BasketCats
Dear NCAA,
Please bracket a potential rematch in your tournament between Arizona versus Purdon't.
BEAR DOWN!!
Thomas Finley
Northwest side
Disgusting display
In his recent speech in Nashville at the National Religious Broadcasters Conference, Trump went all out pandering to evangelicals, promising to "protect God in the public square" and vowing to bring back Christianity to this country. It's not enough for someone to have their own religion, it needs to be imposed on each and every citizen! The crowd stood in recognition of the Jan. 6 "hostages" after Trump called them "persecuted Christians." So if you are a violent criminal insurrectionist, you are a patriotic, persecuted Christian! According to Trump, "no one will be touching the cross of Christ" under his administration if elected again. Referencing his multiple criminal indictments, he told the crowd "I take all these arrows for you," "I'm being indicted for you" — with outstretched arms mimicking crucifixion. Such theatrics! Donald Trump — adulterer, woman assaulter, multiple criminal charges, contractor-stiffing, serial lying bully who supports Putin, wants to destroy NATO and aspires to be a dictator — such a Godly man! Rationality does not exist for his supporters.
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Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
DEI ban at universities
Regarding the ban of DEI at universities, Karma Chavez, professor of Mexican/American and Latino/a studies at the University of Texas bemoans "To know your speech is monitored and basically censored if you do the kind of work I do, that's a strange feeling."
Well, Karma, welcome to the world of conservative professors who, for years, have been looking over their shoulders, fearful of saying the politically incorrect thing lest they lose their jobs.
Deedee Bruster
SaddleBrooke
Not too late
“Activism is the rent I pay to live on this planet.” (Alice Walker)
Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, who flipped the George Santos seat in NYC credited the win to its active citizenry. So too, with Wisconsin’s new redistricted map which now more accurately reflects its population, and I like to think we in Arizona helped make that happen. We sent tons of postcards encouraging Wisconsinites to vote.
Many Arizona retirees with fat 401ks, the beneficiaries of the WWII post-economic boom, are sitting on the sidelines. They talk politics; they know fascism is at our doorstep, but by God, don’t ask them to participate to help save democracy; they haven’t or won’t, perhaps because they think they have enough money to protect themselves, their children and grandchildren, so even if it comes it won’t affect them.
Haven’t we seen this movie before?
Time is running out. We know activism promotes democracy; silence impedes it.
Brenda Wexler
Midtown
Stop Cop City
Re: the Feb. 27 article "Vandalism spree politically motivated, Tucson police say."
Recently, there was a protest against police here in Tucson by “Stop Cop City,” out of Atlanta. Why Tucson? It turns out Tucson was the host for a summit. After the summit, 100 protesters wearing masks firebombed, destroyed and defaced Tucson businesses. ARS 13-701 section 26 states that those who wear a mask or other disguise to obscure their identity during a felony are subject to sentence enhancements. The blatant terrorist tactics are dangerous and wrong. Georgia’s Attorney General said, “We will not waiver when it comes to keeping people safe, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring those who engage in criminal activity are vigorously pursued and aggressively prosecuted.” It is not about silencing the voice of civil protest it is about holding those responsible who break the law. The community appreciates the Tucson Police Department for their quick action. I hope Ms. Conover will not waive these crimes to misdemeanors but instead prosecute these felony offenders. So far, her silence has been deafening. It’s worrisome.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
We all need a good laugh!
Re: the Feb. 29 article "Illegal border-crossers bill rushed to governor."
We all need a good belly laugh in this political climate. I enjoyed one this morning (Feb. 29) as I read this Star article. In the piece, Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma says he used an unusual procedure to rush through SB1231 to allow state and local police to arrest people who crossed the border illegally. “The sooner we pass SB 1231, the sooner the state can protect its citizens from the crisis caused by the Democrats’ willful refusal to secure the border.’’
This is a joke, yes? Speaker Toma apparently doesn’t know it was Donald Trump and GOP Senators — not Democrats — that blocked the bipartisan border bill, which would have provided the border security and immigration changes Republicans claim they want.
So, Speaker Toma, it appears the joke’s on you.
This November, voters need to flip a single seat — just one! — from Republican to Democrat to stop having the Arizona House of Representatives being a laughingstock.
Thea Chalow
Oro Valley
Revisiting the Senate's border bill
President Biden is pressuring Republicans into passing the Senate's border bill. He never mentions the border bill passed months ago by the House of Representatives. The Senate's border bill was crafted secretly for weeks behind closed doors by three Senators. It funds a border barrier, but gives DHS Sec. Mayorkas six months to present a plan to Congress. It hires 800 government bureaucrat Asylum officers to make determinations at the border replacing Independent Immigration Judges. Asylum requirements are lessened from proving significant fear of persecution to reasonable fear. Family units are given special asylum consideration. It allows 5,000 to illegally enter per day to potentially claim asylum before triggering an Executive Authority option to close the border. People encountered from "non-contiguous" countries are not counted, nor are 1400 a day that can apply for asylum at the Ports of Entry. The bill provides over a billion to shadowy NGOs. The liberal U.S. District Court of D.C. has sole review authority over any litigation concerning the bill.
Langhorne Bilby
Marana
Cell phone use in class
Re: the March 2 article "Schools grapple with cellphone use in class."
