This silence in the face of slaughter is sinful
Visby, Sweden: How can any decent human being not be moved and shocked by those awful photos of children by the hundreds holding out pots, pans and other containers in an often futile hope of receiving a few crumbs as Israel continues its endless war on innocent Gazan civilian men, women, children, hospital and aid personnel, journalists and other non-combatants? These horrid excesses, which led to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and others as war criminals, are mainly designed to make Gaza unlivable for the foreseeable future, serving mainly to jeopardize the lives of remaining hostages while helping Hamas terrorists to secure new recruits.
Meanwhile, the relative silence of the American Jewish community is despicable. A people who have suffered over the centuries as a result of discrimination, expulsions, pogroms and the like — culminating in the Nazi Holocaust — should be the first to condemn and take strong actions to prevent Israeli excesses. Many Israelis deplore such actions and show disagreement by endless demonstrations, interviews and other expressions of dismay and condemnation. Tragically, they haven’t altered the horrid course of their government.
European Union leaders have expressed outrage at Israel’s war. Unfortunately, America’s leadership tacitly endorses the awful efforts to exterminate Gazans, even openly stating that Gaza should become part of an expanded American empire — that is, after the extermination or removal of its population. Perhaps that greedy goal of the present U.S. regime is the greatest outrage of all, compounded by sins of silence from the American Jewish community, which has forgotten our people’s own tragic history. The resounding silence is truly despicable. Eugene Elander
Freedom fighters
Melbourne, Australia: We extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Israeli government for allowing humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians besieged by Hamas militants. Hamas steals humanitarian aid and imposes a deadly siege on civilians in Gaza, turning hospitals into tunnels for smuggling weapons. We salute the Israeli government for liberating oppressed peoples from the brutality of Iranian militias, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraqi militias and the Houthi group. Israel protects Al-Aqsa Mosque and provides care and attention to it, making it a beacon of peace in a country of religious freedom. Thank you, great state of Israel. Adam Tony
Ignored wars
Bronx: To Voicer Anthony Johnson: What do you mean there is little news coverage about civilian deaths in Gaza? There is almost daily an article about this by the Associated Press. You should be concerned about the absence of reporting on the civil wars in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the ongoing massacres of Nigerian Christians by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen. Michael Abbey
Lovely voice
Saugerties, N.Y.: My husband and I saw Johnny Mathis’ last concert of his career at Bergen New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Sunday night, a very special, tender moment. We’ve been seeing Johnny for 43 years and were privileged to be able to share in his final show. In this time of uncertainty, Mathis’ is a constant voice of love. And at 89, his voice is as good as ever. Plus, we were lucky to get a picture with him the next day. Thank you, Johnny, always. Terry Lanigan
Disqualifying character
Rockaway Point: How RFK Jr. ever passed confirmation hearings for the position of secretary of Health and Human Services is far beyond me. The man is a moron. He’s not only a cheater on his wives, but the way he drove his wife Mary Richardson to suicide is disgusting. Regina Mangan
Release the records
Greenburgh, N.Y.: President Trump suggested that former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis was hidden from the public — a cover-up by the former president and his team. Obviously, if there was a cover-up, it was wrong. It’s too late to look back. Going forward, Trump should lead by example. His medical records should be released in their entirety. The medical records of all future presidents of the United States should also be public. That would create trust that Americans are not being lied to. Paul Feiner
Disease develops
Bronx: I saw the current president, as usual, displaying his lack of class by suggesting that the Biden administration was hiding Biden’s health issue with his prostate. If they were saying this about his mental capacity, that would be fair game, but Biden did get regular checkups, and cancer happens. This president always demonstrates that he has no class. Martin Sandok
Posthumous privilege
Brooklyn: The $5 million wrongful death settlement to the family of the slain Jan. 6 insurrectionist Ashli Babbitt is another slap in the face by Trump to every law enforcement officer present at the Capitol that day, risking their lives defending our fragile democracy. Babbitt had no business in the Capitol, let alone ignoring repeated police warnings not to climb through that broken window and enter the House Chamber. The QAnon conspiracist accepted Trump’s Big Lie of a stolen election and boasted online of the “coming storm.” Her intentions were not benign, and the officer who shot her had no way of knowing whether she was carrying weapons. Trump has the audacity to refer to that officer, who was cleared by his superiors, as a “thug,” no doubt because he is Black, while Babbitt, who he calls a “heroine,” was a white woman. More racist dog whistles from a true thug. Dennis Middlebrooks
Can’t be real
Auburndale: To Robert A. Casper Sr.: I can only hope your letter suggesting an unholy alliance between Pope Leo XIV and Trump was an AI-generated attempt at humor. Cathi Venis
Fake faith
Hoboken: Voicer Robert A. Casper Sr. is delusional! Trump embodies the antithesis of Catholic, Christian values. Catholics or anyone might have voted for him for a variety of reasons, which have nothing to do with faith because for Trump, faith is a convenient con. He lies as he breathes, and grifts the American people to benefit his filthy rich friends and his greedy family. Bracketing Pope Leo with Trump as if they are the new dynamic duo is an insult to Catholicism. I believe that Leo will build bridges among all kinds of world leaders, some the epitome of oppression, in order to offer them a vision of hope. Steeped in his missionary experience and Augustinian roots, Leo knows that evil can prosper when good people do nothing. As the Vicar of Christ on Earth, Leo will reveal to us what Jesus would do if he were here today. Alexander M. Santora
Faithfully sinful
Yonkers: I read Voicer Robert A. Casper’s letter and spewed my coffee all over the place. Mr. Casper, 45/47 is the most amoral man on the planet. He has literally violated every one of the Ten Commandments (I hold him responsible for the deaths that occurred on Jan. 6 — murder), and his serial adultery alone should make anyone of faith ashamed to think he’s in any way a pious person worthy of emulation or adoration. Wake up. If your faith is so blind, then it is not really faith, it is the mindset of a blinkered cultist. Wow. I can guarantee you, Pope Leo wants nothing to do with Trump and the “values” he truly represents — i.e., none. Evan Marc London
Changing winds
Manhattan: I’m surprised you missed a major news story on Tuesday. Gov. Hochul persuaded Trump to lift his irrational and illegal ban on New York’s offshore wind program, thus clearing the way for Empire Wind to continue work on its project in process to power 500,000 New York homes. The fully approved project was already underway, providing 1,500 offshore and onshore jobs to New Yorkers, and further investment in the South Brooklyn Maritime Terminal in Sunset Park, a goal the neighborhood has been working toward for years. Climate activists hail zero-emissions offshore wind, but Republicans should love it, too. Offshore wind is a homegrown, low-cost energy source that provides economic growth in manufacturing and logistics and long-term, good-paying jobs. Hochul turns out to be the Trump whisperer. She did New Yorkers a seriously good turn. Laurie Aron
