision.

Hal and Anne Bogerd, Durham

Betrayed by BOG

This is how it happens. One transgression at a time; a perverse version of “journeys begin with one step.” We are well beyond the first step. Now we must stop, dig deep, and take another path.

Incrementally, one step at a time, the moral commons of this campus has been violated repeatedly. Silent Sam haunted us with his presence and now with his absence.

We reason, listen, accommodate, and then the folly of our equanimity becomes clear. We are contained, indulged, distracted with committees and ambiguous statements meant to appease and distract. There is obfuscation, expediency, and in the end the demeaning disrespect of imposed, unquestioned authority. All at our expense.

We have been betrayed by those with statutory authority, but we will not betray our social and moral authority by accepting this step, and the next, and the next.

Sue Estroff, Chapel Hill

Former chair of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty

Sham impeachment

Before our very eyes Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler are attempting to rig our next presidential election with what appears to be a paper tiger impeachment process.

There are no teeth to these allegations. It’s understandable many people don’t care for Donald Trump, but he should receive due process. This will set precedent for every future president and how they will be treated by their opponent.

What a ridiculous sham and a complete waste of time.

J.D. Howard, Raleigh

NAFTA 2.0

A bipartisan agreement has been reached after more than a year of negotiation on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

While the agreement is more or less an updated version of NAFTA, several of the added provisions have the potential for real consequences in North Carolina and beyond.

Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the revised agreement is the pharmaceutical industry due to provisions limiting low-cost alternatives and further restricting competition in the marketplace.

In 2017, Canada and Mexico accounted for more than 30 percent of total exports from North Carolina. With increasingly stringent regulations in place and limited competition driving demand, manufacturer revenues could be expected to soar over time.

Less certain is a related increase in state revenue or high-paying local jobs. This may spur innovation for pharmaceutical companies in North Carolina, but limited competition will lead to cost increases for consumers, whether through higher drug prices or increased premiums.

Martin Mayer

Jacob Newton

Mayer is an assistant professor of political science at UNC-Pembroke. Newton is a graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill.

NJ shooting

As a Muslim-American, I am left shaken by the Jersey City shooting. Authorities are claiming that anti-Semitic sentiments might have motivated the shooters.

Discrimination against minorities is on the rise in this country. Some of the prejudice stems from sheer ignorance, but others are emboldened by the racist rhetoric of some of our political leaders.

As a Muslim, I believe that the source of our creation is one. This belief helps me treat other fellow humans with respect and compassion. The Holy Quran says killing one innocent person is like killing all of mankind.

My heart is saddened for the victims and families of the Jersey City shooting. I stand with the Jewish community and any group that faces discrimination or prejudice.

Huma Munir, Morrisville