Tucson Speaks Out: May 30 letters of the day

How dare you try to consume me as carrion. I am not yet fully dead. I may appear so, but perhaps I’m faking it. Try at your peril.

Watch the carrion-eaters watch. They know when it is time. They smell it. They spot the weakness. They circle. They glide. They smell. They spot. They multi-task. Hovering while circling while gliding while smelling while spotting — all natural of course, when nature takes its course. The circles narrow. They descend for the pause, the preface, the huddling, the kettle. They are anxious; yet, they are patient. They wait. It’s all a matter of degrees. Lying in wait, then killing, it is said, is murder in the first degree.

A volt, a kettle, and then a wake. It is dark, darker than a murder of crows. But, circling while hovering and “waiting” before feeding takes more time. Weakness descends into death naturally. After all, dying takes time — even for democracy. Rebirth and renewal also take time. First the triage.

Gerald Farrington

SaddleBrooke

Biden the uniter

President Biden’s speech last week at Morehouse College’s commencement last week included the following quotes:

1.“You started college just as George Floyd was murdered and there was a reckoning on race. It’s natural to wonder if democracy you hear about actually works for you.

2. “What is democracy if Black men are being killed in the street?

3. “What is democracy if a trail of broken promises still leave Black—black communities behind?

4. “What is democracy if you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot?

5. “And most of all, what does it mean, as we’ve heard before, to be a Black man who loves his country even if it doesn’t love him back in equal measure?”

What an uplifting message for these young Black men from the man who in 2020 promised Americans that he would unite the country!

John Schmitz

Marana

Here we go again!

Senate Continuing Resolution 1015 is the latest effort of Republicans to eviscerate the rights of Arizonans to use the initiative process to pass laws when the Legislature refuses to act. Initiatives were recently used to raise the minimum wage and outlaw dirty money in political campaigns.

For 150 years it has been sufficient to get a matter on the ballot to collect a number of valid signatures equivalent to 10% (15% for constitutional amendments) of the statewide votes cast in the last election for Governor. SCR 1015 replaces that statewide calculation with a requirement that the percentage thresholds be met in each of Arizona’s 30 Legislative Districts. It gives a single legislative district the power to kill any citizen’s initiative. Republicans argue that SCR 1015 assures that all counties have a say in what goes on the ballot. But where signatures come from is irrelevant because ALL registered voters get to vote on ballot measures. Protect your direct democracy rights by voting no on SCR 1015!

Eileen Holowell

Oro Valley

Rational thought versus faith

Re: the May 26 article “Faith misleads, doesn’t deliver its promises.”

Mr. Shapiro’s opinion piece is unnecessarily condemning of faith. Why choose either/or thinking? Rational thought is the language of intellect. Faith is the language of heart. In intellectual inquiry, we aim at truth through logical and scientific methodologies. In faith, we grow in hope, joy, compassion, beauty, and love, aiming at truth through connection and the experience of living. Both ways are necessary to be fully human.

To see both in action, let’s imagine watching a sunset together. As brilliant colors blaze, I could say, “The astronomical definition of a sunset is the moment when the sun’s upper limb, as affected by refraction, is on the true horizon of an observer at sea-level.” This would be true from a rational, scientific view. We could also hold hands in silence and experience the awe of something beautiful and greater than ourselves. This would be true through a view of faith. Yes to rational perspective and yes to many awe-inspiring sunsets.

Alison Barrett

Midtown

A season of hope

This season of new beginnings and the hope it brings makes me mindful of all the positive things Biden has done for us.

As our country’s most experienced politician, Biden’s domestic policies improve our lives every day. His investments in infrastructure projects across the nation has given us the strongest economy in 60 years. His investments in fighting climate change are making our country a safer and healthier place.

An experienced statesman, Biden’s diplomacy and international policies are protecting our national security and providing global stability by creating new alliances, supporting our allies, using economic sanctions and providing military supplies to defend democracies, providing humanitarian aid, and negotiating for peace around the world.

My hopes for a better, stronger, more compassionate country spring eternal for all the things he has done and will continue to do for all of us here at home and around the world.

Thank you, President Biden for spreading the seeds of hope.

Lois Postil

Oro Valley

Gaza

Every American should be seriously disturbed by the fact that their tax dollars are being used to the equivalent of $31,000 for every man, woman and child in Israel. Despite the fact that the Jews endured the Holocaust, 75 years ago, it cannot be used as an excuse to support Israel in their attempt to eradicate Palestinians by way of starvation and take their land. The inexcusable ploy by the Israelis to open a road for food to come into Gaza while their weapons were aimed at the starving Palestinians who came to collect the food. How could we possibly condone any country who participates in this barbaric behavior? I and my family and friends can no longer support the US or the position that has been taken in this highly perilous situation. Please reconsider the US support for a country that uses one terrorist group as an excuse for starving and entire population of innocent people.

Deane Ford, PHD

West side

Limited qualifications

Recently a letter writer said Ruben Gallego had limited qualifications to be a US Senator. Not knowing, I looked. He has been a Representative for a few years. Seems like a decent qualification to me. The letter writer opposes him and thus seems to support his opponent, Kari Lake. What are her qualifications, other than being a suck-up to DJT, able to read from a teleprompter, being an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate and even less successful election result challenger? The letter writer didn’t mention any. Might it be because she has none.

