Tucson Speaks Out: Dec. 6 letters of the day

Peace, but not at any price

Re: the Nov. 30 article “U.S. should support inclusive peace process.”

Trayce Peterson’s opinion piece showed little comprehension of history or reality. Simplified, she wrote:

1. Israel is bad, war is bad, ceasefire is good.

2. Don’t arm Israelis — -make them negotiate with the peace-loving folks who murdered/raped/kidnapped them.

3. “The U.S. should support an inclusive peace process that allows those most impacted to have a central role in shaping an outcome that meets the expectations of those involved.”

These “expectations” are diametrically opposed. Two-state solutions have been attempted: 1948, Oslo Accords, Wye River Memorandum, Gaza withdrawal, etc. Hamas answered with suicide bombers, both Intifadas and October’s recent horrors.

While no doubt desiring peace, Peterson is parroting the genocidal dreams of Yahya Sinwar. What else does “the illegal occupation of Palestine” mean? The West Bank is and should be the nucleus of a future Palestinian state…but all of Palestine? Like Hamas, she apparently wants the territory free of all Jewish “occupiers” … or, as I like to call them, “people.”

Wade Thompson, member of the Editorial Advisory Board

Midtown

Gas prices

A recent letter writer posited that President Biden “shut down” the oil pipeline from Canada, resulting in higher gas prices. I believe the author was referring to the Keystone pipeline. In fact, the first three phases of the Keystone pipeline continue to be in full operation. What was shut down was construction of Keystone XL, which would have been phase four. This was designed to carry heavy tar sand oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast for shipment to China. The cancellation had no material effect on oil prices as it was years from completion. Tar sand oil is corrosive and any spills would have devastating environmental consequences. Why won’t Canada build their own pipeline on their own land to do this?

In fact, oil prices are set by supply and demand. High oil prices were the result of the war in Ukraine and cuts in production by OPEC. Now we see oil prices come down as the supply increases. Whoever is president can’t take credit or blame.

Lee LaFrese

Northeast side

Lukeville closure

Re: the Dec. 2 article “Lukeville crossing to close indefinitely.”

I write in total disagreement and disappointment in the Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) decision to close Lukeville “indefinitely “ It is a political maneuver to impact public opinion, disrupt the economies of border communities (including Why, Ajo, etc.) in addition to harming the economies and livelihoods of Puerto Peñasco, including American residents/owners.

The motivation of the CBP is always suspect, as the CBP union are regular advocates on Fox TV to either complain about Democratic administrative policy or support Republican efforts to “lock up” migrants who enter for asylum. No other federal agency’s union, e.g. FBI, US Marshall, etc., appears on Fox to complain about policy issues. Totally unprofessional, but CBP union does it routinely.

The disruption is meant to inconvenience American voters, to pressure Congress. While Republicans have a bill that includes Border security funding (tied to funding for Israel and Ukraine) which they are refusing to pass.

This disruption should end immediately, and Congress should pass immigration reform, including more asylum judges, etc.

Margarita Bernal

West side

Youth financial education

It is surprising to me the number of commercials selling a product or service to help raise your credit score. This implies that a lot of people fail to understand the importance of a good credit score. Shouldn’t that be one of the things taught in school, along with reading at more than a third-grade level. Math is more than addition and subtraction, and preparing a thank you card with more than a thumbs-up emoji. Managing personal finances does not rely on social postings and followers but instead on understanding how to live within a budget and build a credit score. These are skills that should be taught in high school but there are lots of adults who apparently never learned it. The real question is whether or not people with poor credit scores realize the damage they are doing to their future financial options. Youth need to be prepared with a proper education, but the current education administration seems like they need educating.

Loran Hancock

Northwest side

Women’s basketball

Dear Adia and Salvo, just wanted to let you know, Helena Pueyo has a career field goal percentage of 40%; her 3-point percentage is 35%. You might want to encourage her to move without the ball and take 10 or more shots per game. Just one season ticket fan’s opinion.

