Tucson Speaks Out: April 9 letters of the day

For women who are regretting their past decision to have an abortion please consider this. Think back to those times and your feelings of desperation and panic. You determined it to be the right decision then. Now times and your circumstances have changed. It is easy to look back and idealize now the results of a continued pregnancy. The imagined results invariably being a beautiful/handsome, healthy and successful adult now. An adult (grown miraculously without problems) and a source of parental pride or a balm for loneliness and isolation. Unlikely would this view include the possibility of a handicap.

Reality in my experience as a nurse and adoption worker is a mother taking her 16-year-old daughter to mass on Sunday and to the gynecologist’s office for an abortion on Monday. Some religions teach that God gave us an intellect and free will. Then what? He punishes us for using them? So have compassion for yourself, then and now.

Melvina Strijdonk

Oro Valley

Ill-timed junket

Re: the March 27 article “We had no choice but to visit Israel.”

State Representative Alma Hernandez made an impassioned case for a Jewish person loyal to Israel to take a free visit to that country. She made no case whatsoever for one legislator, much less a group, to take such a trip mid-session. There may be reasons to do so at a more appropriate time. I am a constituent in District 18 who voted for Democratic Reps. Chris Mathis and Nancy Gutierrez. If, as reported, they chose to neglect their duties to go on this junket, I am disappointed. While any or all of those on the trip may aspire to higher office where such an experience may be relevant, they should not be taking time away from their current responsibilities to enhance their resumes. If I wanted politicians more concerned with taking breaks than doing the people’s business, such as our national House of Representatives, I would vote Republican.

James Stevenson

Midtown

A cage match

Re: the April 1 letter “A cage match.”

A letter writer suggests “A Cage Match” between President Biden and Trump so one can see how well spoken and articulate Trump is compared to Joe Biden. While the letter writer’s idea is admirable, it is a fantasy to believe that Trump would speak intelligently and clearly given his years of rambling, nonsensical speech. He thinks he is running against Barack Obama and has endlessly confused Nancy Pelosi and Nikki Haley. He would not abide by the rules that are suggested as he doesn’t respect the basic rules of “a speaking engagement”. The “cage match” would just showcase his “bloodbath” demeanor.

Jean Getek

Foothills

Fix the streets

Dear Tucson City Council and Pima County Supervisors,

Please get on the ball please, now please listen, President Biden won fair and square ok! Now let’s concentrate on repairing Golf Links, 22nd, Speedway, Broadway, Camino Seco, Irvington, Houghton Road. Widen Mary Ann Cleveland, the North part of Houghton Road from Irvington to 22nd please widen it plus the bridge north of Irvington and more! Oh yeah and Harrison North of Irvington and put a bridge at the wash and widen it too! It’s all for safety. In 2023 a high school student was killed on Mary Ann Cleveland, driving to school. Two high schools are on Cleveland. It’s very dangerous in the mornings and afternoons. From a concerned taxpayer and good citizen.

David E. Leon

Vail

Greater good

Re: the April 1 letter “Greater Good.”

The writer’s comments on tax rates concludes with “Greater good is a socialistic term that allows people to take money from the rich to give to the poor. The United States is not Sherwood Forest.”

It seems that terms like “greater good” or “common good” have become quite unfashionable these days. It is apparently a weakness to promote societal objectives that benefit a large number of people. But if our federal, state, and local governments are not in the business of promoting shared interests and the common good, then what the heck are they doing? Promoting special interests? I guess that explains the Arizona Legislature.

Just as a reminder, examples of the common good include roads, libraries, public safety, clean water, public schools, Medicare, Social Security, and national defense. All of these require a certain amount of wealth redistribution. Someone has to pay more when others simply do not have the means. Progressive taxation is a rational solution to funding the common good.

Thomas Ryan

East side

Adolescent & young adult cancer

Re: the April 3 article “Community for young cancer patients.”

Yesterday I received a referral for a 29-year-old (young) woman who has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that has metastasized and she has been given no more than 3 years to live. Today I read the opinion article about Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer written by Lindsay Baker and Rina Fox. Excellent timing as we learn of the challenges of people we know and high-profile individuals who have struggled in handling this challenging diagnosis. The combination of the diagnosis and the grueling treatments makes cancer a very taxing and life changing diagnosis. Please consider how you might support a child or young adult facing the economic impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Beverley Tidwell, Program Director of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona

Midtown

We, the Jewish People

For my whole life, I have been told that I should be proud to be a Jewish American. With my blonde hair and blue eyes, not thinking anything of it (just when I was a little kid, I couldn’t stand my curls). Now, with this war between Gaza and Israel, not Palestine (which everyone has it confused). The terror is spreading in all the wrong ways. People are playing the child’s game of telephone and making up their own scenarios. We, as a whole, as an American people, need to stand beside our sisters and brothers in Israel and do what is right. We shouldn’t be afraid. This isn’t something that we can stand or sit by and watch and wait until it “blows over” or “comes to our backyard.” It already is! This is not something I say for an uprising. I say it as someone who used to hide who she was. I hide no more!

Natania Maston

Midtown

Triple A baseball

Good afternoon,

With the Oakland Athletics moving to Sacramento the next 4 years while they wait on Vegas, the Triple A team (Rivercats) will not have a place to play. Have any discussions begun about trying to bring the Rivercats and minor league baseball back to Tucson? I grew up going to Sidewinder games and spring training baseball here in Tucson. This city is a baseball town and has a very rich and deep history with professional baseball. Future generations deserve to grow up going to the ballpark with family, just as us older folk did before it was taken away. Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium is still a decent ballpark that has been missing the reason it was created. It has been 11 years now of no affiliated minor league baseball in Tucson. It’s time to change that.

Anthony Alvarez

West side

Replacement for president of UA

It appears that we are back to a “National Search” for Robert Robbins’ replacement? Seems like a great cost to pursue, and predicated upon not too successful previous results?

Has it entered anyone’s thoughts that a more efficient approach would be to promote from within, taking into account that someone exposed to the history of the university, and the players, would be in a more realistic position to move forward without the delays encompassed with someone outside and unfamiliar with the operation?

Also, the cost of the search and usual overpayment of the subject found?

Maybe a contract tied financially to the success of the candidate selected in correcting the financial and other problems encompassed leading to the questions of Robert Robbins’ leadership during his tenure?

Richard Mckenna

Northeast side