Tucson Speaks Out: June 3 letters of the day

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

I have been reading Gil Shapiro’s repetitive columns in the Star for years. Ironically, his attacks on “faith” are a reflection of his own faith in mechanistic materialism. He, like Evangelical Christians, wants to spread his version of the one truth to the exclusion of all others. His is a 19th-century viewpoint. Science has moved on and discovered that our universe is far too complex and beautiful to be contained within this mechanistic/materialistic paradigm. Contemporary scientists are open to the world. To accurately understand this new paradigm, many scientists are accepting and integrating a wide variety of ideas into their worldview, including many from the world’s great religious traditions. Perhaps Gil should do likewise.

Jon Dorschner

Midtown

Is Biden a good guy or gutless guy?

Re: the May 26 letter “Biden is just a good guy.”

On the Star of May 26, John Bingham questions why I would call Joe Biden gutless. My reasoning is that he is supposed to be our leader, and he is not doing anything to get us out of the situation while we are accomplices to the genocide going on in Palestine. That is you and I are the people who are buying the bombs to give to the Israelis to kill the Palestinians. You and I are responsible. We are culpable for what’s going on over there. And Joe is not doing anything forthright to end it.

Honestly, Mr. John Bingham, you really need to brush up on the history of Palestine. You can start with the Balfour English amendment to establish the state for the Jews and follow through from 1947 to 2024. After you’ve done that, I’d be seriously interested in what your point of view is.

May God give Joe Biden courage.

Vincent Alan

Northwest side

Sharks of the athletics department

I can only scratch my head. Students attend a university to gain an education. If they play sports on the side, that’s just fine, and if the university makes money through them, OK. The primary objective, however, is nothing but education. The athletic department gets it all wrong; they are not there so that we gain fame and hence pay them. If there are expenditures, those need to be paid for by tickets or whatever, but not by the university. Students who want to be athletically involved deserve to be encouraged and supported, but not at the cost of the academic side of the game. We all know, capitalist business models have gotten hold of the university system and abuse it with no interest in education. Why does a university exist? For research and education; athletics is just a fun activity on the side. Money sharks have taken hold of the university and push unethically for money. Shut them down altogether. Remember, students ought to study! What a concept!

Albrecht Classen

Midtown

Fantasy Island

The letter “Any Apologies” asked, if Donald Trump is elected and doesn’t appoint himself forever dictator, doesn’t shred the Constitution, and departs peacefully after four years, will Never Trumpers then apologize? What are the chances of Trump doing an about-face and becoming a reasonable and principled leader for all Americans? Zero! Think about what he has already shown us — his refusal to depart peacefully, inciting a violent insurrection, continued promotion of the Big Lie and a myriad of other egregious acts and lies. The answer to the question is a resounding NO. Apology? If someone supports Trump, they support what he is, what he has done, and intends to do. As Dr. Phil often says, the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. If you have any doubts, just take a look at the manifesto Project 2025, where the plan for dismantling of our democracy by a future Trump administration is clearly laid out. Putting forth the fantasy of a Trump rule with integrity is laughable.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Choice?

Did I choose my gender? No. Did I choose my sexual orientation? No. Did I choose to be an American? Only if I am an immigrant. I am not proud of being male, it was bestowed upon me. I am not proud of being heterosexual, it’s just the way I am. I am not proud of being an American, I did not choose it. I was just born here. Don’t get me wrong, I am quite happy with being male, heterosexual and an American. But sometimes, people negatively judge people who have been dealt other cards. Some men have discriminated against women. Some people have judged people who are not heterosexual. Some people look down on people who are not Americans. If people do wrong, they should be punished (ask my children). But other than that, we need to support everyone who has been placed in their positions by factors outside of their control.

Chris Pinhey

Foothills

Drag down or rise up

I read the newspaper article about Sheriff Lamb being hounded by liberal lawyers, looking for legal ways to interfere with an opponent’s campaign efforts. The comments even go so far as to declare Sheriff Lamb the “defendant,” using the term to implicate him. These liberal attack claims refer to Lamb’s attendance at anti-immigration events, even though there are laws against illegal immigration that Biden does not enforce. Of course, the second claim refers to the sheriff, bound by laws, attending constitutional events, claiming a disturbing level of extremism. Why is it that liberals seem more interested in tearing down their opponents instead of building up their own candidate? What I want to know is how will each candidate vote instead of claims that are lies, predicting what will happen. Candidates use big words like “accountable” for impact not promises, knowing there are not specific actions. Electing Trump will destroy democracy, a Democrat claim, however Trump was President before, the Biden inflation is destroying the economy.

Loran Hancock

Northwest side

It’s unfair!

I agree with the MAGAs that it is unfair. I disagree with them as to what the nature of the unfairness is. The unfairness lies in the fact that we Americans had to wait so long for the devil to finally get his due!

Rick Cohn

West side

False comparison

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

Faith and reason are twin wings? I’m sorry but if one wing is reason and the other faith flying on a straight course would be very difficult are faith would not be holding up its side. All one has to do is look around to see so much dysfunction as people of faith keeps trying to impose their faith on the rest of the country.

I actually believe this is a false comparison as reason can be abused by incorrect assumptions and because reason (does this mean logic?) relies upon the missing middle as developed by Aristotle. That is, logic is a linear either/or proposition not allowing for nuance. The concept of Fuzzy Logic that allows for probabilities rather than strict either/or is far superior for making decisions.

A better comparison would be faith and science. Science evolves as new information is received. Faith is stagnant based upon ancient mythologies. Can science lead to a wrong conclusion, yes. However, it can learn from its mistakes where faith cannot.

Jim Sanders

North side

Choose wisely, Juan

In the wake of the Trump conviction, the Trump media machine and this MAGA allies have been quick to denounce the trial and the verdict as rigged. Attacks on the judge and the jury — the bedrock of the rule of law — have begun. I wonder which side of this issue my Congressman, Juan Ciscomani, will land? Will he champion the rule of law? Or will he toe the GOP party line?

Sheldon Clark

Vail