Attacking rights and art with arms & influence
Valley Stream, L.I.: All sane Americans know that President Trump’s administration is trying to destroy this country in myriad ways. Two of the most talked about these days are the indefensible actions of ICE and the attempt of this government to take over the arts in this country.
The ICE debacle is there for anyone to see. Thanks to the way they are being used by this administration, they’re terrorizing every minority group and murdering Americans in cold blood. The takeover of the arts is less violent and a bit more insidious, but just as dangerous in its own right. We have the debacle of the Kennedy Center (I refuse to acknowledge its sickening new name) as well as the recent $75-million bribe that Amazon came up with to release a “Melania” movie directed by one of the biggest creeps in Hollywood history.
What could be worse than these twin terrors? Something so terrible that it may give me nightmares for months: the fact that they now have the ability to combine the two. Imagine if they start playing “Melania” on a loop in ICE detention centers. I can only speak for myself, but it would drive me mad if I was subjected to that horrific propaganda for more than five minutes. It seems impossible to believe that even this administration would do something so evil, but at this point, I’ve learned to never underestimate them. Allan Canino
Mad monogrammer
Chicago: Unfortunately, Trump’s name is guaranteed to appear in history books long after he’s gone. But that’s not nearly enough for our current leader, who seems determined to rename everything before leaving office. First there was the hijacking of the Kennedy Center and now he’s after the naming rights to Dulles Airport in Washington as well as Penn Station in New York. Is it really too farfetched to believe he’ll want top billing in the soon-to-open Obama museum and library in Chicago? Enough is enough already. Bob Ory
Not his style
Brooklyn: Can somebody please tell me how much longer or how low must our lying king go before somebody puts a stop to his bullying, name-calling and racist remarks and videos? And to think he believes that he’s going to heaven. Why would he want to go there? Doesn’t he realize that heaven is God’s largest sanctuary city? Mary Whitaker
Gov’t bears the burden
Flushing: To Voicer Charles T. Compton: I personally don’t like the idea of carrying a gun anywhere, but Alex Pretti had that right. Maybe he should’ve gamed out scenarios — what might happen if he encountered poorly trained government agents with itchy trigger fingers. At least one likely outcome would’ve been apparent, but pondering that likelihood wasn’t Pretti’s responsibility. Following appropriate rules of engagement is the burden of the government agent. While not a guaranteed safeguard against a fatal incident, it would’ve significantly reduced the odds. However, I’ll allow that “ignorant and nonsensical” is an excellent way to describe anyone who believes ICE is in Minneapolis primarily to enforce immigration law. They were sent for partisan political reasons — to provide eye candy for Trump’s base, provoke the opposition and perhaps give him an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act to claim expanded powers. Clyde Kerlew
Crush ICE
Springfield, Ore.: “Worst of the worst” is Trump code for non-white, and for any white people standing up to ICE’s multi-ethnic cleansing operation. Take the abrupt cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians that would create 353,000 more ICE targets. TPS isn’t meant to be political, but dog-shooter and DHS chief Kristi Noem propped up her boss’ white nationalist plan by calling Haitians “killers, leeches and entitlement junkies.” But Haitians in America have an employment rate of nearly 95%, pay $1.3 billion in taxes and add $3.4 billion to the economy annually. ICE is a racist strategy; cruelty its tactic. Sen. Chuck Schumer has about a week to crush ICE. Be bolder than body cameras and independent investigations. Go for disarmament, at least of the military-grade stuff, tear gas and pepper balls. Take back $75 billion from ICE and return it to Medicaid. Shut down DHS if necessary. Lisa Dryman-Rice
Overworked muse
St. Petersburg, Fla.: To Voicer Barbara Cusano: Kudos regarding your comments on Bramhall. He and S.E. Cupp had best pray nothing happens to Trump or they’ll be out of ideas. As to the cherry-picked letters The News prints, it’s impossible that Trump won the election when 99% of the people are against him, it seems. I’m sure I’ll now hear from the TDS morons who think their second-grade nicknames for Trump are so clever. Think again! Bill Barrett
Aristocracy solidarity
Brooklyn: What’s clear after the recent release of parts of the Epstein files is that the wealthy/elite of the world have much more in common with each other than they have with the “common” people of their own countries. It doesn’t matter to which political party or movement these elites belong. Herman Kolender
Simply sarcasm
Richmond Hill: To Voicer Eileen Zanelli: Cool down! You must be old enough to understand what sarcasm means. You said it yourself — “facetiously writing.” I thought I was being clever and humorous. Some people can’t take a joke. With all the steam coming out of you, come to my house for a few hours and I can lower the thermostat. Geez! Oh, and great job by our new mayor handling the problems caused by this storm (that’s also sarcasm, get it?). Joseph Napoleon
Dignitary duck-out
Hubertus, Wis.: Friday was a glorious day for not only the Catholic Church, but every New Yorker. Christians, Jews and many other faiths were represented at the installation of Ronald Hicks as New York’s 11th archbishop. One glaring absence was the communist-socialist Mayor Mamdani. In the past, all New York mayors attended Saint Patrick’s events and participated in Easter and Christmas masses, where everyone was invited. Where was he? God only knows, but I pray that all New Yorkers take note of his shunning Catholic, Protestant and Jewish gatherings, following his own anti-religious bent. Maybe after his attempts at the destruction of core beliefs, you’ll wake up and send him packing! Robert Lobenstein
Too much time off
Brooklyn: To Voicer Paula Magdalena Vidal, who expressed concern over how many holidays are added to the school calendar: I agree that families who celebrate these holidays should be given an excused absence instead of shutting entire schools and losing excess time off. I don’t believe children are getting the 180-day requirement necessary for their education. D.M. Glick
Wanting her back
Manhattan: To the NBC “Today” show family: You have a boost each day. The boost I want to see is the boost when America’s mom comes home. That will be a real boost! Raymond McEaddy
