NYC’s only Army museum deserves to remain open
Brooklyn: To arms! To arms! No, the Redcoats aren’t coming, it’s the U.S. Army this time. They’re trying to close 80% of the nation’s Army museums, including right here in NYC!
The U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH) is crying poor in keeping its 31 museums open (total budget for all 31 is $35 million). So, totally under cover, its been sneakily planning to close some 19 museums across the nation without the public’s input. However, it claims no relation to the massacre of federal agencies by Herr Muskrat of DOGE.
Yet, of the 12 states lucky to keep their Army museums open, most are red, while of the nine states losing theirs, almost all are blue!
The Harbor Defense Museum at Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton has only one employee, four dedicated volunteers and a yearly budget of less than $130,000. We are very popular with NYC public school teachers and host about 1,000 schoolchildren on average a year. We serve a critical role with the NYC Recruiting Battalion to enlighten new enlistees about the Army’s vast military history. We are also an official annex to the West Point Museum. Yet, CMH cries, “Too expensive! Close it!”
However, $45 million was blown on that birthday salute for you-know-who! To paraphrase an old saying: Millions for a ho-hum parade, a few pennies for valued museums! Help us fight the good fight to keep us open! Kevin Hanley
Chaos reigns
Portsmouth, N.H.: Doesn’t it seem odd how many shootings are occurring at schools, malls and now military installations (“5 soldiers wounded in shooting at base in Ga.; sgt. captured,” Aug. 6) since President Trump was elected? It seems that a lot of people are protesting like never before. Once again, Trump will leave his footprint when he’s gone, but not in a good way. Elizabeth Smith
Planned devastation
Ithaca, N.Y.: Trump’s firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for lousy job growth is sparking an appropriate amount of outrage, especially “Trump’s war on reality” (editorial, Aug. 6). But federal data demonstrating climate change was eliminated by plan early in the regime, along with the jobs of thousands of civil servants, as well as scientists who collected and analyzed it and put it into action for our health and safety. Facts have no place in an authoritarian regime like ours, which operates on a pay-to-play basis. Oil companies have spent $1 billion for advantageous treatment. Gov. Hochul can make sure the funds for clean energy and improved energy transmission are available to New York by releasing the Cap-and-Invest plan. She can also say hell no to Trump and not let him run polluting fracked gas pipelines through our lands and waterways in exchange for allowing Empire Wind to stay on track. Christine Sheppard
Goodbye, free world
Holbrook, L.I.: Recent developments have shown the world that the America it knew is dead. Trump wrongly firing the head of the BLS — no Republicans push back; he demands that Democrats be gerrymandered out of Congress as he tries to outlaw the Democratic Party, and states comply; he tries to destroy the 14th Amendment; he ordered the FBI to illegally round up Texas Democratic state lawmakers; and so much more. Meet Germany, 1933. Michael L. Wilson
Into dystopia
Manhattan: When are our government employees going to stop bending to a bully? It’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” in real life. Trump is not a great negotiator; he’s not a negotiator in any aspect. It’s his way or you are fired. He has stacked his inner circle with the biggest bunch of yes men, none of whom have represented the American people. Talk about a swamp — it’s only getting bigger and more corrupt. L. Duzant
Running cover
Red Bank, N.J.: This is in reference to the subpoenas issued in the Jeffrey Epstein case for former President Bill Clinton and others. What will happen should Clinton use the “executive privilege” excuse that Trump has cited? Isn’t what’s good for one good for all? It’s curious that Trump’s former personal attorney questioned Ghislaine Maxwell about those files. Was Todd Blanche sent purposely so an outsider wouldn’t be informed of Trump’s alleged involvement? After all, what Trump says to his attorney is privileged information. Are they trying to contain what’s in those files? The public will not be fooled by these distractions. I predict immunity and a full pardon in Maxwell’s future so that she’s prohibited from testifying. Does anyone else smell a cover-up? A.M. Clarke
Major turn-off
Whitestone: What is wrong with you, Andrew Cuomo? Do you have any idea how many votes you’ve just handed Zohran Mamdani by “conferring” with Trump? Strunz. Robin Mazzia
Stick with enterprise
Tamarac, Fla.: There are so many things to consider when choosing socialism over what should be a healthy two-party political system. This is not about Trump, this is about the country you live in, your individual freedom and your self-respect. Socialism has always presented the threat of limited personal choices. Aligning with that, socialistic authoritarianism presents significant challenges because of dampened individual pursuits and opportunities. For Democrats young and old, it is important to keep in mind that while free health care and free college or universities are enticing, these entitlements will make it necessary to increase not only your taxes but myriad other governmental functions. The system will lead to inefficient allocation of resources and economic stagnation. Clean up your party instead! Seek political leaders who don’t yell, scream, complain and oppose the American way. Roberta Chaleff
Deepest condolences
Bronx: It is with a broken heart that I remember little River Wilson (“Pain, but no answers in baby’s drowning,” Aug. 6). I do not know the family personally, but I grieve for them when I see the beautiful, laughing face of their precious baby. She was a river of love and joy. Please, everyone, do not let toddlers out of your sight for one minute. They move fast because of their curiosity for discovering the world around them. Rest in peace, darling baby girl. Condolences to her parents. I can’t imagine the pain you are going through. Pauline Graham Binder
Led by thugs
Manhattan: To Voicer Jim Carney, who believes that I am “delusional”: Sadly for all of us, I am not. You claim that prior to Hamas’ barbaric war (started by freely elected terrorists), Gazans were a horribly oppressed people. You believe this because you likely absorbed your Middle East current events reading propaganda rather than facts. Prior to Hamas’ most recent war, Gaza had three- and four-star hotels, French restaurants, beautiful beaches visited annually by tourists, and more. Gazans, despite being overtly racist, misogynistic and homophobic, would be a much wealthier people today if not for the gang of armed thugs (Hamas) elected to represent them. These depraved mass-murderers used billions of dollars stolen from their people to purchase guns, explosives and rockets and to build hundreds of miles of underground tunnels. Encouraging depraved Palestinian terrorists and their supporters in any way will not work out well for anyone. Lloyd Litwak
Kill or be killed
Hempstead, L.I.: Kudos and thanks to Paul L. Newman for “Harry Truman’s tough decision to bomb Hiroshima” (op-ed, Aug. 6). The choice was a zero-sum game: 500,000 Japanese people or 1 million American soldiers. Newman notes, “The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6 did not immediately force Japan to surrender.” It took two atom bombs, not one. Truman’s decision, for which he never looked back (as shown in the movie “Oppenheimer”), saved millions of American lives, including mine. Leslie Feldman
Toughen up
Valhalla, N.Y.: People calling to get rid of Aaron Boone should relax! He’s fine and very sincere, and wants to win like all of us fans. We would like to see him be a little more aggressive and firm with his guys. What’s happened the last few days are perfect examples. Jazz Chisholm Jr. watching a second baseman about 12 feet in front of him catching a pop fly and then getting thrown out at first base! Totally inexcusable! Also, Devin Williams? Time to sit him! Jasson Dominguez, despite the fact it was a difficult catch, still should have made it! He’s a professional baseball player. Boone should have discussed with his coaches and realized Williams was upset and not in control anymore. Pull him out! Michael Grisanti
