YOUR VIEWS

Back to basics

Virginians just elected a white businessman as governor, a Black Jamaican immigrant woman as lieutenant governor and a son-of-an-immigrant Cuban American as attorney general. All were nominated by the Republican Party of Virginia. Could a party dominated by white supremacists have done that? Could a state racked by systemic racism have done that? I think not.

Can we please put away the prism of race through which so many in politics and the media view almost every issue? It does not yield solutions, only division. Our new governor has pledged his best efforts to give every child in Virginia a quality education, whether they be Black, brown, Asian or white. In my view, that is the civil rights issue of our time and deserves the support of every Virginian. Public school curricula should not be controversial. The fact that they have become so suggests our system of public education has strayed beyond its charter and that the quality of education has been compromised. Let’s get back to a curriculum that all can support. Our children will be the beneficiaries.

Richard Hawley, Newport News Outside money

Re “Tim Anderson beats incumbent Nancy Guy, flipping 83rd House District back to GOP” (Nov. 3): The article noted that Del. Nancy Guy’s campaign had received $2,042,108 as of Oct. 21. For her challenger, Tim Anderson, he was reported to have received $727,190. The question that comes to my mind is, was the total of $2,769,298 collected within the 83rd District or even within Virginia Beach? I guess there were people interested in

Guy winning so the party could remain in control of Richmond. It sure seems like a lot of money for someone whose apparently only significant piece of legislation passed was about balloons at the beach. I wonder how much that cost per balloon?

Richard E. Baker, Virginia Beach No fraud

Just in case you missed it, here’s what didn’t happen following Tuesday’s election. The Democrats did not cry “fraud” or claim that the election was stolen. Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe did not claim victory and refuse to concede. The House and Senate did not demand an audit of all voting machines. No one invaded the Capitol. On top of that, Gov. Ralph Northam courteously invited Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin to tour the governor’s mansion. Perhaps the Republicans could learn from that.

Michael Stevens, Yorktown Let’s celebrate

Re “Election Day ’21 featured its share of silver linings” (Other Views, Nov. 5): Hyper-liberal Democrat Gail Collins looks for “silver lining” topics to discuss with likeminded liberals after gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe’s humiliating defeat in Virginia.

In true hypocritical Democratic form she omits mentioning what should be celebrated by both parties: Virginia’s historic elections of the first Black female lieutenant governor and the first Latino attorney general in Virginia’s history. Keep those out-of-touch blinders on, Collins, and watch what happens in 2022 and beyond. Virginia is back, baby.

Terry Siviter, Virginia Beach Not safe

Re “Container trucks” (Your Views, Nov. 6): This is in support of John T. Byrum Jr.’s letter regarding the container trucks on Hampton Boulevard. For those living on either side of it, it is like Russian roulette trying to get out of our neighborhood streets, and once traveling on the boulevard it is even worse.

Of course, I realize that here we are dealing with the big money the terminal provides to the city, as well as that of the trucking industry. But, I appeal to Norfolk city officials to review and reconsider the existing traffic pattern before we all get killed.

Nicky Schoen, Norfolk Slow down

Re “Glenn Youngkin’s underage son tried twice to vote” (Nov. 6): I recently read the article about Glenn Youngkin’s 17-year-old son who tried to vote on Election Day but was declared ineligible. I found the article to be a light-hearted human interest story to which most of us parents could relate, that is until Devin O’Malley, Youngkin’s spokesman, weighed in. Suddenly, I was reading about how the report made the paper because of the opposition’s anger about suffering “historic losses,” thereby fueling the need to give Youngkin’s family bad press.

First of all, I didn’t know anyone was “mad” about the election. Disappointed, perhaps, but not mad. Second, isn’t Youngkin going to try to unite all Virginians? Bipartisanship and all that? He doesn’t need anyone in his camp to continue the automatic “us” versus “them,” which has been used constantly since 2016. Give us a break. “We the people” all want the best for Virginia. Because we have different ideas, that calls for discussion and compromise. So be it. Let’s go back to old-style, democratic politics. The first step forward could be that Youngkin advises everyone in his camp to avoid making accusatory remarks.

Eileen Frey, Virginia Beach Well wishes

Re “Countryside Gardens closing after 19 years in Hampton” (Nov. 1): So very sad to see locally owned Countryside Gardens on Mercury Boulevard closing its doors. Everyone understands and wishes the owner the best of luck in her well-deserved retirement. Just walking down the aisles you could hear so many stories of how everyone will miss this beautiful nursery and gift shop when they close their doors.

I pray this corner lot does not become another car wash or fast food joint. Sure hope whatever the new business is that eventually goes there will be as appealing as this one has been through the years.

Once closed, we will no longer have any other locally owned nursery with an adorable gift shop anywhere in Hampton.

Norene Phillips, Hampton

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