Tucson Speaks Out: Jan. 1 letters of the day

Re: the Dec. 9 article “Israeli troops round up Palestinian men.”

“US stands alone in vetoing UN resolution demanding cease-fire” is the subtitle for this article. Shame, shame, shame on the U.S.! What is our government afraid of? That a cease-fire and negotiations might actually lead to peace? That maybe the U.S., as Israel’s main supplier of weapons, might actually have to help rebuild Gaza after all the devastation we caused? After all, it IS our responsibility! Again I say shame on us.

Aston Bloom

East side

Enough is enough!

Gaza is 25 miles long and 7 miles wide — an area significantly smaller than metropolitan Tucson. More than two million people live in Gaza.

According to an Israeli Defense spokesperson, Israel has hit Gaza with over 20,000 bombs. It is estimated close to 18,000 Palestinians have been killed. Many bodies are still under the rubble.

In October, Israel told the people in northern Gaza to seek safety in the south. A short time later, Israel began dropping leaflets on the refugees who had gone south, telling them to relocate again. All exits are sealed. They’re starving. They lack water, fuel, and medications. Israel is now bombing the south as fiercely as they did the north.

The U.S. was the only country in the U.N. vetoing a resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire. When do we say, “Enough is enough”? Palestinians deserve freedom. It’s time to negotiate a two-state solution.

Judith Hassoun

Northwest side

Gaza cease-fire

I don’t have a solution to the Arab/Israel conflict, and I hate the civilian casualties on both sides, but if I were in Israel’s shoes I would say: “We would have been happy to agree to a cease-fire on Oct. 6. Where were you then?”

Sidney Hall

Oro Valley

Time to end the nonsense

Republicans won’t budge on Ukraine without border action. Our congress continues to not perform their duty to protect the USA and others by not passing important legislation. This is because they have other unrelated items attached to the bills in question. It is urgent for the American people to demand that congress have to vote on one bill at a time without any unrelated added ones to that particular bill. People this is the only way we are ever going to get our elected officials to compromise and pass important legislation.

Hal Brown

East side

How low can grifter Trump go?

So Trump is giving away parts of suit from his mugshot photo, however you have to buy 47 of his cards at $99 each. He claims it is the most important artifact in American history. Fine print states you are not guaranteed this even if you buy all 47 cards. Is there no depths this grifter won’t sink to? Always looking for ways to separate the gullible from their money.

Craig Miller

Northwest side

University leadership

With many years background as a corporate executive of a renowned multinational corporation, my experience would say, that to run a large corporation of any significance requires half and half balance of management skills and leadership skills. It is clear that our University of Arizona President Robbins is quite lacking in management skills. This whole debacle over financial issues at U of A cannot be acceptable practice … the issue was not handled at source (passed upwards), was tabled in public before President Robbins dealt with it, was presented as an unsolved issue to Board of Regents (for them to solve?). President Robbins should have had this fixed long before it became a public discussion. Time to replace President Robbins with a person with a better balance of skills!

S. Paul Oliver

West side

Scourges

The Russian people and the Palestinian people are subjected to two scourges. One is Putinvaders and the other is Hamassasins. They can be long lasting and claim many lives. The Russians and the Palestinians need to stand up, speak up, demonstrate, rebel, whatever it takes to dispel these scourges. They must shout out that they’re dog-tired of their leaders’ dogmas. It’s time for a new alpha dog. Remember, nationalism and rationalism go hand in hand. Only then can there be normalcy, well-being, and harmony in Eastern Europe and the Mideast. P.S. Russians, there are elections (?) coming up soon. Palestinians, hoping you have a State soon to hold elections.

Joe Sanchez

Marana

Trump and hate

I am amazed when criticism of Donald Trump triggers wails of “Trump hatred.” If Trump is hated, he reaps the hate he sows. One cruel example is when Trump mocked the brutal attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, as his deplorables cheered. Trump spews grievances and anger like a tuning fork until his followers vibrate in synchrony, release their inner Trump and mirror his emotions.

On Jan. 6 Trump activated his deplorables and gave them permission to shed their thin civilized veneer and engage their innate barbarism, whereupon they became a violent mob that attacked the Capitol. They enjoyed and boasted of it until they faced criminal prosecution. They should have considered that con men like Trump have contempt for suckers who fall for their schemes.

