Voters must stay informed

I watched James Comey testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and I went to www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-jcomey-060817.pdf and printed Comey’s statement.

Please watch the entire testimony. I watched the local news and then watched ABC national news. If you watched the local news, you received one impression. However, if you watched ABC national news, you received a more accurate accounting of the hearing.

The voting public must stay informed or politicians will feed us intellectual pap! Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) praised Comey for his intellect, service, and integrity. He praised Comey’s well-written statement. Chairman Burr clearly stated Russia meddled in our elections.

Yes, Comey could have been stronger at times. If you have never served “at the will of” or been asked to do something illegal, consider yourself lucky. I have. A powerful person puts an employee in a horrible position. Most of us don’t have the financial ability to speak out. Americans must decide who we believe. Do we believe someone who shoved another world leader? (Google Trump shoves prime minister of Montenegro.) Do we believe someone who spoke insultingly about women?

Where is the moral outrage? Does “the end justify the means” even for those of faith? Can America have moral authority when we accept and defend this type of behavior?

Americans must decide if we will unite. We must prevent future attacks on our election process. If we fight each other, we will destroy ourselves. I want my grandchildren to live in a strong, viable democracy. I hope you do, too!

Kay Coward

Meridian

Keep Mississippi state flag

Of blacks residing in the South before the Civil War, 261,988 were not slaves. Over 3,000 blacks owned slaves.

About opposition to the Confederate flag: It reminds be of what we were told in the Navy when we were in boot camp: “10 percent of the people are misfits and trouble makers and will never be satisfied.” Our flag represents heritage, not hatred.

The Meridian Star ran a poll asking the public if they thought Mississippi would withhold funding from state universities that decline to fly the state flag. The results: 81 percent yes, 19 percent no.

If the Mississippi flag has to come down, then so do all the black statues and street signs, airport names and all other names related to heritage.

Sam Lee

DeSoto