Clarence Johnson

Oro Valley

The passing of Bill Walton

Rest in peace Bill Walton. I recall our one and only meeting many years ago at a wedding in San Diego ... you with the groom’s family and I with the brides. I will miss your truly unique broadcasting and play-by-play commentary style that you wove in with your worldview and well researched local highlights. Your unbiased acceptance without judgment on a wide variety of topics will be a significant part of your legacy. We could all learn from your example. I know I have and will continue to do so. Thank you.

To Believe in the life of LOVE

To Walk in the way of HONOR

To Serve in the light of TRUTH

Phil “Bulldog” Bentley

Foothills

FDA needs to ban flavored vapes

Like many parents, I’m deeply troubled by the rampant proliferation of flavored vapes targeting our youth. The enticing flavors and colorful packaging are deliberately designed to lure children and adolescents, exposing them to the dangers of nicotine addiction and other harmful chemicals.

I’m grateful the Arizona Legislature is recognizing the threat flavored vapes pose to kids and teens, but there’s a simple solution: the FDA needs to use its authority to ban these products.

I urge Congressman Ruben Gallego and Arizona’s congressional delegation to take action by pressuring the FDA to utilize its authority to crack down on the sale of illegal flavored vapes. The FDA must do all it can to protect children from falling victim to the predatory tactics of vape manufacturers.

We cannot stand by while our children’s health and well-being are jeopardized for the sake of profit. It is imperative that our elected officials prioritize the safety of our youth and work towards a solution that eliminates flavored vapes from the market.

Erika Yates

Downtown

Pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, anti-Hamas policies

Throughout his presidency Biden has supported Palestinians. In 2022, he restored communications and offered Palestinians living under Israeli military rule $200 million in aid for refugees and $100 million for hospitals.

During months of meetings with the Israeli Prime Minister, Biden urged the creation of a Palestinian state as the only means to ensure peace, prosperity, and security in their region.

Following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Biden supplied our oldest NATO ally with weapons to combat their enemy, urged restraint and targeted attacks to protect Palestinian civilians, negotiated cease-fires, and provided aid for displaced and starving Palestinians. When land routes were blocked, the US air lifted humanitarian aid, built a floating pier in Gaza for direct deliveries, and warned Israel an indiscriminate attack on Rafah meant the US would only provide defensive weapons.

Biden’s diplomacy is based on protecting world democracies and preserving peace among nations. His Middle East policies have been pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, and anti-Hamas, as they should be.

Dr. JB Marshall

Oro Valley

Bill Walton “transcending barriers”

Re: the May 28 article “Larger than life.”

While it is true that Bill Walton was a “seismic” presence in the promotion of the PAC-12 Conference, I thought his analysis of UA basketball games was distracting from what was actually happening on the floor. With regard to Bruce Pascoe’s reference to Walton “transcending barriers”, I read nothing in his article that identified any barriers Walton transcended. If Pascoe is going to make “transcending barriers” part of the title of his article, at least explain what barriers he transcended.

Alan Murray

East side

Israeli bombing is immorally imprecise

Gaza is too crowded for bombing. Israel has a moral obligation to minimize collateral damage and attempt to precisely hit only Hamas targets. Because Hamas hides among the civilians in the cities Israel must only attack with precision.

Israel can’t be precise when using 2,000-pound bombs which cause a lethal shrapnel area of 58 soccer fields. (CNN). Israel is not precise when using unguided air to ground munitions. (40-45% of Israel’s air to ground munitions are unguided. CNN 12-14-23).

Israel needs to report when they miss their targets or bomb the wrong targets. The world only finds out about Israel’s mistakes when there are clear errors like when they bombed the World Central Kitchen convoy and the Rafah Refugee Camp. There is no way to know how often these mistakes happen.

Israel needs to find a different way to attack Hamas because the degree of collateral damage is unconscionable.

Jonpaul Barrabee

Oro Valley

Medical care

I had to chuckle when I read the letter on May 27th complaining about inadequate insurance payments for doctors. My wife suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and lives in a memory care facility. After she vomited a few times over a weekend and her appetite was down, the medical director suggested I take her to the ER. Ten minutes after we sat down in an exam room the doctor walked to the doorway and looked at my wife as I described her symptoms. Without even touching her, he stated we would be there for the afternoon so they could get blood work and abdominal imaging. Only after I asked if he wouldn’t examine her, did he walk over, press on her belly and agree that she didn’t seem that ill. At my suggestion, he prescribed a $10 anti-nausea medication (which took care of her problem). The insurance company was billed $2,580 and I paid my $250 copay for the visit that lasted less than 5 minutes.

Kenneth Cohn

Northwest side

Scotus at an abyss

Incredible to think that the Supreme Court might grant former Pres. Trump immunity for whatever he might have done prior, during, or after his presidency. Do the Republicans even realize what that would entail? Pres. Biden could then send CIA agents to kill Trump because he is his opponent. The President would have immunity anyway. Biden could order the assassination of French president Macron, also ok. Groping any woman, committing rape, theft, lying under oath, stealing the most sensitive secret documents from the government and selling those to the Chinese, for instance, would all be acceptable. Launching a nuclear missile against Russian, which could trigger WWIII, all acceptable. Best of all, if Pres. Biden were to lose the election in November, he could simply order the National Guard to collect all voting machines in the country and ensure that he gets the majority of votes after all. Morality, ethics, principles, ideals, values — who cares, just ask the justices Alito and Thomas who have abandoned those already for a long time.

Albrecht Classen

Midtown