10 of our top opinion columns this week: ICYMI

In today's fast-paced news environment, it can be hard to keep up. For your weekend reading, we've started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some of the week's top Paste BN Opinion pieces. As always, thanks for reading, and for your feedback.

— Paste BN Opinion editors

1. A mayor, a filmmaker, a Navajo Nation president: Our take on Leaders of Change

By Eileen Rivers

"Who is the next John Lewis? That question quickly became the directive for this Leaders of Change project: Find the hardworking small-town activist, compelling national thought leader, outspoken public figure who is pushing for change — a person with the ability to rise up and lead the nation through the chaos of today's civil rights fight." 

2. Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder: I am a Republican vote for Biden

By Rick Snyder

"I will continue to support and stand up for Republican policies and values, and support Republican candidates, but I will not support Donald Trump for reelection. ... While I am endorsing Joe Biden for president, I am still a Republican who also will be publicly supporting Republican candidates at the local, state and federal level." 

3. Rioting is beginning to turn people off to BLM and protests while Biden has no solution

By James S. Robbins

"Democrats may have hoped that the national reckoning on race would be a favorable issue for 2020. But the street violence has overwhelmed their reform message. CNN’s Don Lemon bemoaned the fact that the rioting is 'showing up in the polling' and 'showing up in focus groups.' He said the 'rioting has to stop” because 'it is the only thing right now that is sticking.'"

4. Donald Trump's big convention speech was filled with lies and gall: Mastio and Lawrence

By David Mastio and Jill Lawrence

"Trump must be viewed as an aspiring law and order nominee. He tried to scare the pants off the country about a Joe Biden too weak to stand up to the anarchists and looters and rioters and flag-burners — and yet his entire presidency has been a corruption spree."

5. Former state Republican chair: Dismayed by Trump's convention and how my party treats women

By Jennifer Horn

"President Donald Trump's four-day convention was one of dangerous division, sneaky sexism, blatant bigotry and exclusion. The contrast with the uplifting and unifying message of last week’s Democratic convention was stark."

6. Don't get too excited about Biden's lead in the polls: a close election is dangerous

By David Rothkopf and Bernard L. Schwartz

"Overconfidence invites defeat. Even a narrow victory for Joe Biden will invite controversy, challenges and confusion. Only a massive overall voter turnout and substantial margins for Democrats can end the threat that Trumpism poses to our way of life in America, to our economy, to the rule of law in our country and to the futures we bequeath to our children and grandchildren." 

7. Postal Service worker: Dismantled mail processing machines is only our latest burden

By Muriel Ponder

"The Postal Service in which I take such pride has been charged to do almost impossible tasks in ways that no other business in the country has been required to do. In 2006, the Postal Service was singled out by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), as the only government agency or business in history required to fund the health care costs post-retirement for every employee for the next 75 years, and do it all in an immediate 10-year window." 

8. Trump stokes unrest, Biden condemns selectively

By The Editorial Board

"The nation's summer of unrest has devolved in several cities to radical elements facing off in the streets, seemingly poised for combat. Blame-shifting over this tense situation is rampant. But the vast majority of Americans have an uncluttered answer: Violence in all forms is simply wrong." 

9. Coronavirus: Some school districts are willing to open up public schools — for a price

By Erin Hawley

"In Northern Virginia, Fairfax County recently announced that, because it is too dangerous for students to return to school, the fall 2020 semester will be online only. And yet, the county just rolled out a program to open 37 schools to elementary age children. The only catch: Parents have to pay for the privilege of sending their children to the public school they support with their tax dollars."

10. COVID forces us to keep our distance. But some of us were already used to being avoided.

By Meg Zucker

"I was born with a rare genetic condition called ectrodactyly that I passed on to both our sons. Although I joke that the term sounds like I am a type of dinosaur, it simply is a Greek term for missing digits. I only have one finger on each hand (shortened forearms) and one toe on each tiny misshapen foot."