Master gardeners
Re “Ghent gardeners carrying on legacy of historic Norfolk horticulture building’s namesake” (May 28): It was gratifying to see the article regarding the Fred Heutte Center in Ghent Square. I commend Scott and Monica Shepherd for the renovations being made.
The story gave little space to the vegetable garden being worked by the master gardeners. That garden has come a long way in around 18 years under the leadership of Tom West and, later, Paul Ziegler, who joined West. The garden has gone from hardly producing 100 pounds of food yearly for the food bank to about 1,500 pounds. Much work and many man/woman-hours made this possible. The master gardeners deserve more recognition for their commitment to restore and render the garden so productive.
In 2021, the garden received an International Master Gardener Conference award.
Ed Marroni, Norfolk
Restore civility
Several people have told me lately about alarming incivility in airports. This came as a surprise. I am a very infrequent flyer, but less than a decade ago, I had the opposite experience in the Richmond and Boston airports. People were very kind and helpful. In a word, civil.
For whatever reason — COVID-19, political leadership, whatever — civility has declined dramatically quite recently. Online, in the media and in public spaces (school board meetings come immediately to mind), Americans’ behavior can be atrocious. Ask any teacher or student, and they will tell you that behavior in schools is disintegrating.
It seems to me this is something we can all do something about. Regardless of politics, religion, income, race or gender, most of us still know the rules of decent civility. We need to make a point of practicing them. We need to emphasize their importance to our children.
In this, at least, we the people still have power. Working together, we can take this part of our culture back. Let’s do it.
Sarah W. Corneliussen, Poquoson
Abortion stance
As the 2024 presidential election looms on the horizon, Democrats need to focus on working-class voters. This group either sat out of the 2020 election or voted Republican. Surveys tell us many of them used to vote Democrat. Compared to the numbers of actual hard-core conservatives, this is a much bigger slice of the electorate. They have always been a major voting bloc in elections, and especially in presidential elections.
Democratic strategists should try to figure out why this is happening. One fact seems inescapable: These folks are a lot more conservative on some issues than thought. And as the Democratic Party moves left, they are apparently moving right. So much so that you hear Republican politicians now claiming that they represent the working class.
This is a time when income inequality should be the driving force in expanding the numbers who vote Democrat. One issue that seems to be muting any uproar over this imbalance is the abortion issue. I believe it’s time for Democrats to consider modifying their stance on how long a woman has the right to an abortion, ignoring the rights that a developing fetus might be gaining. That could bring back half of the AWOL working-class voters.
Dave Boraks, Onancock
Why Trump?
I have been perplexed the past six years on the allure of former President Donald Trump to roughly a third of the American public — but I think I’ve got it figured out.
Trump says and does what a lot people want to say or do, but they don’t say or do those words or deeds because they know it is not the right thing to say or do. For example, a spouse or mate might want to say something to his or her loved one but knows that if he or she does, it will probably jeopardize the relationship. Employees might want to say or do something to their boss that they know might cost them their job if they do.
Most of us don’t say or do some things that are in our inner thoughts because first, it’s not the right thing to say; second, it’s not the loving or kind thing to do; or third, we want to keep that relationship or job because that relationship or job is more important.
It still dismays me the way Trump acts and talks, but it bothers me more that people support and condone his actions and words that they know are not the right things to say and do.
Maury Neville, Chesapeake
Target
Target should not give into hate and bigotry. Why pull or move Pride merchandise because of a few bigots? If people angrily protested aerosol products, would Target pull hairspray from its shelves? Here’s an idea, if small-minded and uneducated people are destroying merchandise and threatening your employees, give your executives a little less of a bonus and use that money to hire security guards.
Patrick Blake, Virginia Beach
Election letters
Letters about the June 20 primary election will be published through Friday, space permitting. Please submit those letters by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
