Latest abortion case marks a continued push to turn back time, keep women in their place

Women’s rights

The latest attack on abortion before the Supreme Court illustrates the continued push to turn back time and keep women in their place.

All who care about individual freedom should be ready to defend the law of the land, which allows a woman to choose based on her situation. It doesn’t require those who don’t approve of abortion to do anything. It simply allows freedom of choice.

If these same supporters would show as much energy and passion to insist on better education regarding sexuality for young women and men, make men more accountable for their actions, just as they demand of women, and put real force into punishing sexual harassment and assault, the incidence of pregnancy and abortion would no doubt decrease.

Focusing on the single issue of abortion devolves into penalizing and diminishing women in society. We have gone way beyond that, and the polls indicate far and away the desire for choice. Since women are the majority of the population in America, it would be wise to drop these misguided assaults on their rights.

Laura Stillman, Raleigh

CIA torture

Regarding “International court approves Afghanistan investigation,” (March 5):

The U.S. could have avoided the International Criminal Court’s scrutiny with a transparent investigation, identifying and punishing those who authorized torture of prisoners. The NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture held open hearings and published a report with the details of our state’s role in the torture program. But N.C. governors and attorneys general have turned a blind eye from 2005 to present. Aero Contractors still operates with impunity.

Now is the time for state officials to oppose barbaric behavior by our government. Somebody has to say: Not in our name and not on our watch.

Steven Edelstein, Raleigh

N.C. Commission of Inquiry on Torture, board member

Bernie Sanders

It’s a lie to portray Bernie Sanders whistling while mopping up blood in a Castro torture cell, as Steve Sack’s March 9 cartoon did. When Sanders points out that Castro did some things right, he’s not supporting Castro but pointing out the need to take an unbiased view of Castro’s education and health care policies, which were commendable. That doesn’t excuse the terrible things the regime did, or link Sanders to them.

M.B. Hardy, Raleigh

Sanders’ agenda

I know communism and socialism up-close, ever since I was a Fulbright Fellow to Hungary 30 years ago when it was a Russian communist satellite. In European countries, Democratic Socialist heads of state usually worked their way up to leadership of a prominent political party. Sanders has never joined the Democratic Party and has no record of supporting Democratic candidates for up- or down-ballot offices. He has invaded my party a second time, trying to hijack it for his own political ambitions without paying his dues. His agenda is to destroy the political establishment. This includes the Democratic Party, my party, that he won’t join. I vehemently object.

Irwin Rovner, Cary

Trump’s economy

Well, the stock market dropped 2,000 points in one day. Thanks Trump! If you take credit for it going up, the only decent thing would be for you to take blame for it going down. For Trump, everything good that happens is to his credit and everything bad is someone else’s fault. Heaven help us. It won’t be too soon before we vote him out and make America decent again.

Ed Levin, Chapel Hill

Virus response

The world is facing a crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time. While other world leaders are addressing it, President Trump is playing golf in Florida. Early on, he played down the seriousness of this by encouraging people to go to work even though they might be contagious. It doesn’t take a stable genius to see where his priorities are — self-serving while Americans are anxious and suffering. Republicans who have aided and abetted this fiasco are as guilty as Trump for allowing this to happen to our citizens. What does it take for people to realize what is really going on?

Georgie Brizendine, Raleigh

Absentee voter rules

Regarding “Lawsuit: North Carolina absentee vote changes went too far,” (March 5):

The new absentee rules add another layer of voter suppression for some, including patients and residents of health care facilities. The old rules allowed volunteers to assist with registration and requests for absentee ballots — with voter permission. In health care facilities a magnifying glass is the only visual accommodation brought to potential voters. Voting is the way to express concerns for ourselves, families and communities. The new rules make that harder for patients and residents of health care facilities.

Annie Butzner, Asheville