Reader flummoxed by thought process behind banned books, urges accepting differences

It is OK to differ

I have a question for the book banners: What are you so afraid of?

As one who came of age in the late 1960s with a deeply religious father who was commanding an infantry brigade in Vietnam, my worldview was decidedly different from his. My experience also included not being seated at the counter at the drugstore when I was with a Black friend.

My father respected my views and I respected his. He allowed and encouraged me to read whatever I got my hands on, including literature on Mao and the Red Guard when he was teaching at the Army War College during my senior year.

We discussed things. We didn’t agree often in those years, but we listened to each other and learned from each other.

I turned out OK because I was given all the information I needed in order to grow into a whole, balanced adult.

My children don’t agree with me on everything, and now I have the pleasure of watching my 17-year-old grandson find his way in the world.

I haven’t read all of the banned books, but I have encouraged my grandson to because the ones on the list that I have read, I consider to be important works of literature.

If you don’t want to read a book, don’t. But don’t cram your worldview down someone else’s throat.

Emily Starry, Hilton Head

Norman disappoints

In December, we learned that Congressman Ralph Norman, R-SC, betrayed the Constitution when it was disclosed that just three days before President Biden’s inauguration, he had texted President Trump to urge him to cling to power by invoking martial law.

Last week Rep. Norman further soiled his office by backing a Republican resolution calling for an end to our military and financial aid to Ukraine, whose heroic people are fighting Vladimir Putin.

Doesn’t Rep. Norman know that if we don’t stop Putin indirectly by supporting Ukraine, we will have to face him head on in his next war of aggression? How execrable does Rep. Norman’s conduct have to become before his constituents turn him out of office?

Harry F. Smithson, Columbia

Leasing wind

Note: The writer is co-leader of the Charleston Chapter Citizens Climate Lobby.

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, R-LA, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, recently reintroduced the RISEE act.

The proposed legislation would establish dedicated funding streams from offshore wind leases to pay for coastal infrastructure resiliency and conservation. In other words, a portion of the revenue raised by the leases would be directed to adjacent states rather than the U.S. Treasury.

South Carolina is blessed with the second largest wind resource on the East Coast, but is also among the states most threatened by rising sea levels and worsening coastal storms. Recognizing the importance of this bipartisan bill to South Carolinians, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-SC, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, have reached across the aisle and pledged their support.

If you are tired of gridlock and appreciate bipartisan actions, please let our legislators know.

Ronald Malcom M.D., Johns Island

Not a halftime fan

Well, I got to hand it to whoever picks the halftime shows at the Super Bowl.

They managed to far surpass the wardrobe mishap from years past which was so offensive to viewers at the time. I just couldn’t believe the entertainer Rihanna, a bad example of family-oriented entertainment.

Shame on the NFL.

Leo Krejci, Bluffton