Judge what she stands for by where she stands
Brooklyn: Re “Councilmember Shahana Hanif ignores Jew-hatred” (op-ed, April 18): What now?
I am a constituent of Councilmember Hanif’s and have worked with her on many issues. I know that she practices solidarity every day. Solidarity is not a demand we make; it is built in relationships. Shahana does that work. I know because when I organized a vigil for the Tree of Life shooting victims, she organized Muslims to show up to protect us, without my asking. I know because we’ve been in regular contact since 10/7 as we both work towards a peace that will make us all safer. I know because of the concrete actions she’s taken in the City Council against hate.
When we target the only Muslim councilwoman, we actively make her less safe. We also dismiss one of our best partners in solidarity across lines of difference. When we stoke hate along religious lines, we are making ourselves less safe, too. When we throw our lot in with right-wing actors who happen to say what we want to hear about Israel (like #EndJewHatred), we may feel safer, but we are not. We end up actively harming women, LGBTQ, Brown and Black folks.
We aren’t safer when we apply a litmus test to others but are unwilling to apply the same scrutiny to ourselves. We aren’t safer when we act only from a place of grief and fear. Safety comes from working together even when it’s uncomfortable, seeking a mutual understanding of our communities’ pain and history so that we can truly act in solidarity. Jody Drezner Alperin
A faith for good
Bronx: I thought the following might inspire or provoke some commentary about ending the violence in the Middle East. This is an excerpt from an article on antisemitism by Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker, written in 1940: “During the recent wave of antisemitism in New York, many Jews came to The Catholic Worker. Some came for advice or assistance in forming groups to bring about tolerance between creeds, others came because of Peter [Maurin]’s writings on Jews in the paper. Peter believes we should have more Jews than we do in this or any country. He calls them a bulwark against Nationalism since they are the non-conformist minority that refute the doctrine of Nationalism. Christians are followers of Christ. Because of this, says Peter, every time a Christian sees a Jew he should be reminded of Christ and love him for being of the race that Christ was part of.” Gene Roman
Hail to the hoist
Kew Gardens Hills: Kudos to the NYPD for their restoration of order at Columbia University and CCNY in a controlled and nonviolent manner. The poignant moment for me was when they raised the American flag that had previously been taken down. I am not sure if that was part of the operational plan or not, but it warmed my heart nonetheless. As a former member of the service, I thank them. Phil Serpico
Illegal acts
Brooklyn: To Voicer Dan Singer: When did you come out of your coma? You missed the miscreants breaking into the building with hammers and locking themselves in. Did you think that was legal? Josie Oliveri
Dangerous discomfort
Brooklyn: Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, in a letter to the campus community concerning the arrests, penned: “Many students have also felt uncomfortable and unwelcome because of the disruption and antisemitic comments made by some individuals.” Perhaps this new definition of “uncomfortable” should be added to the dictionary. It truly is novel. Example of new word usage: “The teacher felt ‘uncomfortable’ over the death threats made against her and locked herself in a room;” “I feel ‘uncomfortable’ when you point that gun at me;” “I feel ‘uncomfortable’ when they scream death to people of my nationality, so I’d better flee to safety and take my classes remotely (while they get to stay).” What about threatened? Endangered? In imminent peril? Fearful they’d break bones like they shattered windows? Truth needs neither embellishment nor watering down. Both are puke-worthy. Thank God and the NYPD for their hard work and self-restraint during a sad, complicated and necessary intervention. Joy E. Goldberg
Worse by far
Forest Hills: To those college student protestors who are threatening to either vote for Donald Trump or not vote at all, you should realize that if Trump is reelected, not only would he encourage Israel to commit genocide against all Palestinians, but he would send in federal troops to quell any protests in the United States. He is already calling for a Muslim ban here. You are playing with fire. Libby Gurgis
Not looking good
Swarthmore, Pa.: There is nothing more searing and impactful than raw, graphic video to imprint an enduring image in our minds. On some college campuses, like UCLA, there were violent clashes between students, outside agitators and the police. This is bad news for President Biden. These scenes of campus unrest and instability can be construed as evidence that the whole country is spiraling out of control. As many people feel that the “buck stops” with the president, even if logically it’s the college president who is more culpable, Biden will get some of the blame. Some will recall that when Trump was president, campuses were more peaceful. They may attribute this to his image as a tough, no-nonsense guy who would not tolerate such outbursts, even if they were outside his sphere of control. The election will likely be characterized by a small margin of victory, and scenes like these hurt Biden and help Trump. Ken Derow
Voted for it
Staten Island: To the morons who voted for Tiffany Caban (“NYPD big, pol battle on,” May 3): You got what you deserved. Thomas Fraumeni Jr.
No big game?
Brooklyn: Couldn’t believe when I picked up your paper yesterday that you didn’t even have a final score for the Knicks’ clinching game against Philly. The game ended before midnight. What is your excuse? Meanwhile, the N.Y. Post had full coverage of the game. This is one of many reasons you are losing readers. Do better! Dennis Burge
Model of reason
Itasca, Ill.: If there’s a silver lining to the passing of Robert MacNeil, it’s that we are allowed to pause and reflect on what made him a pioneer in TV journalism. I almost wrote that we’re “forced” instead of “allowed to” reflect, but that wasn’t his style. In a time when the loudest, most garish content commands our attention, MacNeil, Jim Lehrer and a scant few others showed us in a professional, understated manner how people should communicate with each other. I keep hoping it will catch on. Jim Newton
Same species
Auburndale: To Voicer Bob Pascarella: This may come as a surprise to you, but women are people, and it is not incorrect or offensive to refer to us as such. Cathi Venis
Bike cops
Manhattan: New York is no longer a walkable or safe city for pedestrians due to unregulated bike traffic. Even though there are bike lanes, adult bicyclists of all sorts, not just deliverymen, take to the sidewalks because it’s easy to do. So do adults and teens on skateboards, scooters and even heavy electric one-wheelers. There is a law against this, N.Y. Administrative Code 19-176, with a $100 fine for breaking it, but it is never enforced. I encounter bikes daily on sidewalks in front of me and behind me. They ride the wrong way in bike lanes and in the street and run red lights in the middle of the street. I’m afraid to walk in New York City. It’s exhausting to be on guard at all times. Manhattan needs “No Bicycles On Sidewalks” signs and police on bicycles to enforce bike laws. Jacquelyn Bonomo
Projecting
Central Islip, L.I.: Alec Baldwin called Paul McCartney an a-hole. Look in the mirror, Baldwin, and you will see the real a-hole. Thomas Sarc
Hazy recollection
Glendale: To Voicer Mike Dooley: Good thing that your brother Voicer Rich Dooley amended your letter, that it wasn’t the 1963 eclipse you both witnessed, but the 1972 eclipse. So that explains how the 1969 Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” was playing; otherwise it have been some butt-kicking stuff you were smoking. John L. Rienecker
