Why women don’t report sex abuse
Laguna Beach, Calif.: I graduated from high school in 1966. A typical prank was to put Jello in a rival high school’s swimming pool. If a classmate of mine had been sexually attacked back then, I doubt she would have reported it to the police. Despite what President Trump has said, my guess is Christine Blasey Ford didn’t report Brett Kavanaugh’s alleged attack for the same reason: She didn’t think anyone in law enforcement would believe her story. Worse, they might have just written it off as a high school prank. Denny Freidenrich
Scratch that itch
Manalapan, N.J.: I’m not sure whose silence I’m enjoying more as Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination starts to go sideways: Chuck Schumer’s or Mitch McConnell’s. Chuck has been seething ever since Mitch stonewalled the Constitution, Barack Obama and Judge Merrick Garland in 2016. The Dems’ deliberately transparent, last-second slander of a teenage Kavanaugh was meant to goad the Republicans into teeth-gnashing, foaming at the mouth outrage. It’s working, and now there’s no easy way forward for Kavanaugh’s nomination. This is hardball payback, and the Democrats have the Republicans outfoxed on all fronts. You know what they say payback — and karma — can be. It rhymes with Mitch. Ellery Kane
Go to the mattresses
Roosevelt, L.I.: I call on civil rights and human rights advocates throughout the country to stand up, speak up, and to officially go on record in direct opposition to President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh has a horrific record regarding racial discrimination and employment discrimination, as well as unacceptable views and decisions that totally disregard civil and human rights as they relate to in terms of voter ID laws and affirmative action. Arthur Mackey Jr., Senior Pastor, Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral
Textbook double standard
Somerset, N.J.: Democrats want Brett Kavanaugh to be denied a Supreme Court seat based on 35-year-old accusation that supposedly renders him unfit. Yet they allow Richard Carranza to be head of the New York City schools despite having been accused of ruining the career of a female educator in San Francisco after she confronted him about being flirtatious. Peter Provenzale
The human stain
Brooklyn: Gov. Cuomo can’t ignore the six-year prison sentence of his former top assistant, Joe Percoco. He must do the responsible thing and mothball the power plant built on bribes paid to his old friend. The CPV fracked-gas plant in Orange County is dirty in every possible way, stained by corruption, polluting our air and contributing to climate havoc. Cuomo must shut the plant down. Eric Weltman, senior organizer, Food & Water Watch
Animal instincts
Braintree, Mass.: Thank you so much for publishing the Op-Ed by Kenny Torrella on Sept. 17 (“Our obscene hypocrisy on animal rights”). If the truth about farmed animals becomes more widely publicized, we may be able to end the torture of countless, helpless animals. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Karen Bonatti
Protect dogs, eat pigs
Manhattan: Re: Kenny Torrella’s Op-Ed and the responses from Voicers Beth Levine, Jayn Meinhardt and Patti Brightman: Let’s start with that caption of the pig on the website: “What’s the moral difference between a pig and a dog? Be specific.” Okay: Dogs are carnivores, who naturally go out and brazenly murder other animals and eat them. Pigs do not, although they sometimes will eat carrion. Do animals, such as the rodents and cockroaches, who impinge on our living spaces and threaten our health, have rights? Levine states that “Veganism is about treating all living beings with respect, peace, justice, and fairness, without any caveats or exceptions.” Does this include boll weevils and guinea worms? How about trees or cabbages? They are just as alive as you, me or that slug mucking up your garden. Life is life, and there is no such thing as “carnism.” It’s a slur used by vegans to denigrate omnivores. Eric Lurio
Right on rights
Ambler, Pa.: Kenny Torrella speaks truth to power. Animals in the U.S. are tortured before they’re killed. Consider visiting Mercy for Animals’ website to view the undercover video from farms and slaughterhouses in the U.S. But then again, if you’re okay with murder, maybe you’re okay with torture, too. Risa M. Mandell
Another brick
Manhattan: Because funding for his wall was not included in the spending bill, Trump frustratingly asks Senate Republicans: “Where is the money in this ridiculous spending bill going to come from?” Easy. Ask Mexico. Janet Hoye
Tortured by time
Levittown, L.I.: I’ve been waiting more than seven years to have a decision on a Veterans Affairs disability case. Now Social Security is telling me I’m being penalized for the time I spent in the military. I’m asking, What the hell is going on here? They now want to let criminals out on bail costing millions, and Nike is giving a man who refuses to stand for our national anthem a contract worth millions. I’m glad I learned the words to “O Canada” after many years of going to Met and Expos games. It’s an anthem I’d gladly stand for out of respect. Wayne O’Connor
Nails on a chalkboard
Rosedale: I can’t stand the Pizza Hut commercial with that little girl screaming while she watches the football game! She sounds like the first victim being attacked by the shark in “Jaws.” Carol Matson
Storm of lies
Port St. Lucie, Fla.: “One year later, an open wound” (Op-Ed, Sept. 20), about how the federal government failed Puerto Rico after Maria, is a crock of crap. Nowhere does it mention that the people themselves were responsible for the aftereffects of the storm. They allowed a corrupt government to misappropriate funding for all sorts of pork-barrel projects at the expense of ignoring local infrastructure. The “pork” was more important to the greedy folks down there, so they just went along with the situation for the goodies. They richly deserved all they got and, hopefully, have learned a valuable lesson in priorities and government. Rich Hamilton
Dig deeper
Bronx: I was glad to read that you are now one of the newspapers to have a reporter on the ground in San Juan. You guys could own this story if you let your reporter dig into the elephant in the room: How Puerto Rico’s territorial status and lack of voting representation in Congress are at the root of the fiscal crisis and post-hurricane recovery. Gene Roman
No-Kay
North Brunswick, N.J.: Voicers have been complaining about the terrible announcers for the Mets and ESPN. They forgot the worst — Michael Kay and David Cone. They both stink. Edward Jurewicz
