Enough of extremism from political right and left Violent assaults from Hollywood stars don’t deserve our cheers

Rightly or wrongly, there may be a case for runaway liberalism. Many conservatives, already ill at ease with the changes to their traditional way of things, may feel further angered and apprehensive by the widespread and constant attention to those changes. To them, it may appear that the tree-hugging bleeding hearts are winning. It is causing them to react just like the other side does when it feels threatened. Extremism drives extremism. Who of us hasn’t had enough of it?

MIKE WEST, MARIETTA

We watched and cheered as Will Smith committed an assault on Chris Rock in front of millions of people during the Oscars.

Rather than taking offense, his oligarch pals cheered him on. His friends failed to recognize and object to this microcosm of behavior that causes virtually all the world’s problems — men cannot solve their problems by talking them out — but by violence.

Where was security at the Oscars when this assault took place? What would have happened had the jokester been Amy Schumer and not Chris Rock? Smith likely would have thought he wouldn’t get away with that. Instead, he committed an act of violence because he believed he could.

Men of privilege commit violence where and when they believe they can get away with it. And, like so many who support violent assaults, we cheer, whether on a country or an individual. What a disgrace. Weepy Will bought his redemption without so much as an immediate apology to his victim.

Shameful, hypocritical Hollywood. Smith owed Chris Rock and us an apology and should be required to attend conflict resolution therapy.

VICKI BLACK, SANDY SPRINGS