America can condemn political violence without honoring Kirk’s bigotry | Opinion

Two minds on Kirk

“Gavin Newsom calls fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk ‘disgusting’,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 10)

The reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination appear to be falling into two main groups.

Group 1 consists of people, regardless of their political stripes, who are appalled and sickened by the continued political violence in this country. This group is calling for national unity to oppose such political violence, regardless of the target of the violence or whether you agree or disagree with the person’s views. Put me in this group.

Group 2 consists of people on the political extremes, who are using this as an opportunity to further their political agenda and divide the country. I would put the President, Stephen Miller, and their acolytes in Group 2. Those who would elevate Mr. Kirk to sainthood and martyrdom, and those who celebrate his killing, belong in this group as well.

We need leaders who unite the country, not divide us. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Rick Ruderman

Sacramento

No place of honor for bigotry

“Are Sacramento institutions flying flags at half-staff to follow Trump’s order?,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 12)

We can condemn political violence without having to pretend to honor bigotry.

Political violence is always wrong. But flying flags at half mast is a symbol of special honor. Charlie Kirk spent his adult life promoting bigotry. The demand that flags be flown at half mast to honor him is an attempt to normalize bigotry.

Kathy Campbell

Sacramento

Local representative pushes for protections

“Coalition of California lawmakers proposes fixes to sweeping CEQA rollback,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 12)

I’m a lifelong Sacramentan, writing in response to the recent coverage of the destructive SB 131 and the Legislature’s failure to keep its promises to reinstate environmental, community and worker protections from industrial pollution.

These projects can be extremely hazardous (known histories of explosion, radiation exposure, lead pollution, gas leaks, groundwater contamination, and more), yet will now go without public transparency or environmental review.

I am pleased to see that Sacramento Assembly representative Maggy Krell was one of the legislators pushing state leadership to follow through on their commitments and is already a co-author of AB 1083, the cleanup bill that will reinstate the protections Californians need.

Natalie Brown

Sacramento

No time for politics as usual, Arnold

“Arnold Schwarzenegger calls Prop. 50 ‘insane’ during USC forum,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 16)

Gov. Schwarzenegger is rightly proud of California’s citizen redistricting process.

However, none of us could have imagined a president ordering a state (Texas) to redistrict, mid-decade, to give himself five more Congressional seats, much less a governor (Abbott) who would comply and redistrict his state without asking the voters of his how they feel about that.

Rather than threatening democracy, Prop. 50 gives the people of California — via democracy — the choice to defend democracy.

In this frightening age of rising authoritarianism, to play politics as usual would be insane.

Trina Lee

Elk Grove

Trump avoids accountability

“Democrats blast ‘politics of fear’ after Trump’s claims against Obama, top aides,” (sacbee.com, July 30.)

Donald Trump’s repeated use of the word “hoax,” designed to stifle allegations of impropriety, is more than an effort to avoid accountability for wrongdoings.

Originally intended to deflect scrutiny away from his offenses, this rhetorical device dates back to the 2016 presidential campaign when Trump popularized the phrase “Fake news.” Then he labeled Russian interference in the election a “hoax.” Despite a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee conclusion confirming Russia’s meddling, Trump remains disdainful.

He went on to dismiss a wide range of transgressions, including his campaign’s contacts with Russian intelligence operatives, two impeachment proceedings, his denial of COVID’s lethality, and his involvement with the infamous sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein.

While the hoax defense may resonate with Trump’s base, most Americans refuse to be misled by the deception, as it undermines our fundamental institutions — the electoral process, the judiciary and the press.

Jim Paladino

Tampa, Flor.