The latest round of hate geared toward individuals who identify as transgender is completely out of control and from the right side of the political spectrum.
The right likes to pride themselves on “freedom” or “leaving people alone,” but apparently that does not count if you identify as transgender. It is a classic example of “I don’t understand,” therefore your way of life is wrong and scary.
All individuals who identify as transgender — including children — are trying to do is live a happy and fulfilling life. They want to go to school, they want to hang out with their friends, and yes they want to play sports. They do not harm a soul. I have always operated under the notion that if you are not harming anyone, do what you want to do, and let people live their lives they way they want to live. That’s freedom.
Matt Bean
Claremont
In the July 9 Sunday Valley News I observed a cartoon in the editorial section from the Chattanooga Free Press, by Clay Bennett, that I found to be a very inappropriate display and use of the Purple Heart. This was a color picture of someone wearing a Pride tee shirt with a Purple Heart Medal with the words “culture war” on it.
I know of a few Purple Heart recipients, including one of my uncles who was killed in action during World War II. Purple Heart recipients were injured or killed in the line of duty fighting for all of our rights and liberties; without them, I’m not sure if we would have any rights, including the right to celebrate and observe Pride. I respect Pride so please don’t feel that I’m in any way against it, but I hope folks realize that if it wasn’t for people like our Purple Heart recipients and heroes, we may not have been able to celebrate many of our American ways including the Pride movement! The issuance of a Purple Heart to someone that sacrificed so much is something that I feel is very sacred and should never be used in any other way!
I am the commander of Jeffery S. Holmes American Legion Post 84. The post was named after Mr. Holmes, who was a U.S. Marine and was killed in action, in Iraq back in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He gave his all, and for that he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart along with other medals. Please honor Mr. Holmes, along with any other Purple Heart recipients like him, who fought for the liberties that we all enjoy by not dishonoring these brave men and women by using their medals in any other way!
Dennis L. Brown
American Legion
commander, Jeffery S. Holmes, Post 84
In Wayne Gersen’s July 16 Sunday Opinion column (“Putin’s contracting with Wagner and Eisenhower’s warning for America”), he referenced Eisenhower’s famous farewell speech that first mentioned the concept of the “military-industrial complex.” In that address he warned of the danger to democracy of this insidiously growing menace.
What is little-known by the public and really enlightens Eisenhower’s concept is the phrasing omitted from his earlier drafts of the speech — he called it “the military-industrial-congressional complex.” Most revealing and probably “too hot” for public consumption is the fact that the addition of “congressional” is what makes the other two parts of the triad feasible. This third point of the triangle of intrigue is where the whole “complex” makes sense. (The military wouldn’t be able to access the industrial without money from Congress.)
And this is the place where public input and expression of concern, even outrage, can most effectively be expressed and directed. This is where our contacts with our congressional representatives can have some impact on this democracy-threatening phenomenon that we face today. I encourage all citizens of the Upper Valley to study more about this issue and then communicate your concerns to our representatives.
Philip Eller
Norwich
Thank you for your June 16 editorial about the “terrifying new normal for the weather.” You are correct that our political leaders need to prioritize responding to these climate challenges and we need to urge them to do so. My heart aches for those who have experienced the trauma of the recent flooding and those who have lost hard-earned homes and businesses. Vermont and New Hampshire residents are indeed strong and resilient, but that does not allow us to deny that climate change is real.
Your editorial reinforces what I have been thinking for a long time. Why do some political leaders focus on banning books, denying health care to the small percentage of our population who identify as trans, eliminating critical race theory from classrooms, and imposing personal moral and religious values on a woman’s right to control her body? Surely we have more urgent problems to address. Climate change, infrastructure, the lack of affordable housing and affordable child care, the hatred of white supremacists, and gun violence are just the beginning of the list. Surely these issues affect more people than a children’s book about two mothers (or two fathers) or a drag story hour. Come on, folks. Get real!
Dena B. Romero
Hanover