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Burr and Tillis owe NC voters an explanation on the voting rights bill

Voting rights bill

Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr must tell North Carolinians why they won’t vote for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Our senators know the polls — their constituents want this bill to pass. We want every barrier to voting removed and we want protection from partisan electoral fraud.

North Carolina voters want an end to gerrymandered redistricting. We want all the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act restored.

Burr and Tillis must stand up on the floor of the U.S. Senate and tell us why they don’t want these reforms. I cannot understand why anyone who believes in the fundamental rights of all citizens to participate in the democratic process would oppose them.

Gann Herman, Durham

Manchin, Sinema

The unspoken reason that Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are relentlessly opposing ending the filibuster is not their stated concern that ending it would cause more division. Instead, it is their selfish desire of wishing to retain the powers of their catbird seats. I think the press should question the senators about how their desire for power is threatening our democracy.

Jay Wellons, Raleigh

Madison Cawthorn

The Jan. 14 editorial titled “A misguided attempt to disqualify Madison Cawthorn” was itself misguided.

Since when have debates, town halls and media interviews compelled a truthful response from Cawthorn in the past? Never. The only way to hold him accountable is a legal challenge.

The editorial says voters should decide Cawthorn’s political fate, rather than a legal challenge. Thanks to gerrymandering in the 13th Congressional district, that issue is moot. Cawthorn will without doubt again raise his right hand and swear allegiance to the U.S. Constitution — quite the joke.

If any legal avenue exists to challenge that outcome, it should be pursued with all vigor.

Ned Gardner, Apex

Gerrymandering

When it comes to election maps why can’t we use the one stat everyone agrees on — that North Carolina is split about 50/50 based on political affiliation. Whatever map we use if there is 100% voter turnout, how close would it be to a 50/50 split, plus or minus 3%? That would leave the election outcome based 100% on voter turnout.

Steve Lowry, Cary

MLK’s message

Thank you for reprinting the 2018 editorial about Martin Luther King.. His words about justice and inequality are so meaningful and important. I agree it’s time to deemphasize the “I Have a Dream” speech and bring forward his messages that ring so true in this time of Black Lives Matter.

Julia Welch, Chapel Hill

Book bans

Thanks for the long Jan. 16 article on the challenges and triumphs of Kinston High School’s basketball team. It was well told and enlightening for a white guy like me.

I wonder if a book one of these students might write about living with racism would be banned from schools for promoting “dangerous critical race theory.”

White parents in a Texas district are now saying “New Kid” should be banned because it may make their children feel guilty about the racism faced by the novel’s 12-year-old boy.

The point of good storytelling and teaching real history is not to make young people feel guilty, but to enlighten them for the crucial choices they will make as adults. White parents especially must oppose the stifling effect of book bans under the “Stop CRT” banner.

Bob Hall, Durham

A.C. Snow

Regarding “Beloved columnist A.C. Snow dies after 70 years at NC papers,” (Jan. 17):

There are very few writers able to take simple, everyday events and turn them into colorful narratives that people actually want to read. A.C. Snow was one.

As A.C aged, he never lost his edge. His wit never dimmed. He never took himself or his musings too seriously. He thoughtfully answered every email I ever sent him. These are rare qualities for anyone with a following.

A.C. leaves behind writings as colorful as a North Carolina autumn. We missed him when he departed the newspaper and now we will miss him even more knowing he is no longer among us.

Mike Hoyt, Raleigh