Trump may not think America has anything to be ashamed of, but I do. It’s inequality.

America’s shame

According to coverage of President Trump’s speech in Wilmington, he said: “In America we’re not ashamed of anything.” I can believe that Trump isn’t ashamed of anything because he has no conscience, no ethics. But America should be ashamed of its treatment of American Indians, African-Americans, and other minorities. When Trump is no longer in office, I know America can do better.

Amy Huenemann, Cary

One person, 1 vote

In Wilmington, President Trump openly encouraged North Carolinians to break the law by voting twice. It should not be necessary to remind voters that doing so is a felony.

Our modern election systems now catch this very easily. In fact, a Haywood County man was convicted of doing so in the 2016 primary.

I also would not count on Trump advising you to break the law as your “get out of jail free card,” even if you were doing so to “test the system.”

If you are nervous about voting by absentee ballot, request your ballot early at ncsbe.gov and send it back immediately. You can verify online if has been received. Or, use early voting in person available on Oct. 15-31, but please wear a mask.

Debra J. Henzey, Cary

COVID relief

It is welcome news that the CDC has ordered a moratorium on evictions through Dec. 31. This should stave off mass evictions in the short term. Unfortunately, it is not enough to evade the long-term risks of COVID-19 inspired health and economic ruins.

Emergency rental assistance is still needed to help renters avoid an eviction “cliff” when this relief expires. It’s also needed to help small landlords who still face bills.

Economist Mark Zandi says tenants already owe “nearly $25 billion in back rent, which could reach $69.8 billion” by year’s end. It is imperative that N.C. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis tell leadership to resume negotiations with the House and White House and enact a robust COVID-19 deal that includes $100 billion in emergency rental assistance.

Ruth T. Scott, Raleigh

Volunteer with RESULTS.org, an anti-poverty advocacy group

COVID vaccine

A vaccine for COVID-19 has just been promised by the politically compromised CDC to be available by Election Day (“CDC sends urgent request for states’ vaccine plans,” Sept. 3)

Surprise, surprise.

As appropriate clinical trails cannot meet that deadline, pardon me if I refuse to drink Trump’s election Kool-aid. I’ll wait for a vaccine shown medically safe and effective by a method dictated by science rather than Trump’s rapacious desire to be re-elected president.

Ned Gardner, Apex

Pelosi apology

Nancy Pelosi demands an apology for being “set up” by her hairdresser. She should get that apology immediately after she and her co-conspirators apologize to President Trump for their actions in attempting to overturn the 2016 election results. I believe the American people have finally had enough. We pay these people to work together for us. While we’re at it, why are these politicians and their staffs getting full pay and benefits when most of us are struggling to save our businesses and families?

Steven Metzler, Raleigh

J. Peder Zane

Regarding “The left’s false narrative on the post office,” (Sept 2 Opinion):

In his op-ed, J. Peder Zane calls President Trump’s conspiracies “wacky.” But this amounts to an apology for Trump, diminishing the grave extent to which the supposed leader of the free world demeans his office and undermines democracy by espousing spurious and highly charged conspiracies.

These include claims that electing Joe Biden would “give free rein to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens and destroy the American way of life,” as Trump declared at the RNC.

Rather than fixating on the so-called false narratives emanating from the left, Zane would do a better service for his readers if he educated them about the dangers of Trump’s rhetorical mendacity. Only when he and other Trump apologists do so will conservatism regain respect and our democracy return to normal.

Kenneth Zagacki, Cary

Sutton’s

Regarding “‘I want to make it 100 years.’ Chapel Hill’s Sutton’s Drug Store fights for survival,” (Aug. 31):

I’m 80 years old and I enrolled at UNC in Chapel Hill in 1958 soon after graduating high school in Greensboro. My new friends and I started out eating lunch at Lenoir Hall, but it wasn’t long until we got word that a place named Sutton’s was by far the coolest place to eat lunch and be able to “hang-out” with some great basketball players, at a price we could afford. So from then on Sutton’s was the place to go.

Even after I graduated from UNC Law School and married, Sutton’s remained my lunch place of choice, and where pharmacist John Woodard filled all my prescriptions until I retired.

This is a long way of saying that Sutton’s played a significant role in my life. Andrew Carter’s well written piece about Sutton’s reminded me of the importance of this place. I truly hope Don Pinney is able to sustain this treasure until at least its’ 100th birthday!

Steve Bernholz, Chapel Hill