Tucson Speaks Out: September 20

First Amendment

I am convinced more than ever that most of us don’t support freedom of speech. Supporting the killing of Charlie Kirk is not freedom of speech. Supporting the firing of someone who criticized Charlie Kirk is not supporting freedom of speech.

Supporting the killing of a Democratic Minnesota legislator in her home is not freedom of speech. Criticizing that same legislator is. Supporting the beating of Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer is not freedom of speech. Criticizing Pelosi is.

Finally, just because the Constitution allows us freedom of speech does not mean we should say everything that comes to our mind. Words have consequences.

Howard Strause

Foothills

Wondering ...

— What alleged crime might Trump be charged with first when he leaves office?

— Will RFK Jr. be charged with premeditated murder when people start dying from lack of vaccines and medical research?

— Will ICE begin a review of Einstein Visa applications?

— Will the Supremes review the U.S. Constitution and discover the Emoluments clause, the words “well regulated”, or the terms relating to freedom of religion and due process?

— Will the unqualified and incompetent Trump administration destroy American health, education, economy, society, judicial system, and national security before Congress and Supreme Court justices find the courage to uphold their oaths, the Constitution and rule of law?

— Will the United States survive this ship of fools and be able to make America great again?

Todd Ackerman

Foothills

Royal reception for Trump

Courtesy of the U.K., our illustrious leader took another “giant step” toward becoming King of the U.S.

I almost retched watching what the U.K. Ministry of Defence said was “the largest (ever) for a State visit.” I expect “Pomp and Circumstance” from the Brits, it’s OK and in their DNA. But come on people, it was horrendously decadent, over-the-top, unrestrained, vulgar, ugly and grossly obscene. Too much of the world faces catastrophic famine. Think Ethiopia, Uganda, Gaza, Haiti, South Sudan. Even in our “land of plenty,” hundreds of thousands of children go to bed hungry, without SNAP, WIC and many other domestic programs recently gutted by a gutless Congress. Internationally, $60 billion of USAID was cut — for us and in the world’s eyes — this is our greatest weapon against Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un and the other dictators. Gleeful, they can hardly wait for us to become a Third World country. Are we too late?

Butch Farabee

Oro Valley

Things to consider

Why do people claiming to be “religious” ignore the problem of homelessness? Every religious leader from Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, etc., preached helping those less fortunate than you.

Who needs all those immigrants? Everyone will have a Trump Victory Garden.

White replacement theory? Guess what, it’s true. Fifty percent of the world is Asian, and 15% is black. White guys? Less than 9% and shrinking.

A zoonotic disease that kills millions? Just a matter of time if RFK Jr. is successful with his anti-vaccine agenda. Don’t worry, RSV will probably kill your kids first.

Manufacturing in the U.S.A.? China’s manufacturing capacity is greater than the next nine countries combined.

Climate change is real. If you’re lucky, you’ll be dead before you have to explain your denial to your kids.

Drinking water? We’ll just mine it.

George Ball

Midtown

The lowest point was reached

Ever since the murder of Charlie Kirk, I have read carefully every day, the letters whose theme is he was a man with the wrong beliefs.

To denigrate the person who was killed is disgraceful. You should all be ashamed, but of course you won’t because that is who you are.

The absolute low point was in the Sept. 18 Star. It wasn’t a letter from locals but was on the Opinion page, an article written by Kelley Benson. In it, he said, “And it comes on top of an extraordinary spectacle: taxpayers footing the bill for Air Force Two to carry Kirk’s remains, with honors usually reserved for military members or senior government officials.”

I wonder if he complained when Jill Biden flew Air Force One back and forth every day from Normandy to sit in Hunter’s trial, I assumed to intimidate the jury.

Jack Walters

Northeast side

Trampling the First

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr did not like Jimmy Kimmel’s statements of opinion regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Carr and Trump have suggested imposing sanctions against owners of broadcast licenses who criticize Trump or make what they deem to be offensive statements.

This is not the first time Trump has talked about revoking broadcasting licenses of networks that provide unfavorable news coverage of his statements and activities.

Historically, suppression of ideas, the press, legislative and judicial branches have been the method of repression chosen by authoritarian governments.

