Tucson Speaks Out: Oct. 22 letters of the day

Anti-semitism in America

I believe that anti-semitism in America is on the rise. Anti-Semitism is hostility against Jews.

There are many different forms of anti-Semitism. Racism, the belief that Jews are a distinct race and that they are inferior. Religious intolerance: This is the belief that Judaism is a false religion. Economic discrimination: This is the denial of opportunities to Jews in the workplace, housing, and education. Violence: This includes physical attacks on Jews. Hate speech: This includes verbal attacks on Jews.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there were 2,717 anti-Semitic incidents reported in the United States in 2021, up from 2,600 in 2020.

According to a 2021 poll by the Pew Research Center, 73% of Americans have a favorable view of Israel. This is down from 83% in 2018.

Anti-Semitism is a serious problem that can have a devastating impact on individual Jews and on our Jewish communities.

Tom Mcgorray

Northwest side

US funds for Israel

I write as a Jewish woman with family in Israel and having spent time in Israel and the West Bank.

Palestinians have been denied basic human rights for decades, while the world turned a blind eye. When Palestinians march peacefully in Bilin, they are shot at. Young children are imprisoned for throwing rocks while settlers confiscate their homes.

Do I support the kidnapping or killing of innocent civilians? Of course not. But what has happened should come as no surprise. Gazans have been put placed on a starvation diet, with Israel controlling every facet of their lives. The late Desmond Tutu stated, “I’ve been deeply distressed in my visit to the Holy Land; it reminded me so much of what happened to us black people in South Africa.”

And now, the US arms Israel as they threaten to flatten (aka commit genocide) a civilian population. The US must stop sending funds to Israel. If we watch without raising our voices, then we are complicit.

Debra Stuckgold

Midtown

Bring back the Draft

, WWIII is coming

August 1968, I’m sent to the Island of Guam, a naval and Air Force Base. My Fleet tug, the USS Arikara 98, I was supposed to pick up the Tug there. I was told it was on a secret mission. I was there till Dec. 22, 1968, for secret training. I can’t get into it — I signed a waiver not to disclose what training I had. I saw some training film, how Russia would attack US nuclear missiles, they would attack Israel and let the Arab countries destroy them. China and North Korea would help them. It’s been 81 years since we’ve had a World War. We must be ready, bring back the DRAFT! It could happen.

David E. Leon

Vail

The utter stupidity of Hamas

The surprise, unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas is an example of extreme stupidity. Did Hamas expect Israel to roll over and play dead? Didn’t they realize that Israel would strike back? Israel has been an independent nation for 75 years, so it’s a “bit late” to try to destroy it. The civilian population of Gaza is paying the price for Hamas’ stupidity.

Flora Frederick

Midtown

The pacifist’s dilemma

On Nov. 4, 1995, a young man named Yigal Amir murdered Yitzhak Rabin. He did this because Rabin was working on a peace accord with Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres. The underlying sentiment that drove this young man to kill Rabin is the same one that drives Benjamin Netanyahu to continue to flame the fires of repression and discord with the West bank Fatah and Gaza Hamas movements. There are rumors that some of the attackers were speaking Russian, and the Iranian connection is undisputed, but none of this could have occurred if it hadn’t been for the right-wing warmongers creating division in Israeli and Palestinian society. Ultimately it is these instigators that have the blood of both Jews and Muslims on their hands. We need people who value pacifism to guide policy, or there will never be peace, but know that pacifists are caught in a dilemma that requires non-pacifists to defend them.

Dan Pendergrass

West side

Vote yes on Prop 413

For shame that the council members of the 33rd-largest city in the country earn less than minimum wage to represent a constituency of approximately 90,000 each? To even consider running for election, one would have to have a second job, a comfortable retirement, or a working partner, I can only speak for my ward councilperson, but I’m so happy to have a representative who not only responds rapidly to inquiries and writes exhaustive, eloquent weekly newsletters but has also initiated and manages a popular program to collect and reuse glass and the plastic that is flooding our environment. Yes, the raise request in Prop 413 is hefty, but you too would likely deserve a significant increase if you hadn’t had a raise since 1999.