George Fransway

Midtown

Who cares what AR stands for

There have been a couple of letters smugly attempting to denigrate those who think the AR in AR-15 stands for assault rifle. If you mistakenly thought this, you are uninformed, ignorant, lazy, afraid to learn, or all of the above. This begs the question, Who gives a rat’s ass what AR stands for? It doesn’t matter in the least. All that matters are the many lives ruined by idiots wielding this weapon or some version of it, along with this country’s shameful acceptance of the ongoing carnage.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Star’s letter section, aka hate Trump forum

I have been reading the Arizona Daily Star’s Letters to the Editor section for several years. Not a day goes by that at least one, oftentimes more, hate Trump letters are published. A recent Democrat letter said Trump missed “checking the box” to get a jury trial in his ongoing civil trial in New York brought by a vindictive Democrat persecutor. The judge in the case, another Democrat, determined that it would be a bench trial. I wish the Star would place the same amount of scrutiny on liberal written letters as they do on conservative ones. I calculated that since 2016 when Trump was elected president, the Star has published over 2,500 hate Trump letters and maybe as many hate Republicans letters. Why is that? Because, of course, it reflects the political bias of the Star and the attitudes of most who read it.

Bradford Davis

North side

In praise of homeschooling

I believe that homeschooling is a great option for American education. The homeschooling option has continued to grow since the outbreak of COVID-19. Homeschooling in the U.S. shot up during the pandemic — and it appears to be here to stay.

There are currently an estimated 1.9 million to 2.7 million homeschooled students in the U.S., per the Washington Post’s report.

There are many benefits from homeschooling such as personalized learning, flexibility, stronger parent-child relationships and improved academic outcomes.

Homeschooling helps children avoid bullying, develop self-confidence, and develop a closer relationship with family.

Sixty-three percent of homeschooled children have taken some college courses, compared to 53% of the general population. Fifty-six percent of homeschooled students graduate from college compared to 40% of the general population.

Three of my grandchildren who were homeschooled received full scholarships to the University of Arizona.

Homeschoolers are more likely to attend selective colleges. Homeschooling is a wonderful addition to our national educational efforts.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

More answers, please

Re: the Dec. 3 article “UA school faces a $20M deficit.”

I could not help but notice some interesting connections with this article.

The School of Agriculture runs the Campus Farm on Campbell Ave., which developers have repeatedly been determined to acquire. Lisa Rulney is married to the developer who recently built the monstrosity around the Benedictine Monastery. Was her involvement in undermining the financial position of the School of Agriculture a case of incompetence, or is there more to this story? As a life-long resident in the Campus Farm neighborhood, I would like to know the answer.

Jim Brooker

Midtown

Moving back or forward

Re: the Dec. 2 article “Outlandish ruling could eviscerate Voting Rights Act.”

Voting rights law for minorities who were historically disenfranchised in the U.S. represent one of the most important milestones for our country to guarantee all of our citizens their Constitutional rights. But Professor Chemerinsky has written that there are those who strive to return us the past by undermining the landmark Voting Rights Act.

After the Civil War minorities were thought to have the right to exercise the franchise. But some states undermined that by passing Jim Crow laws, which imposed new barriers for them. Remember literacy tests some states used to bar new voters.

It took almost a century for the federal and state courts to strike down those laws.

Now some would undo progress by state legislation and federal court cases. Do we really want to return to our discriminatory past or should we embrace our Constitution and move forward? America has a choice.

James Greene

Marana

The Cult of Trump

Before Trump took over the GOP, people, including our elected officials, acted in a more intelligent and collaborative manner. Why are Republicans so unwilling to recognize they’ve been conned?

A large part of the answer is human nature. No one wants to admit to being duped, and certainly not on the scale of Trump’s lies. In order to regain your own identity, you would need to admit to denying the evidence that the person you have been following has been lying to you and stroking his own ego.

As a way to preserve your own self-esteem, the natural tendency is to find a way to confirm what you believe (confirmation bias) and/or repeat the lies yourself (the method of the GOP). One thing to remember about Trump is that he only cares about himself and you are discardable.

If you are a Trump disciple, look up narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and try to get back in touch with reality.

Dr. George Ball, PhD

Midtown

What really separates the left and right

The willingness to be told what to believe and who to believe are overriding characteristics of conservatives. Whether it’s absolute belief in some biblical fairy tales (Adam and Eve, Moses parting the Red Sea rather than going through Suez, etc. ...); furthermore someone who professes belief in these and other absurd fairy tales, rather than challenging them must be good. Conservatives are actually afraid to change their beliefs regardless of what may be overwhelming evidence to the contrary because to change one core belief puts other beliefs on fragile footing.

On the other hand, liberals oftentimes get blown around in their beliefs based on what is popular at the moment. i.e., Perhaps they are too willing to change their opinions and may appear to have no backbone at critical times.

Personally, I believe that any person who professes any strongly held beliefs must always be willing to re-examine them based on any new input or argument. Truth will come out if we let it.

Vincent Allen

Northwest side