If sociopathic Trump is re-elected, rule of Trump will replace rule of law. Consider that Trump’s planned huge immigrant internment camps could also be used for his “vermin” enemies and critics — a MAGA gulag.

Ronald Pelech

Midtown

Hamas holds total responsibility

Every time anyone is killed in Gaza be they Jew, Muslim, Christian, remember that no one was being killed before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. All blame and bloodshed lies entirely on their hands.

Maureen Salz

Oro Valley

Suicide rate for women in Afghanistan skyrocket

Since President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, the suicide rate for women has skyrocketed. About 80% of suicides there now involve women. The reason, the Taliban once again took over the country and imposed draconian Sharia Law on women, reversing the progress and freedoms they had enjoyed in prior years. The Taliban has ended secondary school and university enrollment for women. Women who are sick can only be treated by female doctors. Women are banned from serving in the government, banned from entering parks and banned from beauty salons. The banned list goes on. Biden’s abrupt, and deadly for 13 U.S. service members, withdrawal from Afghanistan allowed the Taliban to not only capture billions of dollars of our military equipment, much of it functional, but it also quashed the hopes of women who were on the path to have a brighter future. Does Biden ever think about their plight? And now once again, Afghanistan is a haven for Islamic terrorists, free to plot more attacks.

Christy Daniels

North side

More Biden family influence peddling

A trustee for bankrupt healthcare company Americore, testified before Congress that James Biden, the brother of Joe Biden, received a $600,000 loan from the company that was never repaid. James Biden was hired on the promise that his last name “Biden” could “open doors” and bring in large investments from the Middle East based on political connections. That never happened. Americore did not do any paperwork for the loan. In March 2018, Americore wired James Biden $200,000 to his personal account. That same day, he wrote a personal check to Joe Biden drawn from the same account. Americore sued James Biden for the $600,000, but only received a settlement of $350,000. I believe that Joe Biden, at the time a two term Vice President and having been a multi decades long U.S. Senator, tolerated these corrupt influence peddling deals done by his brother and son Hunter, and financially gained from them. The presented explanation of repaying family loans to Joe disguises the payments.

Shaki Johnson

East side

AI intelligence

Re: the Dec. 22 letter “Artificial intelligence armageddon solved?”

The letter writer suggests that should some AI architect wants to create a nuclear war, we should simply pull the plug — because, all ‘instances’ of AI require only one thing to live-electricity.

In the July 17, 2021, issue of Science Daily the article “AI systems-on-chips runs on solar power” appeared. This was developed at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM).

It powers AI systems by a tiny battery or solar panel and can be configured for use in just about any type of application.

The writer referred to AI systems as ‘instances or organisms’ that needed electricity to live, yet somehow believed that they would proceed with a program to destroy their own world.

His suggestion to restrain all instances of AI in a level 4 Biohazard lab was ludicrous. I never cease to be amazed at humankind’s problem solving solutions (control or war).

I prefer to trust AI’s genetic level logic to prevent Armageddon. But then again, I’m only human.

Karen Papagapitos

Northwest side

All I want for Christmas

By Christmas 2025, we may be fortunate enough to have an authoritarian government. Authoritarianism can be a great thing, if those in power always make the right decisions for everybody and for the nation. To do this, the government needs to have wise, intelligent advisors who are not afraid to tell the emperor he/she has no clothes. If the government makes a mistake, it needs to be able to take immediate corrective action. Democracy cannot move at the speed of authoritarian government.

Consider if the Nazis had not tried to invade Russia and England. If they understood they needed to consolidate what they had, the world would look a lot different now.

So do you want to try Constitutional Authoritarianism or continue with Representational Democracy? Orderly or messy? “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Lord Anton, 1887.

James Abels

Midtown

Shame

The continuous diatribes regarding Trump are commonplace and endless in this paper. However, these same people have made little, actually zero, comment regarding the southern border. Over 400,000 undocumented immigrants released since Oct. 1 with court cases out as far as seven years. Border Patrol focusing on processing people, leaving most of the border wide open for the cartels to do as the wish. This whole scenario is a preventable disaster. All “The Big Guy” has to do is say “NO!, remain in Mexico.” But, instead, he and his Administration have allowed over 8 million undocumented to enter our country in the last three years. Why? To buy votes? The immigrants are now understanding, coached by the cartels, to say “dangerous at home” and they will be admitted. They are exploiting the system. For you liberals who will say nothing negative about your blessed leader and his administration, shame on you for allowing the country to descend into this preventable abyss.

