President Trump’s leadership has been shaky at best during the COVID-19 pandemic

On COVID-19, Trump

COVID-19 isn’t the plague.

I don’t know where this twisted logic has sprung from, and I don’t believe this virus is going to kill us all; people continue to congregate in restaurants and bars, sitting shoulder to shoulder with total strangers.

What we should be more concerned about is the man sitting in the White House.

I have strong Republican ties as well as an understanding and appreciation of Democratic beliefs. The bottom line is that we can’t let President Donald Trump run our country anymore.

The divisiveness that Trump has caused must stop.

And, no, Mr. President, you can’t have your likeness carved into Mount Rushmore.

Sandon Preston, Hilton Head

On HHP

“Hilton Head Plantation” and “Shakespeare” are not ordinarily placed in the same sentence — but with a bit of imagination, their histories dovetail nicely.

The Island Packet’s readers are aware of the ongoing debate over whether HHP should jettison “plantation” from its name. “Plantation” is a deeply hurtful word to most of us, and to some of us more than others.

I believe that changing the name is long overdue, and that’s particularly true when you learn that every other community has already made that change — Palmetto Hall most recently.

So how does all of this relate to Shakespeare?

In the playwright’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet asks this: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Well, Juliet unraveled her own question, and her answer remains as fitting today as it was when Shakespeare conjured up the young lovers in 1597.

If we were to swap the word “plantation” for a more thoughtful word, would the folks who are now against a name change even notice the difference after a few years? After some time had passed, would they really care that our lovely community had been renamed as Hilton Head Point,” “Hilton Head Preserve” or “Hilton Head Pines”?

After all, “a rose by any other name” is still sweet,” isn’t it?

HHP is a wonderful community, and my husband and I love being a part of it.

We think life here would remain just as sweet — and might actually be even sweeter — if all of us who call HHP our home were able to live more comfortably and happily here.

Priss Calanni, Hilton Head Island

On property taxes

According to a recent report, more than 50% of renters in South Carolina cannot afford their rent, and many may be in danger of facing eviction. Do you think the problem might be the screwed-up property tax rates that we have in this state?

You bet it is!

For the most part local primary homeowners pay peanuts in property taxes while the rest of us suckers — renters, vacationers, businesses and second-home owners — pay far higher amounts. And for what? To support schools that have kids who can’t read in a state where teachers are among the lowest paid in the nation.

Go figure.

Quinn Peitz, Beaufort

On private schools

The best educational plan is the one that gives parents the power to send their kids where parents want them to go: the parents are the ones who know best when it comes to their children’s education — not the politicians or even the educators.

State Rep. Nancy Mace gets all of this, and that’s a breath of sorely needed fresh air.

By offering strong support for private schools, Mace has shown that she realizes that her constituents know how to run their lives better than she does — and that her role is to provide them with the proper tools and then get out of the way. Good for Mace.

Doc Gilder, Folly Beach

This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 2:42 PM.