Remember Oct. 7 by reflecting on what led to it
Bronx: Israel supporters had a field day on Monday. They pleaded for sympathy with no acknowledgment of Israel’s bad behavior. First, Voicer Bruce Ticker played dumb about Israel’s atrocities and wanted accusations “backed up with facts.” In past letters, I have done exactly that. So, I see no need to repeat those facts again. Bruce just wants to be unaware.
Then, Voicer Holly Rothkopf dragged out boring clichés about phony antisemitism. She thinks Israelis are blameless for bad things that happened to them one year ago. She should try behaving badly in a bar, and then she can wonder why she got a bloody nose. Last year, Israel’s awful behavior had consequences. It got a very bloody nose.
Joshua Davidson (“A prayer for peace for this Jewish New Year,” op-ed, Oct. 7) grudgingly conceded that “settler hooligans attack Palestinians,” (photo) but he didn’t act as if that was any big deal because Arabs don’t really matter. In my more cynical moments, I wonder if Zionist pundits matriculate in advanced Ph.D. programs that teach them how to gaslight to maximum advantage.
For a long time, Palestinians have lived miserably under Zionists. What Israelis learned a year ago was that it is their turn to live miserably. And it will get even more miserable for them as corporations won’t want to invest in such a miserable place. That, and not Iranian missiles, may be their undoing. Nick Smith
Have a heart
Park Ridge, N.J.: I think many people would have a lot more sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians if, on the anniversary of the slaughter of so many innocent people in Israel, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed a little sympathy for them. We’re in this world together. There’s no place else to go. Steve Ostlund
Not your forté
Brooklyn: President Biden’s call for a ceasefire in Israel’s fight against terrorism seems a little beyond his scope of expertise. Biden, the one who orchestrated our disastrous pullout from Afghanistan, is telling Israel, which has kept its enemies at bay for decades, how to handle a war. That’s like Bernie Madoff telling Elon Musk how to run a business. Biden should stick to what he’s good at: drinking tequila on the beach. Josh Greenberger
Elect responsibly
Tamarac, Fla.: This is not the time to elect a president who needs to be spoon-fed to run a country. Kamala Harris and the progressive leadership can be perilous to America because they are based on control before country. The ideology progressives live by, in contrast to our own, will weaken the country in no time because they simply do not like nor agree with the American way. Decision-making is crucial when we cast our votes, and there is very little room for error, especially now as we witness our country deal with overwhelming amounts of internal and worldwide problems. You are urged to think very carefully before voting for your next president of the United States. If you love your country, you must vote to hold onto it before it is too late. Roberta Chaleff
Check your sources
Ridgewood: To Voicer Robert Brennan: It’s only the malicious internet rumor mill that is fueling the idea that the federal government is not responding fully to the Hurricane Helene disaster. Despite Donald Trump’s claims, both North Carolina’s Democratic governor and Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp have praised the federal response and the availability of President Biden, who has sent active-duty troops to supplement state efforts. One particularly ridiculous claim is that Democrats — or maybe it’s the Jews, in a classic antisemitic trope — control the weather. It’s the Biden-Harris administration that has made major investments in our ability to fight climate change while providing hundreds of thousands of jobs. FEMA is running out of money not because it’s funding migrants, a bizarre claim, but because Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson blocked further funding and won’t call a special session to deal with this crisis. Chandra Bocci
‘Right’ is wrong
Brooklyn: Please stop referring to anyone who doesn’t agree with open borders, unisex bathrooms, defund the police and every other off-the-wall policy that progressives take up as “right wing.” Your publication, as well as many others, too often use the term as a sort of slander against anyone who doesn’t follow your preferred political ideologies. The more accurate term for these people would be “common-sense voters.” Jack Flynn
Show up
Phoenix: We are writing this letter to request that everyone takes the time to vote in the 2024 election. The beauty of casting your ballot is only possible when everyone votes for the candidate of their choice so that the majority’s voice is heard. As we have cast our votes consistently over the past six decades in each election, we have witnessed the results, whether we agree or disagree. When constituents do not take the time to go to the polls, they are often dissatisfied with the results. It is imperative to the life of our republic that we take the time to cast our ballot and let our voices be heard! Should you choose not to vote, you should not harbor ill feelings if you believe the election was swayed in a way that you do not approve. Whatever your choice, take time to vote. John and Roberta Walgren
Records request
Bronx: In an effort to show he is still able to govern New York City effectively, Mayor Adams announced he is replacing the tables and chairs at City Hall with furniture from IKEA. Could the file cabinets be going? Fred Smith
Paradise lost
Manhattan: The countdown to closure has ostensibly begun for the Elizabeth Street Garden, the exotic, one-acre Eden in Nolita. Mayor Adams, seemingly undistracted by legal woes that may torpedo his administration, has served the fabled sculpture garden an eviction notice. The city is determined to scrap the popular park in favor of affordable housing — despite Elizabeth Street Garden reps having pointed out numerous alternative sites for housing development right in the neighborhood. At the same time, the Department of Transportation is touting the idea of creating pedestrian-friendly green space on the median of Park Ave. Wow, talk about a clown show in action. Susan M. Silver
Hard fall
Greenville, S.C.: Sad fallout from the arrest and jail developments for rap mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs! On Sept. 9, the hip-hop star was charged with sex trafficking and racketeering by a federal grand jury in New York. It was even demanded that he pay a judgment of $100 million to Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who accused Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him 30 years ago. This is some bad mess right here! I know your mama, Janice Combs, and his female cousins and sisters, who I know he loves, are crying their damn hearts out about this! How could a person who was riding high have a fall from grace so low after being one of the most powerful rappers in the hip-hop industry? This punk is soon to get the verdict from the court and be locked up in jail for a long time. Steven Hawkins
Better prevention
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: Thank you for your editorial “Curbside composting curbs rats” (Oct. 6). It was nice to see that organic collection resulted in benefits such as elimination of trash’s odor in households and buildings and reduction of garbage in the city. The airtight, rodent-impervious bins with locking covers should reduce the presence of rats, who stay and multiply where food is available. Hopefully, this type of cleanliness will also be a step toward eliminating glue traps, which cause severe and prolonged agony. During futile attempts to escape, animals have their skin, fur or feathers ripped off. Organs get injured, bones get broken and animals chew through limbs. All this suffering can last for days until the animal dies from shock, blood loss or dehydration. This barbarity is why many stores stopped selling glue traps and many countries made them illegal. I hope America is next. James Scotto
