Letters: 'White Christian nationalists' attacking women, people of color, LGBTQ, immigrant
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White Christian nationalism
What a horrendous array of freedom and democracy threatening decisions and news we’ve seen. They include the:
erasure of African American congressional seats and Native American sovereignty
gutting of safeguards against abusive policing
endorsement of school prayer, opening the door to bullying and discrimination against non-Christians and those of no faith
shocking testimony and evidence at congressional hearings produced of attempts to destroy our democracy, before, on and after Jan. 6.
More: Christian nationalism is a threat, and not just from Capitol attackers invoking Jesus
What’s behind all this? White Christian nationalism that willingly undermines human rights, in order to dominate women, people of color, LGBTQ folks, immigrants, religious minorities and the poor in order to gain power.
If you value a democracy that honors the freedom and dignity of all people, it’s time to fight for freedoms, such as how and when to start a family, how to participate in public life through elections, and how we can all thrive in safe and healthy communities.
More: Our view: American democracy is neither a 'fragile flower' nor guaranteed
Civil rights leader Bayard Rustin said: “...if I don’t fight all bigotry, bigotry itself will be strengthened and, sooner or later, it will return on me.”
So, please, volunteer to elect people who will defend freedom.
Charlotte Onderick, Stow
Lawmakers open mouths, insert feet
If it’s not embarrassing enough that Ohio lawmakers believe it is right and good for a 10-year-old rape victim to carry and birth her rapist’s child, we have Ohio politicians publicly doubling down on their ignorance and cruelty.
Dave Yost just couldn’t wait to take his rightful place on the national stage to embarrass himself and Ohio when he declared on a Fox News interview there “was not a whisper of evidence” to suggest that the 10-year-old rape victim had to seek an abortion outside the state of Ohio.
More: Letters: Forcing a 10-year-old to have a baby could end her life in more than one way
Yost went further in an interview with the USA Today Network Ohio bureau, "Every day that goes by, the more likely that this is a fabrication,” and "What I'm saying to you is there is not a damn scintilla of evidence."
After Yost made his public comments, Congressman Jim Jordan, who we have come to expect will embarrass himself and our state on the national stage on a regular basis, tweeted “Another lie. Anyone surprised.”
More: Ohio AG Dave Yost should resign over comments about 10-year-old rape victim, Democrats say
While Gov. Mike DeWine by no means should be proud of signing this law, he did have the good sense not to draw attention to the cruelty and ignorance of politicians that give rise to these types of extremist draconian laws.
As I contrast the actions of Ohio politicians regarding this matter, I’m reminded of the quote, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
Brenda Smith, Hilliard
Yost is the 'actually the liar here'
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost must have done his homework before issuing his statement calling the story a “fabrication.”
No attorney general releases that kind of serious, angry, not to mention very thought-out response without making sure that what he was claiming was true.
More: Shameful Dave Yost jumped in mud to doubt case of 10-year-old who got abortion | Robinson
Not a “damn scintilla” of evidence, he wrote. I have no doubt that Mr. Yost spent time, energy, taxpayers’ money calling every police district, talking with detectives, tirelessly working to get to the truth of this matter. He must have. I mean, right?
Because it’s extremely vexing to find out a story, or a claim, has been made without any facts behind it. Anyone making such a claim, one that turns out to be completely false, should own up to it.
More: Ohio AG Dave Yost cast doubt on 10-year-old rape victim case, now 'rejoices' at arrest
The statement, the claim, the story that was fabricated? Yost’s. He’s actually the liar here. No arrest like this could’ve been made without more than a “damn scintilla” of evidence.
Who’s the liar? Dave Yost. (I’m also looking at you, Jim Jordan.)
Christian Olson, Chicago
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Abortion returned to the people
I have read a great many letters to the editor about the recent Supreme Court decision re: Roe v. Wade. The arguments from both sides are pretty well-worn if not hyperbolic.