Loyal M. Johnson Jr.

Oro Valley

Orwellian doublespeak

Trump’s claim that Colorado has no right to keep him off the ballot and wanting the courts to declare him immune from prosecution yet saying he is against the courts making the decision about whether he should be disqualified for the ballot evoke the story of the young man who kills his parents and prevails on the court for leniency because he is an orphan. It’s all clearly Orwellian doublespeak.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Poll

Re: the Dec. 26 letter “Poll shows fraudulent mail-in ballots.”

The letter writer cites a Rasmussen/Heartland poll declaring all kinds of badness around the 2020 ballot in an attempt to declare that….aha! The 2020 vote was, indeed, corrupt. Only thing is ... no.

I looked up the poll and there were zero legitimate news sources backing this. It turns out, Heartland is a right wing organization. Of course they found shenanigans.

The letter writer can believe the moon is made of green cheese. That doesn’t make it so. Sorry, toots, no cigar and no smoking gun.

Christi S. Driggs

Northwest side

Say ‘yes’ to charity, ‘no’ to taxes

Re: the dec. 26 article ‘Arizona tax-credit donation options plentiful.”

Thank you for this reminder that Arizona residents have several options for directing their hard-earned dollars to worthwhile charities instead of letting politicians decide how to spend the money on pet projects. In addition to the charities listed in the article, the Credit for Contributions to Private School Tuition Organizations (Form 323) and Credit for Contributions to Certified School Tuition Organizations (Form 348) can also be used to support organizations of your choice and reduce state income taxes dollar-for-dollar. These two tax credits provide an additional $1,307 for single filers and $2,609 for couples. With the new 2.5% flat-rate income tax and combining all these tax credits, single filers can earn $98,160 and couples $196,040 before they’ll owe any income tax to the state.

Anthony Kuyper

Foothills

Leaders’ rhetoric help b

order smugglers

Re: the Dec. 24 article “Rumors, headlines factor in border rush.”

Thanks to Emily Bregel, for this article. Politicians’ untruthful rhetoric and then news disseminating their misinformation don’t escape news-savvy people in the Americas. Statements we’ve heard, like “open borders” offer smugglers huge paydays from people dreaming of such opportunities, affirmed by American leaders’ quotes. Wouldn’t you act if you were desperate?

Add rumors smugglers create, implicitly supported in December by Congress not moving on support for “CBP One Application” or personnel. Smugglers say the Program is closing. “Don’t apply and wait, just come.”

Frustrated? Write Republican Rep. Ciscomani. Ask him what he’s been saying. Our Senators are working for solutions. Yet Republicans want immigration “broken.” Fundraising for 2024; “It’s all Biden’s fault.” Yet the Biden Administration’s Homeland Security Application Process initially slowed the migration process. Trump’s $15 billion wall? Impotent! Buy a $100 reciprocating saw. Wall breaching has occurred thousands of times, costing millions more for repairs. Republicans: Tell the truth! Cooperate!

Nancy Jacques

Northeast side

Border chaos requires immediate action

On Christmas Eve, the AZ Star published its Opinion: “Border chaos requires immediate action.” The Star said that Trump’s border wall had “little to no discernable effect.” A frequent target for criticism by the Star. In Arizona, most illegal entry has occurred through unfinished border wall gaps at Yuma or on the TO Reservation that forbids any wall. Human smuggling occurs where there is no wall. The Star’s answer to this chaos is to simply hire more asylum officers. The Star knows that the asylum system is being gamed, as many of these asylum claimants are coming for economic reasons. Hiring more asylum officers does nothing to stop millions from coming here illegally. That is of no interest to the open borders Star. The solution to Biden’s border chaos is to re-instate Remain in Mexico, redo asylum deals with Central America and pressure Mexico to secure its southern border. All Trump policies that substantially reduced illegal immigration, which the Star despised.

Alan Ruiz

West side