The idiocy of allowing cell phone use in class is beyond comprehension. We as a nation need to support bans on cell phone use in the classroom everywhere. We should not wonder why schools are failing to teach the basics such as mathematics, English, American History, etc. We should support our teachers to teach without interference by imposing stupidity from the outside by both political parties and to properly fund teachers everywhere.
Michael Mount
Foothills
Trump and health insurance
Recently, I was a patient at MD Anderson in Gilbert, Arizona, a medical facility ranked number one in the treatment of cancer. I was able to gain the benefits of this facility because I have Medicare and a quality supplemental insurance policy.
During my treatment, I began to focus on the millions of Americans lacking health insurance and are deprived of quality medical care. I reflected on the ten Republican-controlled states that have failed to expand Medicaid, which could provide health insurance for 2.1 million Americans.
I recalled that Donald Trump and Republican representatives and senators attempted to destroy the Affordable Care Act but failed. Trump has stated that he would again attempt to destroy the Act if elected President. The Act presently covers over 20,000,000 Americans.
I plead with my fellow Americans not to support Republican candidates in the coming election. The Republican Party has failed to exhibit one iota of concern for Americans lacking health care.
Stuart Sellinger
West side
Failure
Our "Loyal" friend on the northwest side has said that the President is a failure when it comes to securing the border. This is a rant that he brings up more than a few times a month. He conveniently forgets that the President and the Democrats put together a bill that included everything that the GOP wanted. I would expect he's in agreement with their policies. But for some reason, the GOP members that got what they wanted, decided to reject the bill that would make the border policy a nonpartisan issue. Our friend is still complaining that Biden is a failure rather than admitting that his beloved GOP and his idol No. 45 have used the border to try to make a great president look like a failure when in fact it's the GOP and that other guy.
John Bingham
Northwest side
Detaining shoplifters by citizens
Re: The March 8 article "AZ Senate: Allow citizens to arrest shoplifters."
This article describes the Arizona Senate approving a measure to allow citizens to make arrests for shoplifting. Though the method of arrest is not included it must require the verbal or physical restraint of the alleged shoplifter. Then undoubtedly securing identifying information from the person which the individual is probably unwilling to provide. Next the arrestor constructs an arrest form from his citation book or transports the individual to jail, where employees are unable or unwilling to process the person. Then, he must be able to present his evidence in court to prosecute the individual. Can you imagine being stopped and told you are under arrest by a citizen and are being detained. I would just walk away, as would most of you. Better than this fanciful thinking is to have the store owner make a placard noticeable to all explaining what to do when he sees a shoplifter. Bringing the matter to attention of the owner or security agents.
Philip Reinecker
East side
How horrible
When I see news footage of the dire straits the citizens of Gaza are suffering, I am disgusted. There is no reason their homes and apartments had to be reduced to rubble. Unconscionable that shops, markets, and utilities were crushed under Israeli bombs. Why? How can the Israeli military justify killing 30,000 Gazans. The U.S. is an accomplice in this tragedy and has to stand up against the Israeli government. Not one dime should go to these war criminals. How horrible for those poor Gazans that, even if the war ends, they will have no place to go. Their tent cities are all they have, with famine causing more and more deaths. How horrible.
David ben Avram
Marana
Running red lights
This past week, a young physician was killed while riding his motorcycle when a driver ran a red light. In the past two weeks, I have personally witnessed three incidents of cars racing through red lights, including one which nearly collided into my vehicle.
What is it with our Tucson drivers? How can we avoid more fatalities?
Perhaps it is time to install red light cameras at all busy intersections.
To accept the status quo is a recipe for more tragic fatalities. Next time, it may be your loved one that is killed.
Jonathan Insel
Foothills
No more Trump
I watched the Jan. 6 House Committee hearings. I read Cassidy Hutchinson’s memoir "Enough." I’ve finished Liz Cheney’s detailed recap of Trump’s misbehavior before, during, and since the 2020 election in "Oath and Honor: A Memoir of Warning."
Clearly, Trump is a devious soul. A gangster. Traitor. As Cheney states, “There has never been a greater dereliction of duty by any President …. He is unfit for any office.”
To citizens who pine for Trump’s re-installment, shame on you. You’ve failed the responsibilities of citizenship. To government officials who'd vote similarly (including McConnell and Haley), you’ve betrayed your Oath of Office. This isn't overstating or understating; but telling it straight and as it is.
To Trump-supporting people of faith, including Christians, and including the recent Tucson interloper Franklin Graham, you are merely hiding a tragic and vile ideology in religious speech.
Ron Rude
West side
Caregivers
I believe that caregivers are greatly underappreciated. A caregiver is someone who provides assistance with daily living activities for another person who needs help due to illness, disability, or age. This care can range from basic needs like bathing and dressing to more complex tasks like managing medications or transportation.
There are informal caregivers who are unpaid caregivers who are usually family members or friends. They provide care out of love and devotion, often without any formal training.
Informal caregivers are the backbone of caregiving, providing unpaid support to loved ones who can't manage on their own. They assist with daily living activities (bathing, dressing, meals) and may also help with transportation, medication management, housekeeping and emotional support.
I am an 87-year-old who is blessed with such an informal caregiver. I cannot imagine life without her. We pledged "in sickness and in health" and she has honored that pledge for almost 30 years. She is my loving wife — God bless her.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
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