“Live free or die,” the motto of New Hampshire, adopted in 1945, is a quote by Gen. John Stark. This man, and patriots like him, fought in the American Revolution to be free from a king and ruling aristocracy that did not give equal rights, opportunity and value to all people. The revolutionaries fought to remove this yoke of indignity and imbalance of power.
Our founders enshrined this idea of equality in our Declaration of Independence with the words “all men are created equal.” Between 1776 and today the meaning of those words has been expanded in their application of fairness (for citizens who are Black, do not own land or are women) as to who gets to vote for leaders in this country.
A basic tenet of democracy is the concept of one person, one vote, and that we the people pick our leaders through our vote, and not that they pick us as voters.
Redistricting occurs every 10 years to accommodate changes in the census based upon changes in the population. The population of a state determines the number of congressional districts. Each district is represented by one seat. Both parties have too often engaged in gerrymandering — drawing district lines that most benefit their party — disrespecting one person, one vote.
New Hampshire’s Republican-controlled Legislature is now drawing new district lines. In drawing these new lines, the Republican Legislature is conducting listening sessions across the state to hear from the public. The process needs to be widely accessible, including by Zoom access. Can the process be open to listening after lines are drawn?
Let Democrats and Republicans join to outlaw gerrymandering in the state of New Hampshire. One person, one vote means eliminating manipulation of district lines.
J.R. PETER NELSON
Claremont
I am a 75-year-old retired high school teacher, having taught U.S. history and government for 39 years in two New Hampshire schools. Therefore, as a teacher and as a New Hampshire native whose family roots go back more than 200 years in this state, to say I was dismayed by the reports of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut’s recent comments is an understatement (“Edelblut addresses ‘fringe’ group,” Oct. 20).
Dismayed, yes, but not surprised, as the commissioner’s extreme views on the power of individual citizens relative to the good of the whole community are regrettably only too well-known. It was good to see Gov. Chris Sununu speak out, but perhaps he should have thought of that before he appointed such an extreme anti-public school person as Edelblut to head the Education Department.
I certainly recognize the right and even duty of parents to advocate for their children and to address their school boards. There were not a few times when I disagreed with decisions made by my board and when I spoke and wrote about that disagreement. However, I never thought of assembling the loudest parents I could find and urging them to disrupt board meetings and other assemblies in an attempt to get my way. Yes, parents have rights, but so do others, and following the example of the bully who sat in the Oval Office for four years is not exercising citizenship. It is attempting to dictate.
The proper role of schools is to educate the students of a whole community, not operate them according to the dictates of a few loud, often uninformed parents and others. I applaud board members who see their duty to the whole community and refuse to buckle under to undue pressure from radical right-wing activists.
At election time this March, I urge voters to support school board candidates who will keep the whole community in mind and not be unduly swayed by a few extremists.
ART PEASE
Lebanon
I believe that generosity is taught to children by their parents. I also believe the reverse is taught by parents. I believe that inappropriate actions of members of a community are also taught to our children.
Case in point: school sports, especially girls’ sports, where a recent game ended early because some spectators have learned that it is OK to get up on their bully pulpit and express who they are (“Soccer team walks off over harassment,” Oct. 9).
It’s not just our democracy that is in great peril, but who we as people become.
My hope is that everyone who knows what is happening will put all agendas aside and strive to save our democracy.
JIM DAIGLE
Plainfield
Recently, at the George Ratcliffe Park in White River Junction, while many played sports, an uncontrolled dog stole and escaped with our family duck — making a beeline so fast not even the surprised sportsters were able to react. Someone hollered, “Are you after your dog?” To which we replied, “No, our duck!”
The tiny hunting dog escaping with a member of our family in its mouth. There was no “owner” to be found.
ADAM STEINBERG
White River Junction