The Readers' Forum: Remembering 9/11 and Jan. 6

Never forget Jan. 6, the day citizens stormed the Capitol, and hold Trump and his supporters accountable for their assault on democracy.

The events of 9/11 are etched into our collective memory. We all remember the shock and horror as we watched the planes crash into the towers, over and over again on our TV screens. In that moment, our sense of invincibility was shattered. The freedom we once enjoyed at airports was replaced with rigorous security measures that we still endure to this day. We walk barefoot on filthy floors, submitting to baggage inspections, all in the name of safety.

But as gut-wrenching as that day was, nothing could have prepared us for the events of Jan. 6. We watched in disbelief as our own citizens stormed the walls of our Capitol, smashing windows and doors. They walked through the halls, calling out names and erecting a gallows with the intention of harming our vice president. It was a shocking display of violence and a direct assault on our democracy. The outrage and fury we felt was unparalleled.

We must never forget. Just as the mastermind behind 9/11, Osama bin Laden, was held accountable, so too must former President Trump and all those who supported him in their attack on our democracy. We must hold them accountable at every level, in every office. Our democracy is too precious to let this go unpunished.

Moving on to another topic, Spectrum, a cable provider, is currently in a contract dispute with Disney. As a result, Spectrum customers are unable to access popular channels like ESPN and National Geographic. Spectrum claims that they are trying to save their customers money, but this explanation falls short. In the past eight months, they have increased their prices without offering any additional services or improvements. This leaves customers feeling frustrated and cheated.

Another issue that has caught our attention is the speed at which television voices are now being played. To fit in more commercials, networks have sped up the voices of the people on our screens. This makes it difficult to understand what they are saying. It's concerning that the FCC would allow this to happen, especially considering the high fees we already pay for cable channels. It seems that our only option is to cancel our TV contracts and rely on newspapers and magazines for our news and entertainment.

Laura Ingraham of Fox News recently made a statement accusing the media of equating support for the former president with a "hate crime." While her statement may have been hyperbolic, it raises an interesting point. Perhaps there is a genuine fear among a significant portion of the population that the former president's return to office would bring about hate and crime. Ingraham's words serve as a cautionary reminder of the potential tragedy that looms over our nation.

Lastly, let's talk about Duke Energy's nuclear power ambitions. Despite concerns from critics, we must acknowledge that wind and solar power alone cannot meet the energy needs of our country. Nuclear power is a necessary component of our energy mix. The Turkey Point nuclear facility in Miami, despite a nuclear accident in 1974, continues to provide electricity to South Florida. We have the technology to build nuclear plants that can power entire cities. The fear of nuclear fallout is understandable, but with proper regulation, nuclear power can be a viable solution to our energy needs while also helping us reduce carbon emissions.

It's time to move past our fear and embrace nuclear power as the energy source of the future. Wind turbines and solar panels alone won't get us there. We need to think bigger and bolder. Our future depends on it.

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