Bee readers speak out on the midterm election, Republican defeats and character in politics

Character needs to count in politics

Isn’t it time that a national “character counts” campaign in our American politics be started?

Shouldn’t a nationwide agreement be reached that only candidates that exhibit truthfulness and accountability will be considered for elected or appointed office?

Is it right that, as American citizens, we allow any political party to twist the truth, denigrate their opponents, create an atmosphere of fear and trepidation or an environment that is devoid of decency and civility?

Couldn’t a “character counts” campaign start by encouraging our media outlets and advertisers to cease supporting politicians who make false statements and/or conduct themselves in a discourteous or disrespectful manner?

Can’t we all agree that all political materials and commercials should refrain from maligning a political opponent and focus, solely, on a candidate’s position on policy and legislative goals?

And, why would anyone oppose a “character counts” campaign in our American politics?

GOP leadership due for a change

Once again, the Republican party has “snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.” Who is to blame? Probably the party leadership. How?

Unlike the Democrats, who totally support even bad candidates, the Republican leadership failed to fund properly a number of their candidates. They failed in the process of redistricting and allowed the Democrats to gerrymander most states. except New York and Florida. Unlike the Democrats, they do not play to win. They play to “just get along.”

This does not encourage my financial support of the RNC. The Republican leadership has failed the party; it is time for a change.

Commentary on Arias was wrong

In a recent commentary in The Bee (Nov. 4), Marshall Moushigian made serious accusations against Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias. Clarification is in order.

He made reference to Nury Martinez, the embattled Los Angeles City Councilwoman who resigned after making derogatory racist statements in a closed session. Moushigian cites Martinez to advance his argument that Mr. Arias was racist in voting against preserving Armenian history. If Arias used racist language in a public meeting, no evidence was offered. Martinez’s disgusting remarks were made to advocate for economic investments in a largely Latino voting district. Are we to understand Arias’ position on not preserving Armenian cultural sites somehow favored Latinos (his tribe)?

It is certainly worthy to designate for preservation and public display cultural relics that are significantly part of Fresno’s history. There is no doubt Armenian culture and history should be preserved and showcased. William Saroyan’s childhood home and neighborhood and Varaz Samuelian’s magnificent sculptures immediately come to mind.

When Moushigian agitates racial division without cause or reason, it is irresponsible. But when he attributes racism to an elected official based on a policy decision, and claims the decision protects his own ethnic heritage, it is reprehensible.

Standing with the trans family

The belief that because a person is transgender they have been attacked, raped or murdered is not true. The idea that all people in the trans community face hatred or harassment is false, but we, the people who are transgender, know these things do exist, for we all know others who have been attacked, raped, murdered or been subjected to mistreatment due to our gender expression, and we all in our small trans community have faced transphobia.

We all have family, friends and complete strangers who treat us like we are freaks for simply wanting to be happy to be our own true selves. Why is this so hard to understand? Almost every day, I hear of people in my trans family who have died, been attacked, have been simply misgendered by the cis people around them. We face hatred, discrimination, violence, abuse, simply being treated as not having the same dignity, rights, existence, as every other human being.

The sad part is so many of us trans people believe this. Where we should have dignity, we have self-loathing; where we should be happy, we are sad; where we should have pride, we hide in embarrassment..

I stand together with my trans family; their struggles are my struggles, their victories are my victories, and their pain is my pain.

This story was originally published November 27, 2022 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Bee readers speak out on the midterm election, Republican defeats and character in politics."