Little League players demonstrate leadership that once was simply expected behavior
Decency wins
I’ve been conflicted by the attention given the recent Little League championship in Texas.
Not to detract from the admirable conduct of both the pitcher or the batter beaned by a high inside fastball; their reaction to a near tragedy was noteworthy.
It has garnered network news coverage and an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show. This was deserved, and, yet, nothing less should have been expected. But here in 2022, their decency and display of sportsmanship has made them national heroes. It could get them an invitation to the White House, and probably should.
Regardless, the incident should be a sobering lesson for our elected leaders: If two 12-year-old boys competing for “all the marbles” in a championship baseball game can act with good faith and compassion, should we expect anything less of Pelosi and McCarthy, McConnell and Schumer, et al?
I understand what currying favor from the base means to reelection, but can you imagine what historians in 2222 will have to say about us?
I hope those boys grow up, get elected to Congress by opposing parties and continue to demonstrate how people with conscience and decency should treat each other.
George Martin, Chapin
Defend democracy
I won’t forget what I have learned from the Jan. 6 hearings thus far — that what happened that day wasn’t an isolated attack on our Capitol, but part of an ongoing criminal conspiracy to undermine our freedom to choose our elected leaders.
Trump and his pals worked together to try to stop the peaceful transfer of power because the 2020 presidential election didn’t go their way. Now, they’re working to make sure all of our elections go their way in the future, whether we vote in their favor or not.
Never before have we seen so many candidates running for office on a platform that promises to destroy our democracy from the inside out. Worst of all, many of these extremists are looking to take over election administration, running for offices like secretary of state and county clerk. Once they’re sworn in, many won’t hesitate to overturn future elections if they or their MAGA allies lose.
It’s up to us to elect democracy defenders up and down the ballot on Nov. 8.
Susan Baukhages, Bluffton
Help the disabled
Across the U.S. more than 800,000 people with disabilities remain on waiting lists for services they need to live in their homes and stay in their communities. Funded by Medicaid, home and community-based services (HCBS) provide support for independent living, employment, meal preparation, money management, and health and safety.
Worsened by the pandemic, people with disabilities and their families are forced to wait years for these critical services. More funding would mean more resources for my autistic adult son and others like him.
Our country needs to invest in the Medicaid HCBS system. We need Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to enact legislation that will help people with disabilities and their families.
Danni Bloom, Chapin
It takes two
Now that Roe v Wade has been overturned and women have to carry pregnancies to term, what supportive legislation have you come up with? What’s in place for the uptick in unwanted babies? What’s in place for women who can’t afford pregnancies/ birthing processes?
What about women whose health is put in danger? What are they going to have to prove (assuming there’s an exception)?
Also, I haven’t heard a thing about how the sperm donors are going to be held accountable at the very least financially, and not just during the pregnancy, but through the baby’s 18th birthday. You can’t just force one member of the baby equation and not the other.
Nelida Caballero, Columbia
