To the editor: Cast a ‘yes’ vote for Issue 1

4/23/2018

Gerrymandering is a truly egregious assault on our democracy. It results when district maps are drawn to gain political advantage, disenfranchising the voters of the minority party. A “yes” vote for Issue 1 on the May 8 primary ballot will end the practice of gerrymandering in Ohio and return the power of the vote to the people of Ohio. It calls for an open, transparent, bipartisan map-drawing process.

Issue 1 is on the ballot because hundreds of thousands of Ohioans signed petitions to get it there. In other states, the issue has been handled by the courts, with two cases now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ohio is the only state to reach legislative compromise on gerrymandering. On its way to the ballot, Issue 1 received near unanimous support from Republicans and Democrats alike.

We, the voters, now have the opportunity and ability to end gerrymandering in Ohio by voting “yes” on Issue 1.

JUDITH KEHRLE
Sylvania

Click here to submit a letter to the editor | View the Behind The Readers’ Forum series

Violence is never the answer

I read with interest Dr. S. Amjad Hussain’s April 9 column in The Blade, “Democracies violating democratic principles.” The article, however, misinterpretated several facts about Kashmir.

Dr. Hussain claims that there is a Muslim majority in Kashmir these days. This is because Hindi citizens are being killed by Muslim militants who constantly infiltrate into Indian territory in Kashmir. They commit atrocities and murder Hindus, thereby forcing many others to leave their homes and relocate in other parts of the country. Kashmir was a very peaceful and lovely valley, but these Pakistani militants and rebels have sparked turmoil and grief in the area.

India cannot allow its subcontinent to be divided according to religion, caste, or creed, as there are approximately 172 million Muslims living in India today. The people of both India and Pakistan should respect each other’s territories and be encouraged to live peacefully and amicably. Violence is not the answer.

BHAWNA BHATIA
Holland