For LGBTQ folks and allies, this is not ‘culture war’ but a fight for civil rights | Opinion

Civil rights

If you’ve switched on your TV or checked the news on the internet lately, you’ve likely noticed the deluge of media coverage regarding LGBTQ+ rights and restrictions from all sides. And you’ve probably heard it called a “culture war.” What the LGBTQ+ community and their allies are engaged in is not a culture war, but rather a struggle for civil rights.

Did Elizabeth Cady Stanton wage a culture war when she penned the Declaration of Sentiments in 1848? Was John Lewis embroiled in a culture war when he led the first march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965? Did Marsha P. Johnson consider herself a culture warrior while resisting oppressors during the Stonewall Uprising of 1969?

No. Each of these individuals fought for their fundamental human rights as Americans. Similarly, LGBTQ+ activists today are advocating for their rights with the same motivation. In hindsight, future generations might commend these leaders and recognize the importance of their cause. But we can’t afford to wait decades. We must stand together now and acknowledge that this is not a culture war, but an essential fight for civil rights.

Adam Moore, Lexington

COLA increases

In his letter recently, Mr. Fugate asked why there has been no mention of a COLA for state retirees. The blame for that is squarely on the shoulders of our legislators who passed a law saying “no COLA until the system is fully funded,” and then declined to fully fund it.

On the next page of the same paper, Andrew McNeill’s column congratulates Republican legislators for pinching pennies and leaving a $3.7 billion budget surplus. Republicans would like to eliminate that surplus rather than helping loyal state retirees on fixed incomes.

Van Knowles, Lexington

Loyalty oath

It’s not surprising that Trump won’t sign the loyalty oath for the GOP. He has proven that he is only loyal to himself and insists that loyalty be to him only - not the GOP, not the USA, not to God. After all, he thinks the debates are try-outs for his show “The Apprentice.” He seems to think that running our country is a game show.

We deserve Congressmembers, and all elected officials who represent us, to be loyal to the U.S.A. and to its people. Asking that anyone be loyal to any organization, no matter the quality or intentions of its members, is just plain wrong. Swearing loyalty to an individual is reserved for monarchies, dictatorships, etc.

No one should be swearing loyalty to someone who wants to be the greatest dictator of all time - or any of their minions.

Glenna Brouse, Lexington

Violent rhetoric

Even before the first Presidential Primary vote of 2024 is cast, two contenders — former President Donald J. Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — are pledging vows of hate-filled revenge, lawlessness and cruelty.

Trump threatens, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” Trump’s Jan. 6 boys are doing jail time so fresh troops are questionable.

Ron DeSantis threatens,” We are going to start slitting throats on Day One.”

If anyone except these two “presidential candidates” made such murderous threats to the public, the police would be at their door.

Never question the GOP’s two-tier justice. It might be helpful having an actuary do a mortality time table for voters: Trump mobsters and cement shoes, or DeSantis the throat slasher in the White House. The Constitution, the Rule of Law, Democracy and “America, The Beautiful” could become history.

Judy Rembacki, Georgetown

Economic disparity

The GOP is working on hampering the economy through every means possible. I assume the intent is to keep the middle class in check and prevent them from have any chance at running for office.

The GOP has been fighting infrastructure measures and any program that would actually facilitate a broader, freer and fairer market for the American people. They need to keep Americans struggling, whether it is with student loan debt, health care debt, or credit card debt. As long as Americans are struggling under debt, the GOP can scapegoat President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party so that the donor class of which they attempt to monopolize can keep them in power.

We can count on the GOP to do its level best to keep the American middle class “the American Struggling class” because any actual prosperity will work against them in maintaining power. As usual, the GOP is an arsonist blaming the Democrat first responders with attempting to put out the blaze while they stand on the hoses and heckle from a safe distance about “how others are doing it all wrong,” even as the flames they caused are fought back.

Robert Moreland, Lexington

Covid Notice

The federal government had the responsibility of leading the nation’s COVID-19 response. Federal healthcare agencies provided available scientific guidance, recommended mitigation activities and policies. The response was through state Governors’ offices and state healthcare infrastructure agencies.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear executed multiple emergency executive COVID mitigation actions during this period. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron initiated legal actions, joined other such actions and asked state judges to block these actions. The Kentucky Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of Beshear’s actions.

Americans were asked to comply with mitigation efforts as the pandemic progressed. They became controversial. This resulted from former President Donald Trump’s administration’s inability to respond and manage COVID. Cameron’s campaign is criticizing the temporary closing of churches. A known fact was any assembly of people likely could spread the virus and possible death.

Trump misled the country about the severity of COVID. How many Americans listened to him and died? Beshear did all he could to save lives. Eighteen thousand Kentuckians and more than one million Americans have died.

History will record our federal government’s response as the greatest lack of leadership, governance and moral failure in American history where politics counted more than lives.

Danny Shearer, Lexington

Sweet commentary

“US Sugar Protectionism could sour Halloween, Christmas” by George Will was not, as I first thought, a tongue-in-cheek article but apparently a serious attempt to address government subsidies to industries with powerful lobbies. Certainly Mr. Will is aware of the obesity crisis? How about diabetes? Research on the link between sugar and heart disease? Can he seriously think that the “nation’s sweet tooth” is one of our fundamental values that should be protected because it has economic repercussions? Any industry has economic repercussions. He would be better off to address the destructive orgy of excess consumerism called “Christmas” that has lost its religious roots entirely and fills up the landfills every January and February.

If he thought he was pulling at the heart strings of obese readers perhaps he succeeded. If that is his idea of journalism I can’t take his alleged economic analysis seriously.

Sally Wasielewski, Lexington

Cardinal Valley coverage

Thanks for that great story recently in the Lexington Herald-Leader regarding the Cardinal Valley community. As a long-time resident of Lexington I’ve seen the city grow from 70,000 to now over 300,000 and the tremendous influx of many different people and cultures.

Sadly, as the city has grown, the sense of community has also diminished. I grew up in Dixie Subdivision. We knew every neighbor and, as a kid in the 1960’s, bonded with neighborhood kids. Some of those early relationships still exist today. But, as the city grew, transience as a result of job and house changes adversely affected the sense of community. Neighbors became strangers, friendly but distant. And, unfortunately, Cardinal Valley became viewed as a dangerous place; a place to avoid. That just adds to our preconceived notions and the politically inspired “fear factor”. The worst part of “fear” is our ”fear” to accept, understand and embrace others. Your great article puts a human picture of what community should be. I know the area has its downsides, but your stories prove it also has a vibrant upside.

Joseph Fast, Lexington

Attacking cartels

Following 9/11 America went after terrorists with a purpose. And we’re still at it. We lost 3,000 innocent people on that beautiful September morning. Those responsible are still paying a just price.

Every year we lose over 70,000 Americans to fentanyl overdoses, and over 100,000 to all opiates combined. Yet we have done little to retaliate against the people who killed them. Why do we look at radical Islamic killers differently than Mexican cartel drug distributor killers?

We kill the thugs in the Middle East mostly with unmanned drones with little regard to which country they may be located. Yet we won’t do the same with cartels. Why not? We know where they live and where their labs and warehouses are located.

Why should we give a hoot about the Mexican government objecting if we send in twenty or so drones into their country to kill terrorists and destroy their labs and inventory? Could it be that cartel cash is finding its way to Washington D. C. ?

Are American politicians willing to risk the lives of another 100,000 young Americans who will be murdered by Mexican cartels this year? America has the power to greatly reduce that nightmare.

Wayne Burns, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey