Tucson Speaks Out: June 20 letters of the day

I am struck by two stories in Sunday’s Star (May 26): one saying that the University now has to pay student athletes $20,000,000 (yes, 20 MILLION dollars) for their efforts. The other story saying that the City of Tucson has cut back on swimming pool hours for our kids and citizens because there is not enough money to keep the pools open during our hot summers for the normal number of hours.

Please tell me how this makes sense.

David Ohern

Midtown

What’s Next for Trump

The latest chapter of the Trump saga is now written. The presumptive GOP candidate for the presidency is now a convicted felon. The party of Eisenhower, Reagan and McCain is now the party of Greene, Cruz, and Graham. Showing no remorse, Trump continues his relentless assault on the democratic institutions that have distinguished our Republic since its inception. Imagine the howls of outrage from conservative quarters if a Democratic candidate carried half of Trump’s baggage. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.

Conservative media, self-serving politicians and a gullible and lemming-like portion of the electorate could well secure a second term for this amoral buffoon. Should that happen we would inevitably soon join the likes of Imperial Rome, Tsarist Russia and Nazi Germany on the ash heap of history. The stakes could not be higher. In November, if you love this country select trust and integrity over lies and dishonor.

Dolores Stanley

Northeast side

Of presidents and automobiles

I have spent the last couple of months looking for a new car. I have visited all the new car showrooms and even have checked out used car lots. I have quizzed my friends about their cars, what they like and don’t. I think I have done all the due diligence required and am almost ready to buy. The one thing my new car doesn’t have is a navigation system. I have been driving now for months but I don’t know where I’m going.

The University of Arizona is in a similar situation. Decisions must be made based on who will fit in here and advance its goals and philosophies. Without a road map for the future time, money and lives will be wasted.

Susan Vonkersburg

Foothills

Hudbay mines

Re: the June 2 article “Devil is in the details for Copper World.”

Two recent posts in this paper addressed proposed new mines in the Santa Ritas. Per Canadian mining company Hudbay’s own data, these mines will require water usage equivalent to a city of 100,000 people, every year.

Mort Rosenblum pointed out that nothing survives without water. Steve Sollenberger followed implying that modern civilization can’t exist without copper. I suggest Sollenberger take the following test. First, spend three days avoiding using copper. Surely, he would find this an inconvenient challenge. Next, Sollenberger can try living three days without water. My guess is that he would find this more than inconvenient, especially if he plans on living a long life.

Hudbay mining operations are water-intensive. Water is a life-providing critical resource for us residents in Southern Arizona. It comes down to this: we can have the Santa Rita’s copper, or water, but not both. Personally, I get thirsty just thinking about this.

Dave Gamrath

Green Valley

Honor our heroes

We just celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Seeing the footage from that assault is horrifying but gives cause to reflect on Tom Brokaw’s book “The Greatest Generation.” We had our brave young men full of fear as the waters off Normandy were filled with American soldiers’ blood, yet they knew that their course was set and they must face their ultimate test of courage. We lost thousands of combat forces, and to honor our fallen heroes would always be at the forefront of America.

With that in retrospect, it seems utterly absurd to think about what we face today. Crime is becoming a greater issue than ever before, a seemingly endless stream of immigrants flooding our southern border with an intent known only to them, and a president who seems lost in his own world, while too many politicians want to defund our police and deemphasize our military!

Sadly, as I see this lunacy prevailing in our America, have we already lost our sanity, freedom and/or democracy?

Jerry Schuchardt

Foothills

Reflecting on sacrifice

On D-Day, 4,415 Allied soldiers died, with U.S. servicemen accounting for 2,502 deaths. It was our family members who sacrificed their lives for the constitutional freedoms we enjoy today. How can a man who is clearly an “elite”— an economic, social, and political elite—who never served, who never had a son who served, and who has spoken out against freedom of speech and freedom of the press (1st Amendment), due process, and equal protection (4th and 14th Amendments) be supported for president by 25% of the American people? What would our fathers and grandfathers, who heroically fought for our freedoms, say to us?

Michele Clark

East side

Tyranny versus freedom

The world sits on a seesaw between “Tyranny versus Freedom”. During World War II a “Tyranny” of countries tried to conquer the world. It was only when America sat on the “Freedom” side of the seesaw that “Freedom” was victorious. Over 400,000 Americans died in WWII. Today a new “Axis of Tyranny” is emerging comprised of China, North Korea, Iran, Russia, and disturbingly, an American movement led by convicted felon and accused insurrectionist Donald Trump. Russia has already started a war in Ukraine. Mr. Trump idolizes these dictators because he is a wannabe dictator. Mr. Trump will pull America out of NATO and give Russia Ukraine and free reign in Europe. He will also let China take Taiwan. On November 5, America will decide if America sits on the “Freedom” side of the seesaw or abandon what America stands for and sit on the “Tyranny” side. Make no mistake, a vote for Trump is a vote for “Tyranny”!

David Berryhill

Sahuarita

Gaslighting opinions

The European Union’s Copernicus Earth-monitoring service recently announced that we’ve now gone a full year where every single month has been the warmest version of that month since we’ve had enough instruments in place to track global temperatures. Yet, individuals associated with the petroleum industry continue to submit letters and op-eds warning us about the Biden Administration’s push toward electric vehicles. That’s like a heroin dealer trying to convince their addicts not to seek treatment. Those individuals don’t care about long term consequences or future generations. They care about financial gains for themselves and stockholders. Yes, there is going to be a cost associated with leaving the combustible engine. But the cost of continuing to feed the warming of the planet is much, much greater. Don’t let the petroleum industry keep you an addict.

Edward Espinoza

Southwest side

Understanding bullies

As the fog slowly lifts, it is clear that, for years, the previous Administration, the MAGA Party, the conservative media and a number of your readers are simply schoolyard bullies. For mystifying reasons, this group has convinced their own followers that they are superior, more intelligent leaders who are the only group who can successfully govern our country. And just like the school-yard bully, they have amassed perceived power through name calling, threats and cruelty. However, it has finally become readily apparent that these people are self-centered, narcissistic cowards who are leading this country to destruction. This widespread realization means that these bullies should be challenged and put in their place. And for the bullies, if they miraculously accept their loss of power and status, all will be well. If they resist, they should be the brunt of very hard, unforgettable lessons meted out in a court of law. Such is the fate of a bully.

Dee Maitland

Marana

Controlled immigration

I believe strongly in migration, but in controlled migration.

Mass migration is the sudden and large-scale movement of people from one place to another in a relatively short period, often due to factors beyond their control. This puts a strain on public services, leading to shortages in housing, education, and healthcare, and a competition for jobs, lowering wages for everyone. Massive migration can lead to cultural clashes and tensions, and lead to an increase in crime.

Controlled migration is an orderly process. It is the movement of people through well-established policies and procedures. Controlled migration allows for better planning and resource allocation to manage the influx of people. It focuses on attracting skilled immigrants who can contribute to the workforce and tax base. It applies integration programs that can help migrants adapt to the new culture, fostering social harmony. If properly managed controlled immigration benefits can outweigh its costs.

Controlled migration offers a more structured and potentially beneficial approach to immigration compared to mass migration.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

Phil “Bulldog” Bentley is 80!

I am writing to announce the 80th birthday of Phil “Bulldog” Bentley on June 25th. He is one of your regular contributors and a loyal reader. He is an example of why America IS great! Phil has served his country, raised a lovely family, and is an avid volunteer in his community. His passion for knowledge and politics is often featured in this section. Using his own words from a recent submission we want to share that to us he is The man! The husband! The father! The Pops! The friend! We appreciate his compassion! His steadfastness! His worldview! His honor! His courage! His integrity! His respectfulness! His patriotism! His thoughtfulness! His kindness! His sincerity! We can all learn from the example Phil sets as a citizen of the United States and a proud Arizonian. He has used his eight decades to show compassion for others and respectfully value all opinions, an example many would benefit from today. Happy 80th Phil! Much Love!

Jolee Bentley and Family

Foothills

Two-sided nation

Not a person disputes that we are currently a divided nation. Some may relish the chaos, but in terms of this letter, our nation is defined as being divided into conservative and liberal. A conservative nation has the inclination to restore what it considers traditional conditions and institutions of the 1950s, if not earlier. A liberal nation has the inclination to reform existing conditions and institutions of the 1950s, if not earlier. Opposite positions, but there is no need name calling, finger pointing, frivolous lawsuits, political tantrums, claims of rigged elections, and lies one after the other. Quit whining, you know who.

Toni Kane

Oro Valley

Think twice about Laura Conover

Re: the June 12 letter “Re-elect Laura Conover.”

The letter writer said, “She (Conover) has stopped pushing to treat juveniles as adults in court. We know teen brains are not fully developed and need the justice system to account for that.” Really? Neurological SCIENCE tells us that the human brain is not fully developed until age 25, not 18. Many mass killers are underage teens and in their early 20s. Should we give all of them a break? Or just the underage teens?

Also, “I urge voters not to be fooled by the push from the right to drag the County Attorney’s office back to the bad old days and to re-elect Laura Conover.” Those “bad old days” were headed by six-term Democrat Barbara LaWall for 24 years. Ms. LaWall ran a “if you did the crime, you’ll do the time” District Attorney’s office the entire time.

Conover is a crime-supportive disaster. Elect Mike Jette.

Steve Sollenberger

Foothills

Parallels between President Adams & Biden

John Adams, second President of the United States, had an outstanding, first-born son, John Quincy Adams, besides 2 other sons, Charles and Thomas. John Quincy had a stellar career as a politician, diplomat, and lawyer, culminating in becoming the 6th US president. Charles and Thomas became alcoholics. Charles was a womanizer, cheated on his wife, died young of cirrhosis.

President Joe Biden had an outstanding, first-born son, Beau — a stellar political and military career, died of cancer. His second son, Hunter, became a drug addict and womanizer.

With larger-than-life fathers and older brothers, it’s a huge burden for younger brothers to live up to them. When they couldn’t — a great sadness and embarrassment for John and Abigail Adams as for the Bidens. We should be sensitive to the grief these families endured rather than exploiting it for political gain. It says more about heartless and viperous Republicans pursuing Hunter, than about Hunter who has struggled with tragedies of addiction, loss of a mother, sister, and brother.

Sandra Katz, M.D., J.D.

Foothills

Free speech

Re: the June 12 letter “Free speech or not.”

This is the right as stated in the First Amendment. Just like all other rights in our constitution, it is limited. There are limits on what can be stated, such as slander and incitement to riot or causing panic in a theater.

The right to speak one’s mind is precious to us. Just because someone has that right, does not make what they say acceptable or correct. Criticism is also free speech. If someone makes stupid comments in public, the public has every right to criticize that speaker on their statements. Those counter comments are due every protection of law as the original comments. We have to allow free speech, but we do not have to agree with what is said and any criticism is free speech.

Jeff Rayner

SaddleBrooke