Tucson Speaks Out: June 10 letters of the day

Despite the outrage by Republicans over Trump being put on trial and found guilty there is obviously no two-tiered system of justice. Hunter Biden being on trial shows Biden is not using the Department of Justice for his benefit. Biden has not interfered and has promised not to pardon his son, unlike Trump who has indicated he would pardon the insurrectionists of Jan. 6. Trump has also benefited from Judge Cannon doing everything she can to slow-walk Trump’s documents trial to after the election.

Craig Miller

Northwest side

Moral fabric

The American moral fabric is fraying for all to see. As a society we are becoming more hostile and dismissal in manner, the children no less than the adults. It is rejecting accepted ways of behavior in public and refusing to extend polite consideration to anyone not to our liking. It is this rude behavior along with the gross foul language that pervades our society that sets us apart from our own selves in years gone by.

There are too many who enjoy dressing sloppy, torn pants, worn gym ensembles, hair all akimbo, and body art of a more primitive time. This is quite a sight, and no one dare say a word about any of it. It is the soiled veneer of freedom.

Our lack of pride in our appearance and tart manners are mirrors of our unhappiness. The friendly smile for our neighbors is being replaced by a cold nod. Trust is on holiday. Discontent is everywhere.

Ron Lancaster

North side

Lest we forget the USS Liberty

On June 8, 1967, 37 Americans were killed and 171 crewmen injured in an attack on the USS Liberty 25 miles north of the Sanai peninsula by the Israeli Defense Forces. The Israelis apologized and claimed they thought the ship was an Egyptian troop carrier and could not see any flag. The survivors of the attack on the Liberty disputed that since the Egyptian troop carrier is much smaller than the Liberty and it was a clear, balmy day. The survivors said that low-flying IDF pilots and the IDF torpedo boat captains could have easily seen that the Liberty was flying the United States flag.

The attack was so sensitive that some U.S. Administration officials were thinking of sinking the Liberty in order to avoid diplomatic embarrassment.

Just a reminder that Israel will do absolutely anything it feels it needs to do to “protect” itself, including attack its supposed ally.

Matt Somers

Midtown

Mort Rosenblum

Re: the June 2 article “Devil is in the details for Copper World.”

Three cheers to the Star for enticing Mort Rosenblum to do a regular column for Star readers (and hopefully others)! Mr. Rosenblum deserves every accolade the Star lists, and then some. His absolute integrity and devotion to the ideals of his profession have long made us proud. His willingness to share his knowledge and experience as a world-renowned reporter and writer over decades occurs when he could be taking a well-deserved rest. But he won’t do that, as his devotion to imparting knowledge is paramount. Lucky for us!

Abraham R. Byrd III

North side

It’s not difficult at all

Figuring out for whom to vote for President of our country seems like a brain dead decision to me.

Either way you vote you’re going to get an old white guy. Neither of them has a lot of accomplishments to brag about.

But the person who becomes our president should be, above all, a decent human being! Pretty easy to see which one is and which one isn’t and is in fact anything but a decent person.

Jim Rapp

Southeast side

Bulletproof vest?

I intend to serve as a poll worker on Nov. 5. Do you think I can borrow Laura Conover’s bulletproof vest?

Paul Lauritzen

West side

Second term

Trump winning a second term is an existential threat to our climate and our democracy.

Ray Omdahl

Green Valley

Keenan’s accusations are unfounded

Re: the June 6 letter “Conover cleaned up corruption.”

Former Pima County Transportation Director Brooks Keenan’s inflammatory letter accusing me of ignoring evidence of corruption in Pima County is wholly unfounded and incorrect. His 2001 accusations from 23 years ago were made against several members of the County Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator.

As County Attorney, I was their lawyer and they were my clients, as a result of this explicit conflict, my office did not investigate, but instead the investigation was turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They found no evidence of any corruption.

Reporting on Keenan’s allegations at the time, the Tucson Weekly claimed that the department he headed had “thoroughly botched the Thornydale Road widening and other county projects,” and by “decrying massive corruption in county government … Keenan is clearly covering his own ass.”

Barbara LaWall

North side

Gay pride

Re: the June 6 letter “Gay pride.”

An eastside man whines that children can no longer play in June, because it is Gay Pride month.

Complete bigoted hooey, designed to conflate gays with children. No one is forced to celebrate anything in this country, yet he is swooning because he feels SO put-upon.