Can the conservative LTE writers explain how pressuring ABC, a subsidiary of Disney, to fire Jimmy Kimmel is not an abuse of First Amendment rights by the federal government? Remember, Disney has merger business pending before the FCC. Also, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the sixth-rated show as of Sept.17.

James Abels

Midtown

Misdirected op-ed

First, I want to commend Joe Watson for turning his life around. Joe’s recent op-ed was misdirected. In 2007 Joe perpetrated a string of armed robberies of beauty salons in the Phoenix valley. He was caught and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The criminal justice system broke the cycle of violence Joe was perpetrating, and caused him to face up to his own poor decisions and reflect on the terror he caused his female victims. Cops see the devastation of violent crime every day. As such they see the value in removing violent people from society to prevent further victimization and to protect officers, because violent criminals pose a threat to everyone. For every “Joe” there are 5 to take his place. Crime results from failed individual choices and beyond the control of the police. There is a sentencing guide that provides for fair sentencing. Yes, the criminal justice system has flaws, but the TPOA wants to protect our community, Joe of all people should understand that.

Richard Harper

Northeast side

‘LTEs by Dems’

No, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama did not make up fake documents against Donald Trump. This idea stems from a discredited conspiracy theory alleging that they directed a “Clinton Plan” to create false intelligence connecting Trump to Russia. In reality, multiple investigations have found no evidence of such a plot. During President Barack Obama’s world tours and other travel, his family accompanied him at taxpayer expense when the travel was official business. According to policy for presidential travel, a distinction is made between official travel, where the government pays costs, and personal or political travel, where the family must reimburse the government for costs such as equivalent commercial airfare. DT seems to be trashing of the Constitution & abusing power. DOJ wasn’t weaponized, until DJT — FCC weaponized too. (Long live Kimmel and Colbert!) National Guard abuse. Bankruptcies. Abuse of power with EOs. January 6? Word fumbling? Firing highly qualified people?

Peter Bisschop

East side

The circus never leaves town

The circus landed in Alaska. The red carpet, like the ones Hollywood starlets strut across, ushered the Clown Brigade in front of the cameras. The two Bozos shook hands and smiled.

What a show!!! Bozo No. 1 had B-2 bombers with fighter jets scream across the sky, while Bozo No. 2 had his bombers bomb civilians in Ukraine.

For three hours, the Bozos talked about what could have been said in a zoom meeting, how to stop the war. How can peace talks be held while one side is actively bombing the other side? How many people are losing their lives because of not requiring a ceasefire as a prerequisite to peace talks? Duh!!

As the meetings ended, the SS Monkeys were let out of their cage, and they scampered around big black vehicles like the Gargoyles of Notre Dame. At least six black limos and many other cars were in a procession to usher the Big Bozo to his plane.

What became of this meeting?

Ed LeGendre

East side

Kindness

Could we all let go of our fear and hate and give kindness a chance right now?

Be kind to your fellow beings and be kind to the earth. It is our only home right now.

Thank you.

Marilyn Bernzott

Southwest side

Misleading quotes slander Kirk

To paint Charlie Kirk as a racist is to kill him all over again.

The following quote was attributed to Kirk in the Arizona Daily Star on Sept. 18: “Black women do not have the brain processing power to be taken really seriously.” An opinion contributor wrote it, but that does not excuse the Star for allowing it to stand.

What Charlie said 53 minutes into his July 13, 2023, podcast was, “You do not have the brain processing power to be taken really seriously”. This jab was aimed at four specific, black, liberal women; not black women in general.

Another Kirk quote: “If I see a black pilot, I’m gonna be like, ‘Boy I hope he’s qualified’”. Sounds racist, but in his podcast on Jan. 18, 2024, Charlie was talking about a scenario where pilots are hired on the basis of being black, not on having superior qualifications. The context changes everything.

I shouldn’t have to open the paper and do my own fact-checking.

Kevin Wohlford

Northeast side

Project Blue again?

I sincerely hope the County does some data analysis and review of alternatives regarding a “water cooled system” for this project if they want to proceed. Also, TEP needs to show how it will provide power without increasing rates. This information is vital for both the County and its constituents, after all, we will all bear the financial brunt in the end. Please, Supervisors, keep us informed. Not all of us can attend meetings.

Debbie Smith

Foothills