Ozzy lent his voice to his generation’s angst
Cibolo, Texas: The world is a little quieter, a little less chaotic and a lot less fun with the passing of Ozzy Osbourne. While news outlets will undoubtedly chronicle his decades of solo success and reality TV stardom, I want to remember Ozzy as the architect of a sonic revolution.
Ozzy and Black Sabbath arrived at a pivotal moment in music history. The sun was setting on the era of the Beatles and the flower-power optimism that defined the late ’60s. The world was growing darker and more uncertain, and music needed to reflect that. Black Sabbath, with Ozzy’s unmistakable vocals at the helm, answered that call. They weren’t just a band, they were a primal scream against the anxieties of the age. They didn’t just play rock and roll, they forged a new genre: heavy metal. Sabbath’s music, steeped in blues riffs and infused with a gothic sensibility, gave voice to a generation grappling with disillusionment and fear. They were the soundtrack to a world that felt increasingly out of control.
Ozzy was more than just a singer, he was a symbol. He was the Prince of Darkness, the Madman, but beneath the theatrics and the controversies lay a vulnerability and a genuine connection with his audience. He gave us permission to embrace the darkness, to acknowledge the uncomfortable truths and to find catharsis in the face of despair.
Thank you, Ozzy, for the music, the madness and the metal. Your legacy will reverberate for generations to come. You were, and always will be, the Godfather of Metal. John Di Genio
Playing in perpetuity
Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.: Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness and a heavy metal icon. His greatest legacy and contribution to society will be all the marching bands that will continue to play “Ironman” and “Crazy Train” during timeouts and halftime shows at high school and college football games. Michael P. Devine
Can’t ‘bare’ it
Brooklyn: I’m a soon-to-be 71-year-old guy who is not especially wise. Nor am I trying to be a wiseguy when asking if it is really necessary for comfort’s sake for women to wear shorts as short as underwear — sometimes shorter, it seems. Men are hardwired to be aroused by a woman’s bare thighs. Now, I appreciate seeing an attractive woman as much as the next guy, but c’mon. You’re asking men to go about their day practically getting whiplash looking at all the bared legs flashing by. Once home, they’re expected to perform, turning on the desires they spend a great deal of psychic energy keeping turned off during the day. No wonder there are all those ads about erectile dysfunction, with most of the actors being young men who shouldn’t be having that problem. Here’s some sage advice, ladies: Save it for the bedroom. We’d all be better off if you did. Martin Bunis
Spot-on assessment
Richmond Hill: This is a quote from former Rep. Beto O’Rourke: “I think Democrats in the past too often have been more concerned with being right than being in power, and we’ve seen Republicans only care about being in power, regardless of what is right.” This made me realize how true this is. Ene Kelly
Individual culpability
Massapequa, L.I.: Even the Gestapo didn’t wear masks. It was helpful at Nuremberg later on. Paul Pepe
Political pressure
Utica, N.Y.: Reading a letter from Voicer Marianne Tepedino made us just shake our heads. The point, Marianne, is not whether you think Stephen Colbert is funny or whether you like him. You can always change the channel. The point is that an American president should never be able to dictate who is on TV. It’s called freedom of speech — you can look it up! So, Marianne, you stick with MeTV and pretend that we’re all still living in Mayberry. MAGA is counting on you. Meanwhile, once-great CBS, the home of Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow, continues to disgrace itself by caving to political pressure, from canceling “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” to canceling Colbert. Jeff and Joan Ganeles
Theocratic takeover
Bronx: Many people seemed unaware of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 before Donald Trump won the presidency last November. Now that Project 2025’s white-supremacist, “Christian” white nationalist agenda is being implemented, people are painfully aware of the direction in which this country is headed. The Trump administration has attempted to take attention away from that and its decision to not release the Epstein files by creating various distractions. Those are taking attention away from another secret plan: Project Esther. It seeks to do away with the separation of church and state. What they basically want is a society like “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Be ready for the fight of your lives. Jonathan Solomon
Deflection go-to
Chicago: While I don’t know it to be true, I’d be willing to bet that if Trump talks in his sleep, the word “hoax” is the one most often repeated. It seems every time he’s backed into a corner, he always uses it as his major defense. For example, the arrival of COVID was a hoax, as was his impeachment trials and, of course, there were the Robert Mueller findings. Now there is his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, which may or may not be included in that secret file being withheld by the Justice Department. It’ll be interesting to see if in the future, historians refer to Trump’s years in the White House as a hoax as well, or simply a bad joke. Bob Ory
Stained star
Petaluma, Calif.: Diddy expects to make a comeback? I doubt that the music industry would ever welcome him into the fold again. But he sure could make an expert Epstein-style party planner for Trump, don’t you think? Bob Canning
‘Magic’ remix
Bronx: The Mets have stalled a bit lately after getting off to a fast start. With 28 home games remaining, I believe they could use a boost now and going forward as they hope to go deep into the playoffs. I offer this rallying cry for fans to chant at home games based on the riff “Oh, ho, ho, it’s magic” (by Pilot). It aligns perfectly with the names of our superstars who top the batting order: “Oh, ho, ho, Mets Magic, you know / ‘Ya gotta believe’ that it’s so / Presto: Lindo’, Soto, ‘Lonzo / Mets magic, you know!” Play the catchy tune on the centerfield screen and voila: “Lindo’-Soto-‘Lonzo” comes to life — with cameras that project the faces of fans singing it out loud at Citi Field. Let’s go Mets. Fred Smith
Separate heritages
Manhattan: To Voicer Lynne Henderson: The importing of slaves was banned in 1808 in the United States. African and Caribbean slaves were not imported here after that. The slave population increased from 1.4 million to more than 4 million slaves in 1860. That was from forced breeding, rapes and other despicable acts to increase the enslaved population in the U.S. There are no connections between American Descendants of Slavery and African or Caribbean people; our histories, cultures and lineages are not the same. While others can celebrate Juneteenth with Americans, our colors are red, white and blue. Our homeland is the United States of America, and we are Black Americans. I suggest you read some American history books on U.S. chattel slavery. Heyward Johnson Jr.
Harsher punishment
Brooklyn: I keep reading about people driving 60 miles an hour on city streets fleeing the police, and people on the street shooting guns wildly and killing people like the speeding drivers do. The laws need to be changed with a minimum 25-year sentence. I don’t feel sorry for these criminals, regardless of their personal life situations. Don Adler
Cast your vote
Pearl River, N.Y.: To all the voters of New York City, please don’t sit home on Election Day. Go to the polls and vote. If the voter turnout is low on Election Day, Zohran Mamdani will easily win. Cast your vote against Mamdani. Vote for anyone but him and keep him from destroying this great city of ours. Your life and way of life is depending on it. Don’t be foolish. Get out and vote. Robert Brennan