He complains about the rainbow symbol, yet ignores the usurping of the American flag, upside down, no less, being abused by right-wing nuts, and a Supreme Court justice. Then, he slyly brings up Christianity, clutching his pearls over actually letting God be the judge, and he ignores Christ’s message about stone throwing.

Gay people don’t want extra rights. They pay the same taxes as all, and they deserve the same rights. Pride month recognizes their considerable bravery to speak up.

No one ever gives up on freedom.

Christi Driggs

Northwest side

You Can’t Always Get What You Want...

To further quote the Rolling Stones, “…you get what you need.” For all of the people that are not happy with our choices for president, please don’t sit out and hand your vote to the person who could end American democracy as we know it. Please put aside your “wants” for the betterment of our country. Abstaining from voting is a vote for Trump. Republicans are going to get out the vote for him to try to vindicate their losses in 2020, even though most of them are voting against their own interests. This is a pivotal point in our country, the results will determine if American democracy continues. If Trump wins autocracy will replace a not-so-perfect democracy. Trump’s sycophants who blindly follow their leader will continue to do so, even into the abyss. Yes, Joe Biden is old. Yes, Donald Trump is old. However, there is a catechismal difference; President Biden wants what is good for the country. Trump wants what is good for himself.

Terri Hicks

Northwest side

Reproductive rights

As a retired Family Life Educator, I am acutely aware of threats to reproductive rights emerging across America. Trump’s Project 2025 contains proposals to limit reproductive care. If elected, he plans to fund natural family planning initiatives, limit birth control available at no cost under the Affordable Care Act, and remove the mandatory insurance coverage for emergency contraception.

The recent attempt to codify the right to contraception failed to pass in the Senate, as GOP senators called the bill an unnecessary “show vote”. Now that nearly one third of states prohibit nearly all abortions, access to contraception has become even more important. The recently approved Opill, over the counter birth control pill, promises a possible solution. Access to Opill and all forms of birth control must be protected.

A 2023 Gallup Poll showed 88% Americans consider birth control to be morally acceptable. Make no mistake. Reproductive rights are on the ballot in November. America needs a “show vote” to elect local, state, and national leaders who will protect reproductive freedom.

Francine Crist

Oro Valley

Re-Elect Laura Conover

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover is a dedicated public servant who has met the challenges of her first term with fortitude and grace. She has faced unending and unjustified accusations and criticism because of her reform efforts. Nonetheless, Conover has kept her promises to eliminate the death penalty in Pima County and to institute a restorative justice program. She has retained and hired excellent, experienced prosecutors to ensure that the duties of her office are carried out with competence, compassion and integrity. Conover has built a first rate Civil Division and an outstanding Victim Services program. Systemic changes to the entrenched bureaucracy and punitive practices of the previous long-serving county attorney take more than one term to fully achieve. Conover’s approach has already benefited Pima County. We need another Conover term for the reforms she set in motion to come to fruition. Laura Conover is the best candidate for Pima County Attorney.

Martha Durkin

Midtown

This Hispanic voter is voting for Mike Jette

I am a Hispanic voter, an educator, and a mother of two sons. My family and I come from the Yaqui Tribe, Central America, and Mexico. We vote for candidates who support our community. When I learned about Mike Jette’s prosecution of the rancher who murdered an immigrant from Mexico and found out he is a candidate for Pima County Attorney I was intrigued. He fought for someone who is no longer with us and who had no voice. What he stands for is what my family and I want. We want a reform-minded prosecutor who will stand for our community and represent us and make a positive difference for our community. This is why I will be voting for Mike Jette, and I hope other Hispanic voters will join me in voting for him.

Anna Trejo

South side

Opportunity lost

June 6, 2024, D-Day was remembered. Eighty years ago the Allies landed on Normandy. Biden quite properly gave praise to the few remaining soldiers who were in attendance. He improperly compared the war between Russia and Ukraine as comparable to WWII with a call for the current generation to be ready to emulate.

Vladimir Putin was not invited. Over 20 million Russians were killed in WWII. This compares to 400,000 Americans. This could have been a coming together event between Russia and NATO with the objective of ending this tragic war. There was a time as NATO was being created that Russia wanted to be included. They were rejected and after the Berlin wall came down we assured that NATO wouldn’t expand towards Russia, but they did. Thirty-two nations are in NATO today. In the current conflict an estimated death count both sides is 500,000. It is unbelievable that this could be happening today.

Jack Walters

Northeast side