Tucson Speaks out: Dec. 16 letters of the day

Several recent letters have sought to blame President Biden entirely for the “crisis on the border.” In fact, Biden’s policies were not that much different than Trump’s. Under Trump, 400,000 immigrants were detained and expelled; under Biden 2.28 million were expelled, according to the BBC. Biden’s cancellation of Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols (70,000 expelled) and the policy of separating families (3,900 children separated from their parents, more than 1,000 of whom still have not been reunited) did not significantly affect immigration.

The influx of migrants is more likely the result of longstanding foreign policy of the United States. Migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua are responding to the U.S. embargo. The dictators of those countries surely haven’t missed many meals, but ordinary, blameless citizen have suffered greatly. Also, the U.S. support of repressive dictatorships in Guatemala, Salvador, and Honduras have spurred immigration from those countries.

Sean Bruner

West side

Ciscomani on the winning side of mining

Re: the Nov. 27 letter “Hudbay’s tool.”

The timing of this letter is impeccable. The letter writer criticizes Congressman Ciscomani for supporting the mining industry and suggests polling the voters in his district regarding Hudbay’s Copper World project. Ironically, the Tucson Metro Chamber just released a poll that demonstrated strong local public support for responsible mining practices, with over 70% of respondents supporting copper mining in Southern Arizona. As much as the letter writer would like to believe that Congressman Ciscomani is out of touch with his constituents, it turns out that a large majority of his constituents agree with him and also support mining.

Also noted is that over 54% favored the advancement of Hudbay’s Copper World Project. This resounding endorsement underscores the recognition of the benefits that responsible mining brings to our region. I commend Juan Ciscomani for his support of the mining industry that is more productive today in Arizona than ever before.

Dennis Fischer, Retired Mining Engineer

Vail

Arizona sports

Charley Baker, formerly the nation’s most popular governor (R-Mass), and now the NCAA chief, recently proposed the creation of a new “professional” tier for college sports. The $240 million boondoggle facing the U of A guarantees the Wildcats won’t participate in that highest echelon. The university simply won’t have the money to compete. The Wildcats could do well in the next group down, call it “semi-pro.” In fact, moving the focus away from sports could be the best all-around path for Arizona over the long haul. For now, die hard sports enthusiasts should relish the current football and basketball hot streaks. Neither will have a chance at No. 1 again once the new format arrives. Breaking up the Pac-12 was sad. For sports fans, the $240 million spreadsheet error will be misery.

Walter Ramsley

East side

Task force giving $84 million for school security

Re: the Dec. 9 article “Task force: Give AZ schools money for security technology.”

It is comical that a task force is giving $84 million to beef up security for Arizona schools. Wouldn’t sensible gun legislation solve part of the problem? Few states love their guns more than those living in Arizona. But our Republican legislature won’t think about curtailing the purchase of weapons meant for military use. Some schools have regularly scheduled gun drills. It is ludicrous that we send our innocent children to school and must prepare them for the reality that they may be shot.

We routinely experience mass shootings. It has become an inherent part of our culture, and we’ve learned to accept that. How many have to die before sensible gun legislation becomes the norm? Our congressional leaders should be required to attend every funeral of those whose lives end by a mass shooter. Maybe then they would see the suffering caused by our prolific use of military style weapons.

Laurie Cowles

Foothills

Who do you support?

We recently had our Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor remembrance. Much is said of the “greatest generation” that fought, died and won against the Nazis and fascists who were seeking world domination through military conquest. What’s the difference between Hitler’s invasion of Poland and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? There isn’t one. Both are psychotic dictators using powerful militaries to conquer and occupy peaceful neighbors. Trump thinks Putin is a genius for invading Ukraine. Always praises him and has never once criticized him. Trump pledges to immediately abandon Ukraine. Give it to the fascists, what’s the problem? Trump’s idol-Putin-will be pleased. Trump pledges to declare martial law, use the military against US citizens, use the Justice Department to prosecute his “enemies”. That’s anyone who disagrees or opposes him. If you support Trump, what would you tell your relatives of the “greatest generation” why you support a man who idolizes fascists and wants to rule America with Putin’s fascist playbook?

William Garrity

Foothills

Trump on Hitler’s generals

During his first term, former President Trump complained he wished he had “totally loyal” generals like Hitler’s. His chief of staff John Kelly told him Hitler’s generals tried to assassinate him several times and nearly succeeded. But Trump responded, “No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him.”

This single episode neatly encapsulates some of Trump’s most dismaying character flaws. He admires dictators, doesn’t know history and doesn’t like to listen to anybody who tries to correct him on the facts.

It’s a pity Trump apparently didn’t read his buddy Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Patton.” That book recounts one of those assassination plots — and the sad fates of those generals who engineered it. But, then, Trump isn’t too big on reading books — although ex-wife Ivana did say he often read “My New Order,” a book of the Fuehrer’s speeches.