The one thing I don’t see is any sort of plea for people to take accountability for their actions. Those troubled by the Court’s decision seem to maintain that we are free to do what we wish and should there be consequences to our actions that burden us, we must seek help from the government to bail us out.
More: A vasectomy requirement? Why isn't there more accountability for men in abortion discussion?
Nowhere do I read any case made for personal responsibility that might force people to think twice before engaging in activity that might have unintended outcomes.
Aside from the victory for life, we should all be applauding the important lesson in civics the court has reminded us of: Laws are made by Congress and initiated (we hope) via the people and their elected representatives.
More: States will now decide abortion laws. Here's why that could be a good thing.
By returning the abortion decision to the people, we are exercising democracy in the way intended by our Founders.
Robert Cooperman, Dublin
Education a 'beacon of enlightenment'
Education and learning is not for reinforcing our own beliefs; it is for broadening our understanding of the world around us. Basic and fundamental as these truths may seem, majority leadership in the state legislature has replaced them with an agenda.
The recent legislation in Ohio, from redefining historical facts and prohibiting biological study, to outright pretending that certain types of people do not exist by erasing terms that describe them from the classroom, is an entirely different view of education – a view that encourages fortification of a certain population’s personally held beliefs.
More: Porteous: Ohio wants to erase me from my daughter’s mind, memory and classroom |Opinion
This view, particularly in a public education setting, is creating a dangerous precedent.
The concept of education must always remain a beacon of enlightenment. We meet and learn to understand those who are different than us, and who believe differently. The walls of a school are a safe place to think about, consider, debate and even change our minds.
More: Letters: Critical thinking needed to understand meaning of critical race theory
At its ideal, schools should light a lifelong fire within us to seek to understand, to read, write, study, and continually grow and evolve.
We learn nothing by watching news channels with which we agree, or by only reading books that are by people we already admire. We learn by breaking from our mold and asking questions about things that are not familiar to us.
The concepts I am describing are not new – but they are the ones upon which our educational system has been built. I would implore our leaders to stand true to them, leave personal beliefs and agendas at the door, and to give our children the gift of a true education.
David Donofrio, Grove City
Death with dignity a personal choice
I am thankful that Michael Oser, who has an aggressive advanced cancer, shared his July 13 Dispatch.com column, "Patient: I was born a Buckeye screaming with joy. Don't want to die one screaming in pain," to advocate for a medical aid in dying law.
I agree with him that Ohioans should be able to make this decision for themselves when they are terminally ill.
My stepfather lived in Oregon and used its Death with Dignity Act to obtain a prescription from his doctors that allowed him to die peacefully at the time he chose, surrounded by loved ones.
More: Patient: I was born a Buckeye screaming with joy. Don't want to die one screaming in pain.
That experience led me to found Ohio End of Life Options.
We are working to pass a law like Oregon’s in the Buckeye state. If you agree, please sign the petition of support on our website, OhioOptions.org, so we can let Ohio legislators know that their constituents want this option.
It can work along with quality hospice care that’s already available to Ohioans. Over 90% of those who've used these laws in other states were enrolled in hospice.
My thoughts are with Oser and his family.
Let’s work together to ensure a future in which all Ohioans can access what Oser wants — the ability to end their days peacefully and according to their wishes.
Lisa Vigil Schattinger, MSN, RN executive director, Ohio End of Life Option
Dave Yost needs course in empathy
To preclude being blindsided by the truth in the future, Ohio Attorney General David Yost should direct "the cops and prosecutors in the state" to update him daily on the cases they are working.
More: Ohio's Republican lawmakers have no plans to exempt rape, incest from abortion ban
Or perhaps the Commission on Continuing Legal Education could add courses in empathy and compassion to their curriculum.
But, then again, some subjects, and some pupils, cannot be taught.
Neal Snyder, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Ohio politicians cruel to doubt 10-year-old rape victim
