NC Jewish voter: Biden should be doing more to stop the horrors in Gaza | Opinion

Biden and Israel

The writer is a Durham activist.

Genocide is wrong. Any genocide, for any reason, involving any people. Many international authorities have declared that Israel’s actions constitute war crimes or genocide according to international law. And footage from Gaza makes it increasingly undeniable.

As a Jew and a mother, watching a genocide funded by my own tax dollars is unconscionable. And seeing President Biden further the destruction of the Palestinian people with an additional $14 billion of military aid to Israel is horrifying.

I’ve been voting in North Carolina for Democrats for over 30 years, but I cannot in good conscience vote for Biden while he enables and funds genocide in Gaza. Tuesday’s Democratic primary ballot includes a “No Preference” option in the presidential race. I’ll be selecting it.

Ruby Sinreich, Durham

Frozen embryos

While Isaac Bailey’s Feb. 28 Opinion piece succinctly outlines the threat Christian nationalism poses to continued access to reproductive healthcare, his call to action to non-extremist Christians is shortsighted. We must call on all people of faith who stand for bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, not just Christians, to speak out forcefully against this arrogant, demeaning treatment of women’s bodies. We must also remind our political leaders that our Constitution enshrines a separation of church and state, and that the Christian nationalist belief that personhood begins at fertilization is a religious opinion, not point of fact. Family planning is a deeply personal process, and government should not be involved in a person’s decision to create, prevent or terminate a pregnancy.

Renee Beauclair Twersky, Hillsborough

Irrational logic

Once again the religious belief of some has become law for everyone. Consider implications of the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision that an embryo is a person: Each embryo-person should have a Social Security number. Presumably its “parents” are responsible for its care indefinitely. If the parents die without wills, their embryos should be entitled to inheritance. If embryos are persons, they should be included in the U.S. Census. What’s more, when was it ever legal to freeze a person?

These may seem silly, but they’re logical extensions of an ideological belief that is irrational.

Don Clement, Greenville

Rep. Greg Murphy

Regarding “Republicans cannot fumble on Ukraine aid,” (Feb. 28 Opinion):

When I read Congressman Greg Murphy’s position that U.S. aid for Ukraine is essential, I thought that, perhaps there was one N.C. Republican who understood history and was willing to reject partisan group-think. But, as I read further and saw that his answer to the national debt was to focus on entitlements rather increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans, I realized that his foreign policy acumen is just a fluke. He has consumed the Republican economic Kool-Aid and has no qualms about undermining the neediest Americans to further enrich the wealthiest.

Charles Putterman, Raleigh

Trump and NATO

Donald Trump is threatening to withdraw the U.S. from NATO and let Russia attack whoever it pleases in Europe, if reelected. This is a slap in the face to anyone who has ever worn the uniform, and it’s dangerous for the world order.

I served as a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division during the war on terrorism. I had the honor of working with elite paratroopers from many of our NATO allies. They were some of the best soldiers in the world and although we wore different flags on our uniforms, we knew we represented a greater good of serving, protecting and defending democracy together around the globe.

Trump has proven he is unfit to be commander in chief.

Scott Peoples, Raleigh

Young voters

I thank Aidan Seidman for his thoughtful and rational March 1 Opinion piece. The youth are our future. I can only hope that his message will reach and resonate with his peers. And that they will take their right to vote seriously by educating themselves on issues and candidates keeping in mind the greater good for all. Our democracy depends on it.

Robin Hamilton-Brooks, Raleigh