Turning point
It’s hard to be emotionally detached when you are emotionally engaged. As a constitutional conservative, the assassination of Charlie Kirk has hit me harder than expected.
The First Amendment is at the very foundation of our constitutional republic. Our rights are not given to us by any government; they are endowed upon us by our creator. Kirk was the very embodiment of the First Amendment, both of its provisions of free speech and the freedom of religion, and to express our views and religious beliefs in any manner that we so choose in or out of the public square.
We have faced many critical points in our history since we were founded almost 250 years ago. Similar to 1860, we are a nation divided. Slavery and racism are the biggest abominations mankind has ever known. I feel we are at a similar crossroads with our current divide in ideology. Often many of our differences can be compromised upon and consensus can be reached with open and honest dialogue, discussion and debate between the two sides. This is all Kirk wanted and he was assassinated for pushing this most basic principle of our republic.
It’s my sincere hope that this tragedy will be the turning point that is desperately needed in our complex history.
Rob Levinsky, Norfolk
Representatives
Re “Town Halls” (Your Views, Sept 7): The writer laments that May 2022 was the last time the Eastern Shore had a town hall held by their congressional representative. And that was the previous congresswoman, Elaine Luria. That’s sad, but here in the 1st District we can beat that. Rep. Rob Wittman’s office can’t provide the date of his last in-person town hall. After researching this, the most recent one I’ve found was in March 2019. And his office said that there are no in-person town halls on his schedule.
Do these representatives realize their job is to represent us? And to do that they need to hear from us, and we from them? Their party boss in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson, has told them to avoid doing in-person town halls. Why? Are they afraid to face us in-person, afraid of him, or both? Do they not care what we think?
Virginia should have representatives in Congress who aren’t afraid to appear at public town halls and face their constituents. We are owed that. At least for now, we are living in a representative democracy and our representatives need to do the jobs they’ve been elected to do.
Amy Mazich, Yorktown
Slot machines
Re “Time to enforce law against illegal slot machines in Virginia Beach” (Other Views, Sept. 14): The guest columnist’s opinion of slot machines in bars, restaurants and convenience stores across Virginia Beach is a viewpoint that is lacking the fundamental right of any business to offer items that the visiting public is looking for.
The addiction, as he calls it, is true for state-controlled liquor stores, which are all over town. Stores that have beer and tobacco products pay taxes and provide employment. The idea that a person who wants to gamble will not find another way is absurd. There are many forms of gambling and the best way to deter gambling is through education. Virginia Beach residents were recently seen lining up at convenience stores to get a chance at big Virginia Lottery payouts.
The columnist mentions Del. Paul Krizek from Northern Virginia, which just opened The Rose with 1,650 games. Did he do anything to stop this in his neighborhood? There is a Rosie’s in Emporia and a casino approved for Petersburg, both low-income areas.
Education at home is key.
Ray Patel, Chesapeake
