Letters: Capitol rioter defenders betray real American heroes. JD Vance lacks character
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Character lacking in JD Vance's use of mom in comments, book
At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida, JD Vance accused the American political class of being fixated on the Ukraine conflict.
He said, “I’m sick of being told that we have to care more about people 6,000 miles away than we do people like my mom, my grandparents ...”
I took note that he expressed concern for his mom.
I have rarely lost as much respect for a person in a short a time as I have for J.D. Vance. https://t.co/yhU8exQAfP
— Brit Hume (@brithume) February 26, 2022
That being the case, I have a question for Vance. Why, as a graduate of Yale Law School with a good job and a new home in Cincinnati, did you put your homeless mother in a motel infested with “really big spiders, like tarantulas," as you described in your book, where obvious drug activity was taking place?
More: Historian: JD Vance wrong about Ukraine. 'We need to stay involved in the world.'
If unwilling to take your mother into your home, perhaps for understandable reasons, why did you choose a shabby motel that cost you only $150 for a week?
Surely, you could have found a Holiday Inn Express.
I share this information because when electing a U.S. senator, character counts.
More: JD Vance became a national name after 'Hillbilly Elegy.' Will that translate to votes in Ohio?
You can read about this in Vance’s book, "Hillbilly Elegy", pages 235-237.
Ted Strickland, Columbus
Amtrak needs to fix existing Ohio train service
A 3C Amtrak train sounds great, but how about improving the departure times of the existing trains that serve Ohio?
The current Amtrak trains that serve Ohio are Chicago - New York or Washington overnight trains with Ohio stops at very inconvenient times.
For example, the Capitol Limited leaves Cleveland for Chicago 2:59 a.m.
More: Opinion: We must support Amtrak, create regional transit to seize 'momentous' Intel chance
The Lake Shore Limited leaves Cleveland for Chicago at 4:03 a.m. The Cardinal leaves Cincinnati for Chicago at 1:41 a.m.
The eastbound trains have similar early morning times. Amtrak should consider scheduling trains following the existing routes to Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York at times that are convenient for Ohioans.
More: Ricksecker: Ohio must move past '1960s highway-only mentality' and embrace Amtrak service
Doug Crandall, Westerville
War heroes betrayed by those who defend Capitol invaders
My father is 96 and is a World War II veteran; he was a sailor on a small aircraft carrier named the White Plains.
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That ship and many others played a key role in the battle of Leyte Gulf, which represented a turning point in the Pacific War.
He has pictures of kamikaze pilots and sinking ships on fire; his ship suffered damage from a near-miss that lifted the fantail out of the water it was so close.
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Many died that day but they knew what they were fighting for: to defend our democracy, our Constitution and our way of life.
More: Our view: American democracy is neither a 'fragile flower' nor guaranteed
To hear people call themselves patriots while defending those who attacked the Capitol while clinging to the lies propagated by Donald Trump and many in the Republican Party including the Republican National Committee which censured Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking the truth is disgraceful; it is an insult to those brave sailors who never lived to enjoy the freedom they died to preserve.
Trump and those who continue to violate our Constitution and democratic institutions are on the side of sedition not patriotism; it is well past time for them to be held accountable by the Department of Justice.
Steven Donatone, Hampstead, NC Note: Donatone's is the father of a Columbus area woman.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's accomplishments, credentials 'impeccable'
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Central Ohio Chapter celebrates the historical nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.
For 233 years, decisions made by the highest court impacted the lives of Black and brown citizens with no representation by Black women. Of the 120 justices, 115 have been men, and 116 have been white.
Our chapter applauds President Joe Biden for fulfilling his promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court and, in doing so, has nominated a brilliant, experienced Black woman with impeccable credentials.
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Jackson has served at every level of the federal court system since graduating from Harvard Law School. She was the assistant federal public defender and clerked for two judges; vice chair and commissioner for the United States Sentencing Commission and as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Jackson brings an exemplary record of accomplishments and is an impartial jurist. She has demonstrated her dedication to civil and human rights, equity in criminal sentencing reform, and advocate for workers’ rights.
More: Race, gender become factors in Supreme Court confirmation battle before Biden names his choice
Black women must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Jackson to ensure her confirmation based on her qualifications, knowledge, and judicial experience.
Linda Kanney, president, Monica L.Womack, public policy chair, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Central Ohio Chapter
Out with the old? Hey, wait, 'was he looking at me?'
Reflections on a Sunday morning: I put on my sports coat and necktie and head to church with my wife. Parking’s not a problem.
I sit in the same place as the last 20+ years. Far left, next to last row. Creature of habit.
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I light the acolyte candles, we haven’t had a child attend morning service in years. I don’t mind. The pastor and I are the only ones wearing ties.
Old school.
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We are a church in transition, moving from conservative to progressive Christianity.
New school.
The pastor tells me the Bible says a lot of things and I can ask him about what’s important. That’s comforting.
Instead of a sermon, the pastor asks certain members to give their thoughts about our church. I wasn’t one of them.
More: Keeping the Faith: Why God offers a love better than romance
The new gay couple said they felt more welcome than at their last church. That’s good, appreciated is better than tolerated.
The older woman talked about when her son was serving in Iraq and the church helped supply shoes to the orphans. The pride she felt for her son was evident.
The Korean gentleman was excited about the transition — out with the old, in with the new.
Was he looking at me?
The young man whose mom works at the church talked about the joy of growing up in the church. I envied him, I never attended church until an adult.
More: Keeping the faith: Learning to love the right way takes work, requires patience
On the way to the car, my wife asks how I liked the service. I said fine. I wonder if it would have been better if someone had mentioned God.
Maybe I should make an effort to be more progressive. Next week, I’ll drop the tie.
An old dinosaur.
Ron Coleman, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: What are Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's qualifications?