Tom Chulski

Green Valley

AR-15 misinformation

There is constant nonsense about AR-15s in the opinion page. In the past week one letter claimed that the round from an AR-15 exits the barrel at three times the speed of a typical rifle. Completely and provably false. Another suggested that removing recoil buffers from AR-15s might make it hurt the shoulders of crazed lunatics and cause them to shoot less. Think a psychopath cares about a sore shoulder? Finally, there’s the complaint of an AR-15 round blowing body parts up. Bullets kill by destroying what they hit. The fact is, the AR-15 fires one of the smallest lightest rifle rounds produced. So much so, that the military is testing and looking to adopt a more lethal round. Maybe it’s time to focus on why our society is producing so many crazed killers, not the weapon they use. The AR-15 was developed in the 1950s. Why didn’t we have mass shootings back then?

Dan Rusciolelli

East side

Student achievement ratings

Re: the Dec. 7 article “Finally, district’s schools being judged correctly.”

As a retired elementary school teacher, I wish to thank Mr. Flewelling for his guest opinion concerning the Tucson Unified School District’s recognition of student achievement based on actual academic growth. This approach encourages classroom teachers to focus on ensuring that all students master basic skills. In turn it eliminates the current practice of reporting only the percentage of students who have actually achieved all the goals outlined in the District’s curriculum guides. It recognizes that curriculum mastery for children who, due to their unique life circumstances, often end up wasting their time in classrooms where only the grade level mastery for particular subjects are addressed. An example would be expecting mastery of grade level skills such as multiplication and long division from students who still lack mastery of addition and subtraction skills. Hopefully, recognition of social-economic discrepancies among Tucson’s population will lead district leaders to adapt procedures which help to ensure that all public school children achieve mastery of basic curriculum objectives.

Janice Hagen

Oro Valley

The University of Arizona is having a budget problem

We, as a people are starting to realize the tragic design of higher education places to deemphasize the original purpose, which is to prepare young minds so they can move into adulthood ready to be successful. This has now been designed to indoctrinate them into a radical political ideology where only one side of issues will be allowed.

My suggestion is to eliminate all programs which are not part of scholastic requirements. All of the new equity type programs, which before were not in existence, to be closed down immediately. Not only would millions be reduced but reason could return. Arizona Univ. could be the leader to set an example for other universities to follow.

The student mobs all across America who are vilifying those of the Jewish faith are a clear sign that there is a national problem, which if not resolved will over time destroy what America has always been, a world leader.

Jack Walters

Northeast side

Nobody’s business

After years of back and forth regarding the abortion issue, I ask the same question, Why isn’t a woman’s right to make decisions about her life, her body, not left to her, her family and her doctor? Although our family would not personally consider abortion except under exceptional circumstances, we never felt it was any of our business to make these intimate decisions for others, not ours or anybody else’s.

The right wing pro life effort flies in the face of one of the few things Republicans ever got right, their age old aphorism: keep government out of people’s personal lives. Not all worship the same god, some have other beliefs or do not worship any god. The separation of church and state is basic to American Democracy, written into the First Amendment and into every state’s constitution, not to mention the equal rights protections under the 14th Amendment, rights that are ignored by many including the U.S. Supreme Court. The cruelty and ignorance surrounding this issue is staggering.

William Muto

SaddleBrooke

In Memory of Dr. Clifford Lytle

Re: the Dec. 13 letter “Steller on free speech on campus.”

A letter writer recalled Clifford Lytle as an “outstanding professor”. It is impossible to agree more. Dr. Lytle was a “superstar” in my own education. No one thinks that professors do not have their own opinions about the subject matters of their courses. Sometimes, Dr. Lytle would share his opinion was on something; yet whenever he did so, he would also point you to specific things which could lead someone to disagree with him and then encourage you to consider all sides and make up your own mind. Moreover he made his lectures interesting and did so with humor and historic references students might not have earlier been aware that were instructive on current issues. He left you wanting to learn more on your own time. Thank you to the letter writer for recalling Dr. Lytle as someone who truly was and should still be considered a “superstar” in the fields of both education and life.

Michael Price

South side

Local transportation costs & education

The University of Arizona, Pima Community College, and Tucson Unified School District are dedicated to educating local students. Their representatives just insist all students, staff, instructors, administrators, and visitors to their campuses must pay more out of pocket to get there. The City of Tucson met repeatedly with these three educational stakeholders with a request for them to augment our public transportation budget to allow continuation of the free fare policy on city buses and the streetcar. UA, PCC, and TUSD responded they would not fork over any money unless fares were reinstated for all riders. A key part of local education seems to be if you are going to be poor you’d better have a lot of money because it is going to cost you at every turn.

Mary DeCamp

Downtown

Universal search for peace

Recent news from scientists describes efforts to conduct experiments that will give us a bigger picture of how the universe works as a whole. Advances in particle physics have had applications in medical science, materials science, and even the creation of the internet and iPhones. This kind of knowledge could lead to understanding why we exist, where we came from, where we’re going — making our devastating differences seem insignificant.

How long will we let prejudice and closed minds subvert the potential for people and nations to have compassion for each other, to work collaboratively toward peaceful progress?

Randall S. Smith

Midtown