Tucson Speaks Out: Nov. 16 letters of the day

According to the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Juan Ciscomani is Public Servant of the Year.

I don’t understand how an elected official who votes to cut access to our Social Security and Medicare is a Public Servant of the Year.

I don’t understand how an elected official who votes to gut women’s abortion rights is a Public Servant of the Year.

I don’t understand how an elected official who votes to roll back environmental protections is a Public Servant of the Year.

And I don’t understand how a Public Servant of the Year votes for an election-denier and insurrectionist for the Speaker of the House!

Congressman Juan Ciscomani doesn’t possess the legislative successes or the moral fiber that qualify him for a title anything like Public Servant of the Year.

Diana Alexander

Oro Valley

Why blame Biden?

Let’s quit blaming Biden for immigration challenges, shall we? Civics 101 teaches us the Executive Branch might band-aid situations, but who is responsible for providing well-planned immigration policies? Let’s shout together: CONGRESS! Can you hear us, Senators Kelly, Sinema and Congressman Ciscomani?

If you’re not Indigenous, you too come from one of “those refugees.” So, if dissing them is a pastime, don’t forget climate change and what you consume. Per Capita, we have (and continue) to contribute more fossil fuel emissions than any country. Well-planned immigration policies must recognize how US lifestyles affect others. Within 30 years: Maldives and Bangladesh likely drown. Where do people go? Where are their citizens? And wars displace millions.

Our population ages. Consider 9.8 million US job openings right now. While exclaiming, “they’ll take our jobs,” what jobs are those? Willing to move to North Dakota? Unemployed, 8,000; jobs, 33,000.

Congress: It’s complicated, but this is YOUR job not to politicize. Solve it!

Nancy Jacques

Northeast side

Welcome to civilization

Re: the Nov. 10 article “American Muslims and Jews must stand together.”

‘Twas a pleasant shock to see the title of this op-ed. One of the op-ed’s authors, Muslim Sabeeha Rehman, claims to seek friendship and live peaceably with Jews. After 1,400 years of Islam’s trying to wipe Jews off the face of the earth, I take it that Muslims like Seebeha wish to lead or be part of the reformation of Islam, which is centuries overdue. Will the New American Islam take on the noble tenets of Judaism: the equality of women, toleration of other faiths, separation of church and state, a general love of this life and this earth?

Will the new faith denounce pedophilia and slavery, kidnapping and conversion-by-the-sword, and the genocidal wars by Muslim armies that continues to this day and hour?

If such is her motivation, I say Bless You, Sabeeha! Hallelujah! Welcome to Civilization!

Jim Douthit

West side

Can’t have it both ways

Re: the Nov. 11 letter “Ciscomani’s problem.”

The writer claims that because Rep. Ciscomani is not part of his solution, he is part of the problem, and the solution is Kirsten Engel. The writer is, in this case, directly saying Rep. Ciscomani has aligned himself with election-deniers and because of that, somehow Engel is the solution?!

I would like to remind the writer that every single Democrat in the house voted in lockstep with Hakeem Jeffries for speaker, who on 13 different occasions, said Donald Trump was in 2016 an illegitimate president or that the 2016 election was somehow illegitimate.

How, then, is Engel someone who would vote for Rep. Jeffries not surrounding herself with election-denialism as well? You can’t have it both ways; either the writer is a student of irony or a colossal hypocrite putting our democracy in jeopardy. I suspect the latter.

Ron DeSouza

Oro Valley

UA budget cuts

The UA recently announced that, due to an accounting error, it has $240 million less cash on hand than was initially reported. This will necessitate budget cuts and a hiring freeze. President Robert Robbins makes close to a $1 million a year while Lisa Rulney, Chief Financial Officer, makes approximately $500,000. I suggest they look in the mirror before deciding what salaries to cut.

Charles Schultz

Northeast side

Gaza War

I condemn the actions of Hamas on Oct. 7 for what they were: state-sponsored terrorism. Now, though, we should turn our attention to the war Israel is waging in Gaza. U.N. Secretary General Guterres has stated that Gaza is becoming a “graveyard for children.”

Searching “Just War Theory” online reveals that all criteria must be met for a war to be considered just. While Israel seems to meet the criteria for going to war against Hamas, their actions in Gaza are clear violations of the principles of distinction and proportionality, intended to minimize non-combatant deaths. As N. Kristof of the NY Times puts it: “Israel has a responsibility to value Palestinian lives even if Hamas doesn’t.” Actions taken by the Israeli military have already killed more than 4,000 children in Gaza. I join Kristof in asking: How many dead Gazan children are too many?

How can anyone disagree that we are way past that point already?

Brien Harvey

Foothills

The artist at work

In testimony at the N.Y. trial of the Trumps on alleged fraud in real estate dealings, Donald Jr. said on Nov. 13 that his father is “an artist” when it comes to real estate. “He sees things that other people don’t,” said little Donald. He certainly does! He sees larger inauguration crowds than Obama had, he sees a “rigged election” that no judge can see. He sees Democrats as “vermin” when they are normal people. He sees himself as a mastermind, where others see a moron. And he sees himself as a great leader, when many others (including health professionals) see a pathological narcissist with delusions, autocratic and sociopathic tendencies, and a disdain for the law or common decency. It’s not the art of the deal; it’s the art of the con. It’s bad art.

Norman Epstein, MD, FACP

Midtown

HSSA and small animals scandal

The uproar over HSSA’s transfer of small animals to a reptile breeding company puzzles me. The HSSA board chair, Robert Garcia, says he is “heartbroken for the animals .. .heartbroken for the community ... heartbroken for our organization whose mission it is to protect and save animals.”

Well, I am not heartbroken. I don’t condone the breeding of exotic animals, mainly because too many owners abandon these creatures when they get too big or too dangerous. However, people will keep or breed reptiles, so they need to be fed.

I have three dogs and a cat, and I feed them meat-based foods every day in kibble form so I don’t have to picture the lambs, ducks, rabbits, pigs, fish, beef cattle and chickens that are slaughtered so that my four-legged companions can eat.

And, I wonder, are these squeamish, heartbroken people all vegans?

Eileen Dudley

Midtown

Supporting genocide

Re: the Nov. 13 letter “Interesting view.”

I don’t believe that abortion is genocide of the unborn. Nor do I agree with Hamas. Why would anyone tie those two completely different points together makes zero sense. I support a woman’s right to do with her body what she feels is best for her. I believe Hamas is a terrorist organization, so how can I possibly support Hamas and genocide of the unborn as one letter writer tries to point out. He goes way, way out of his way to say that if you agree with me, you’re a supporter of genocide. He goes on to say, “questions, questions, questions.” I have one. How did you come up with such an irrational point of view?

John Bingham

Northwest side

If the suit fits ...

So tired of hearing how Biden is way too old to serve as President again. Trump is a mere three years behind him — a fact largely ignored by the media. Let’s look at the reality — we are going to have two aging candidates. Biden is by far the superior choice when considering intelligence, integrity, knowledge of foreign policy and ability to govern. When it comes to honesty, character, integrity and common decency, Trump is at the bottom of the swamp. One man wants to preserve democracy, the other wants to destroy it. There is no question who is more fit to govern, both mentally and physically. Have you noticed that Trump wears a suit coat that is more like a muumuu to hide his morbid obesity? There must be half a yard of extra fabric. My money would be on Biden as to who is least likely to suffer a major health event in the near future. Three years matters not.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley