Tucson Speaks Out: March 11 letters of the day

There is a dictator invading its neighbors marching to Europe. In the Far East, an Asian power is threatening its neighbors. In America, a leader is telling the country it’s not our business … sound familiar?! If Mr. Trump is elected, within 2-3 years, Americans will be dying overseas once again. Trump has made it clear Russia can have Ukraine. It will take 2-3 years, but Russia, China, North Korea, Iran (with its proxies) and Saudi Arabia will form an alliance. Trump has proven America’s name on a treaty means nothing, so when Russia invades Poland, America will abandon NATO and not respond. Once Russia invades Poland, China will attack Taiwan. “The Alliance” will attack America economically at first, then there will be a “Pearl Harbor” event. All of this will come to fruition because we did not support Ukraine now and elected Trump who only cares about revenge and trying to turn America into a dictatorship.

David Berryhill

Sahuarita

Middle East conflict

What is taking place in the Middle East is truly tragic. I don't understand why the blame seems to be placed on Israel. We can't forget that Hamas is a governing body just like Israel. The one main difference is Israel's army wear uniforms, where Hamas wears everyday clothes and hide amongst those they govern. Hamas was elected into power by the people of Gaza. Hamas has preached since day one that Israel has no right to exist and should be totally wiped out. They have not returned the Hostages taken on Oct. 7 and are using them as pawns. They raped and murdered in cold blood without provocation. Israel is now at war with another government to protect its citizens. If Hamas had not attacked Israel and raped, murdered, and taken hostages, this tragic event would not be happening. Hamas, in essence, declared war on Israel. If Hamas would lay down their arms and return the hostages, this tragedy would not be taking place.

Neil Norton

Oro Valley

16 measures proposed by legislators

Re: the March 4 article "These GOP measures may head directly to voters."

Reading the Match 4 issue of the Star, I was struck by the article describing the sixteen propositions that Republican lawmakers in both the AZ House and Senate have passed and are sending to Governor Hobbs for her veto.

As I perused the descriptions of these ridiculously weird laws that are to be referred to our citizens, I was reminded of the quote attributed to H. L Mencken: “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”

With all due respect to the memory of Mencken, I believe he should have closed with, “the Arizona Legislature.”

Jerry Helm

Northwest side

Why I don't say the J word

On the face of it, it’s no worse than calling someone from China, “Chinese.” But here’s the problem: It isn’t benign calling a Jewish person, or someone from Judea, a “Jew.” This word is often loaded with vitriol and hatred, among those of us who are not Jewish. You can hear disgust in peoples’ voices. “Jews shall not replace us!” shouted the crowd in Charlottesville a few years ago. World War II saw Germany exterminate 6 million Jewish citizens from all over Europe. The Crusades of the Middle Ages, the Pogroms of Europe in the 19th century, and the antisemitism preached in churches for two millennia — all of these have built the xenophobic hatred against Jewish people for the past 2,000 years.

Currently, the “J” word is a dog-whistle to antisemitism.

Perhaps in the future, it will be said with respect and honor. Until then, I’m not going to say the “J” word.

(“Jewish people,” a replacement).

Rev. Frances A. Coleman

Midtown

Aphasia

We welcomed the recent article “A closer look at the causes and types of aphasia.” We are the Tucson-based Friends of Aphasia, a world-class organization that helps people with aphasia, caused by a stroke, a head injury, or frontotemporal dementia. It was co-founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her speech-language pathologist, Dr. Fabi Hirsch Kruse. We also want to welcome our new CEO, Katie Ares!

Dr. Lewine, who wrote the article, says that speech therapy can help people with aphasia learn to communicat,e but we have seen the dramatic increases in speech capabilities from our group activities such as Word Challenge, our Writing Class, and other activities that help develop language.

Bryan Campbell, Friends of Aphasia class member

Northeast side

'Fair share'

Has anyone noticed that the people calling for the rich to pay their fair share of taxes either pays little or no taxes or receives government benefits?

Thomas Wenzel

East side

Fare thee well!

Honorable Senator Kyrsten Sinema, "Good Night, Good Luck, and Good Riddance."

Alan Barreuther

Foothills

McConnell, an underling

The fault, dear Mitch McConnell, is not in our stars. But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Shakespeare speaks to all generations.

Bruce Gary

Sierra Vista

Can't be serious

Arizona lawmakers want to give gun industry rights against 'discrimination.'

This is a joke, right?

Sarah Evans

Midtown

Why?

I wonder why some of our lawmakers and even an 87-year-old retired senator are supporting the U of A president who lied to us. How can they support a person who deceived us? I hope lying isn’t how Arizona handles business.

Jose Salgado

Northeast side

The good, the bad and the ugly

The Good: Our Loop Trail. I am just back from another healthful and relaxing ride on The Loop trail, a major plus for our residents and out-of-town visitors. I feel safe riding without the motor vehicles and enjoy majestic views of our desert and mountains. A tremendous asset for Tucson. Bravo!

The bad and the ugly: Trash! Today's ride on the west side was between Ruthrauff/Camino del Cerro, and I was disgusted by the amount and variety of garbage in the historic Santa Cruz. We are all responsible: the careless, the houseless, the thoughtless, the companies that make the mostly plastic ever-lasting detritus. May we all be more cognizant that this trash impacts our health and the health of the planet, our water and air. I would like to see the city and county make better efforts to mobilize citizens to attend volunteer projects to help manage this mess without having to spend much taxpayer money. To a cleaner and more beautiful Tucson!

Jack Kriendler

West side

Response to Britt's SOTU response

First-term Alabama Senator Katie Britt gave the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union speech. She was a good choice for the brand: young, attractive, articulate and a model of family values. Her response was true to the brand as well. She painted an emotional and persuasive picture of a failed Biden presidency, but one that was also inaccurate and disingenuous. Her solution, too, was true to the brand. No newcomers are needed here. We are equipped to rebuild this country by virtue of our ancestry. Our gritty forefathers built this country. We will succeed, she said, because “we know their stories.” I wonder what stories our grandchildren will know if their textbooks are rewritten to erase uncomfortable truths. Will the arc of the moral universe bend toward justice if injustice is hidden from history?

Lynne Hudson

Northwest side

GOP pushes banks to deal with gunmakers

If our Phoenix legislators, in particular Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West, believe that it is legal for a wedding engraver or cake maker to refuse service to a gay couple, how is it that they also believe that it is not legal for a bank to refuse to do business with a gun manufacturer? Do they believe that they can pick and choose their endorsement of discrimination?

Betsy Werhane

Northeast side

Wadsack's Keystone Cops legislation

Re: the March 8 article "AZ Senate: Allow citizens to arrest shoplifters."

I compliment the AZ Daily Star for placing AZ Senate: Allow citizens to arrest shoplifters on the front page. Loss by shoplifting to Arizona businesses is a serious issue. But this story could have been separated into two sections of the paper. Page one, detail the amount and type of shoplifting and crime that Josh Jacobsen, member of Tucson Crime Free Coalition, and other business owners face. In the article, sensible and innovative solutions could be included.

The second article, placed in the entertainment section, could describe  SB1613. The brainchild of Sen. Justine Wadsack, SB 1613 urges anyone to arrest shoplifters, no matter the item’s worth or potential for danger from firearms. Scene one: A zealous citizen tackling and subduing a suspected thief clutching a pack of gum. Scene two: An emergency room with a gunshot victim as an outcome of such heroics.

Arizona voters, send Senator Wadsack packing this November, perhaps for a career in theater of the absurd.

Roger Shanley

East side