This violence is cruel and counterproductive
Bronx: Addressing Rep. Jerry Nadler’s campaign for House Resolution 894, one editorial asserted that the danger isn’t that everything will be considered antisemitic, but that nothing will. This seems reflective of the extremism of our times. This form of thinking goes from one extreme to the other, as though both things could not be dangerous or true.
This extremism characterizes our response to the Israel-Palestine conflict. War is always an extreme response to a problem, and the violence now is particularly extreme. Proof that we are blinded by our extremism is when we see children dead and blown to bits, trapped beneath rubble, and what should be our natural human instinct to stop it is instead distracted by finger-pointing about who’s to blame.
This extremism comes with an inability to recognize things for what they are and call them what they are. It is necessary, for the sake of clarity and truth, for cooler heads to prevail, but this will not happen in the extreme contexts of war and violence.
We must have a permanent ceasefire and bring all parties involved — all hands stained with blood and war crimes in their extremes — to the table to work on a political solution. The hostages in Gaza and the people of Gaza deserve an end to this, a return to their homes, and mature leadership that can, through negotiation, back away from their respective extremisms, which are dangerous to all people and to truth on either end, and get to a sober peace and justice. Enough is enough. Anitta Santiago
Heart problem
Glen Ridge, N.J.: Wow, Voicer Manny Agostini, where is your compassion? Addiction is an illness and Matthew Perry was fighting it every day. Now go back to Whoville, you heartless Grinch. Francine Ferrara
It wasn’t me
Brooklyn: Gov. Hochul signed a bill that will conduct research on slavery reparations. She wants New Yorkers to be patriots about it. I have to say, like many other people in the state, I don’t think we should be held accountable for what happened more than 150 years ago. I’m not about to bend over backwards for a crime I didn’t commit nor recognize something that wasn’t voted on in a public election, nor will I give special treatment to anyone just because the governor says so. Joseph Comperchio
Burdensome
Yonkers: The New York City Council’s move to have all low-level police encounters documented by the rank and file is an obvious attempt to curb policing even more than it currently is, allowing criminals and criminal behavior to flourish even more. Sounds like the bill was introduced by a former perp having become a Council member — or as what is known in police parlance as “a total mutt.” This stupidity should be vetoed by Mayor Adams, and in the event it isn’t, the police should do absolutely nothing. When asked why nothing is being done, the response should be: “Ask the idiot who introduced the bill.” New York City is quickly becoming a toilet because of such insane stupidity, and furthermore because bills like this are written by former detainees as retaliation against authority. Ralph A. Manente
Safe spaces
Brooklyn: ‘Tis the season for giving, but unfortunately also the season for being threatened with not getting enough. I know that city agencies face budget cuts, but I would not want the Department of Education nor the CUNY college system to be hit with major cuts. So many children and young adults will be hurt by these cuts in the short run, as well as in the long run, as will our city and society as a whole. Schools provide education, counseling, socialization, meals and a safe place for so many youths who need it desperately. Let’s not be Scrooges to the younger generation. Ellen Levitt
Rerouting
Bronx: It’s certainly true that mass transit needs funding for upgrades and maintenance, but congestion pricing isn’t the way to do it. The originators of this idea believe that congestion pricing will force people to take the abysmal mass transit system we have, but it will force people to go elsewhere. For example, my physician has an office in Midtown and one in Scarsdale. Rather than depending on erratic express bus service to get into Midtown, where I would also do some shopping, I will drive to his office in Scarsdale. It’s easier to get to, less expensive with no congestion pricing, and Westchester will get my shopping money. Congestion pricing is a loser all around. Don Appel
Unsubstantiated decision
Aiken, S.C.: Just when I thought that Democrats in positions of authority couldn’t abuse their power more than they already have, the four justices on the Colorado Supreme Court proved me wrong by removing former President Donald Trump from the ballot, denying the people of the state their God-given right to vote for who they want. These Trump-hating justices had the unmitigated gall to collude with one another to do a disservice to the people by misusing the 14th Amendment, Section 3 “insurrection law,” written as a deterrent after the Civil War to stop the South from starting another war. The fact that Trump hasn’t been charged with insurrection for the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol or been convicted of said crime shows the bias of the 4-3 vote. Greg Topliff
True feelings
Somerset, N.J.: Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis say that Donald Trump should not be removed from the Colorado ballot; let the voters decide. They say this to not offend Trump’s base. Secretly, they would be very glad if he was removed and then they could get those votes. Arthur Bressler
Bad track record
Far Rockaway: Voicer Luana Dunn thinks that Trump can lure the votes of Black and Hispanic voters and eventually turn New York red. Keep dreaming. Trump has spewed more vitriol towards people of color than anyone I could possibly think of. Secondly, the Supreme Court should perform its due diligence and uphold the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court. Why? This is not a political decision but one based on the Constitution. If the Supremes can’t rule or won’t (with the exception of Clarence Thomas), they should send it back and let Colorado’s ruling stand. Finally, the courts are well aware of Trump’s delay tactics — rocket dockets should be employed as soon as possible. Ora Reed
Economic indicators
Henderson Nev.: I have to disagree totally with Voicer Tom Ascher. The stock market is at its highest in history and unemployment is at its lowest in history. GDP is higher than Trump ever had it. Yes, the price of food is somewhat higher, and gasoline is higher than when Trump was president. However, you fail to realize that neither of these can be attributed to President Biden. If Trump had done what he should have, COVID would have been treated properly much earlier than it was and the pandemic would have ended earlier. When it ended, people started to drive again and to buy again. This plus supply chain problems caused inflation. Our inflation is lower than that in the rest of the world. Gasoline prices are not controlled by the president. They’re controlled by Saudi Arabia and the world market. Trump was the worst president in U.S. history. If he gets elected again, forget about democracy. Martin Posner
Historical figure
Greenville, S.C.: So sorry about the death of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He died at 100 on Nov. 30. Kissinger was a great American. He served as a great statesman in the Nixon and Ford administrations as national security advisor and secretary of state. He served in the years of the Cold War and Vietnam War, and served as Richard Nixon’s trusted confidant and top diplomat during the years 1973-1977. Stars in Hollywood such as Ed Sullivan, Dick Clark and Johnny Carson praised his efforts through the years. Kissinger will be remembered for his efforts during the Cold War and as one of America’s greatest secretaries of state. We will miss his service. Steven Hawkins