Tucson Speaks Out: Aug. 17 letters of the day

It’s easy to read the daily Letters to the Editor and get quite worked up over many of the opinions. Easy also to imagine readers getting worked up merely at seeing specific authors’ names who consistently drumbeat for their sides (guilty as charged!).

The Opinion pages can get so heated up that even daily high temperatures pale in comparison.

And I’m probably not the only one reading this letter who has screamed at some other Letter or Opinion as blood boiled.

But it ended there. I might write a response that never gets published or share my feelings with my community and seek ways to rebut or educate. It’s all good.

It’s called civil discourse. Be grateful we still have it.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

Global peace and justice

There is much debate about how long-lasting peace and security can be established. The potential for disorder, unrest and warfare at both the local and international level is increasing.

There is growing distrust among people, animosity amongst societies and increasing hatred among nations.

The possibility of a catastrophic war that can encapsulate the globe is threatening to destabilize our very existence, and little effort is seen on the cause of peace and security.

The only way to bring peace in the world is when justice is upheld without discrimination and prejudice.

Prophet Muhammad (peace on him) taught that motives based on goodness yield excellent foundations for fulfilling positive purposes.

Selfish desires to maintain wealth, greed and irrational hatred are ingredients that create mistrust, instability and the downfall of societies.

Priority must be placed on selflessness, and this blind injustice must be abandoned if humanity is to be preserved.

Sohail Qureshi

Downtown

Let’s sing!

As is tradition since the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, a nation’s anthem is played to honor the gold medal winner or team winners and their home country.

During the recent 2024 Paris Olympics, when a French team received its gold medals, the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, began, and the French fans robustly sang along with the music.

When the USA men’s basketball team received its gold medals, our Star-Spangled Banner was played, to a solemn crowd. As the French basketball team received their silver medals, there was no music, but the French fans “broke out” in song, robustly singing their anthem.

How patriotic would it be, to sing our national anthem at every opportunity! Let’s sing!

Camille Gannon

West side

Alternative facts

According to Trump, all you have to do is to say it. They will believe it. He is correct, in that his base will buy anything. A few examples are;

• Biggest crowd ever. Nope, there are photos.
• The election was rigged. Lost 61 out of 62 court cases.
• Perfect call. Anyone can hear extortion in the Zelenskyy call.
• The Russians did not interfere in our 2016 election. Several indictments/convictions were made.
• Best economy ever. Both Obama and Biden presided over better economic growth.
• Many good people on both sides. Neo Nazis carrying Tiki torches are not “good people.”

Too many of us believe these lies, because they want to believe, rather than performing easy research or simply seeking out the facts. Any discussion of any topic must begin with all parties sharing a set of facts. The lack of a common fact base makes political discourse impossible. Only one major political party has “Alternative Facts.” Vote for Democrats, up and down the ballot.

Jeff Rayner

SaddleBrooke

Body politic

Donald Trump has become America’s ingrown toenail.

Ron Swanson

Green Valley

U of A President Garimella

I am impressed that President Suresh Garimella is emphasizing the education of U of A students. That is the primary objective of land-grant universities. Research, while important, and in many cases, a source of revenue, should be supported but not emphasized at the expense of student education. I wish Dr. Garimella success in reversing the damage of the past two U of A presidents. An example of which is provost Joseph Glover’s recent resignation after being hired by President Robbins before a new university president was on board. We are all well aware of the fiscal fiascos by the previous administration. Bon voyage and good luck Dr. Garimella, at least you don’t have a tough act to follow!

Dennis Winsten

Northeast side

International friends

The Fall semester at the University of Arizona is soon to begin. Nearly 6,000 of the students enrolled are from other countries.

International Friends is an over 70-year-old non-profit organization that pairs international students attending the U of A with Tucson individuals and families to share interests, cultures and to have fun. The only obligation is to do some kind of social activity together once a month over the course of the academic year — meet for coffee, attend a movie, go for a hike.

We are very much interested in expanding our pool of Tucson “hosts” that “match” with international students. We strive to recruit hosts that reflect the amazing diversity of our Southwest community, and encourage people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to join.

Signing up is easy! Go to ifriendstucson.org, click on the “SIGN UP” button on the homepage, and complete the Host Application. Once approved, applicants will receive a follow-up email with information about the student selection process.

Randy Spalding

Downtown

Journalists beware

Make no mistake, your jobs are at risk, and you only have yourselves to blame.

Prior to the 2016 election, the more outrageous the lies, the more you trumpeted them. For the sake of your ratings and your professional self-interest, you sacrificed the truth about Trump. Enamored with his rants, your coverage overshadowed every serious, experienced Republican candidate who challenged him. You were complicit in championing MAGA mayhem then and you have continued to do so, ignoring the facts and using “misinformation” and “disinformation” to make his lies and blatant propaganda messages seem less heinous than they are.

Now, like any wannabe dictator, Trump plans on being the sole source of “news” for Americans. His master plan will eliminate public broadcasting stations, beginning with NPR and PBS, the nation’s two main public radio and television providers.

Now it’s time to act in your personal self-interest by telling the truth about Trump to the American people.

Your livelihood and our democracy depend on it.

Dr. JB Marshall

Oro Valley

All the best reasons

All those nasty liberal talking points about Kamala Harris have given me a good summary of reasons to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. I do not want to vote for supporters of Agenda 47 and Project 2025. Both seek to concentrate authority and power in the office of POTUS.

Lord Acton (1887): “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Those lacking a moral compass being the most susceptible.

James Abels

Midtown

Star importance

Just to let you know, I have family and friends outside of state who don’t have access to a decent newspaper. About four times a week, I send them something from the Star; be it article, op-ed, cartoon; and they greatly appreciate it. We all thank you, so keep publishing.

John Morgan

Midtown