John Blackwell

Midtown

Tohono O’odham man shot by Border PatrolRe: the Oct. 14 article “Tribal leaders decry no charges.”

Ray Mattia was my friend. We walked in the desert together; we visited sites left by his Hohokam ancestors. He played and sung traditional music. We shared hunting stories. He worked hard on any hot days as an AG member of archaeological field survey crews. He helped to educate many archaeologists about his people, his culture and his land. I will miss him but always remember him. The United States Attorney made an unexplainable mistake in not prosecuting the Border Patrol agents who shot Ray with a hail of bullets on a dark desert night. Shame on those border patrol agents and the U.S. Attorney who declined to prosecute them for this outrageous crime.

Peter Steere

West side

Israel attacks

I just read another letter saying that our president hasn’t done enough to denounce the violence that Hamas perpetuated on Israel. The letter writer was upset that the president didn’t respond with more forceful words and actions, I guess. What more can the president say that will appease these Jewish-loving people? I read a thoughtful and provocative article by a Jewish NY Times reporter who wrote a counter point because of what Israel has done to the Palestinians over the many years that they have been trying to take the small piece of land they’ve been forced to occupy. I also understand that Arizona has a huge Jewish community that believes the Palestinians exist just to try to kill the Jews. This is clearly not true, and my thoughts are, what do you want the president to do? Attack GAZA?

John Bingham

Northwest side

No on Prop 413

Drive down 22nd St., Speedway, and Grant and count the number of boarded-up small businesses. Drive anywhere in Tucson and view the sadness of the homeless and drugged-out people on so many street corners. Drive anywhere in Tucson and see the graffiti, trash, and streets full of potholes. I believe in pay for performance. Our City Leaders do not deserve doubling of their salaries. Vote no on Proposition 413.

Kevin Hopmeier

East side

Proposition 402: Vail incorporation

While hope and love are beautiful things, they do not pay the bills. Proponents for the proposition to incorporate Vail would lead you to believe that these ideals can run a town. The Incorporate Vail Arizona board claims that the residents of Vail will be fine giving up all of their services from Pima County, and contracting them back, using just 11 million in shared state revenue. While they claim to have had these numbers reviewed by a third party, this verification has never been provided to the voters of Vail.

If this budget does not meet the needs of Vail, what will save us? Most likely mass commercial development and a much higher sales tax, two things residents of Vail do not want. As a lifelong resident of Vail, I will be voting NO on proposition 402.

Katie Breeding

Vail

Empty promises

Re: the Oct. 18 article “Love Vail and Prop 402 mean hope for community.”

In the Guest Opinion, Love Vail, Prop 402, the authors, Incorporate Vail Arizona (IVA), promises parks, recreation centers and pickleball courts. What they don’t tell you is there is no money to fund these things. IVA promises commercial and industrial development while amassing over $140,000 to fund their campaign, most coming from the development/real estate industry. What they have done is include the rural, low-density areas as over half the land mass in the proposed boundaries. Why? IVA needs the residents for additional revenue sharing while ignoring their specific needs. This has created a large division within the community. Opponents are not “doubters”. Opponents resent the tax-and-spend mentality that benefits the high-density areas. Opponents want transparency. Opponents are grassroots residents who have presented alternatives. Opponents prefer Vail not become a center for industry. Vail, we can do better. VOTE NO on 402

Ralph Schoneman

Vail

Proposition 413

I read a lot of letters to the editor and the paper about approving Proposition 413. All of them express that the people who run the city need two jobs to make a living. However, I have never read how much time these people spend running this city. It might be less than voters are lead to believe. This is how it might go. Request: I am a developer. I want to build a factory on an unused city lot, and I will employ 100 people with a high salary of 70k a year. Response: I am the Mayor. That sounds great. Get the required permits and go for it. Next.

The voters need to know what they are going to spend their money on.

Jose Salgado

Northeast side