Has the West’s atrocity threshold been reached?
Edinburgh, Scotland: Within the last few weeks, media outlets that resisted the obvious have sanctioned the term “genocide” regarding the clear genocide taking place in Gaza amid the destruction.
More recently, on this side of the pond, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer threatened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.K. government, which in no way represents the stated views of the governments of Scotland (first to call for an immediate ceasefire), Ireland (second to call for an immediate ceasefire) or Wales (where Parliament, without the support of Starmer’s ruling Labour Party, also called for a ceasefire), may recognize the state of Palestine. A timely ceasefire would have saved the lives of many of the now 3% of the entire population of this devastated human horror-scape — and the lives of hostages, including those gunned down by the IDF while pleading for their lives in Hebrew.
What gave? The bombing of hospitals and schools with sophisticated U.S./U.K.-facilitated weapons didn’t do it. The targeting of rescue ambulances, journalists, news outlets and aid convoys didn’t do it. Blasting the camps of desperate, starving and displaced civilians didn’t do it.
How do we explain this civilized, educated white man in high office who, after complicity in what we’re now allowed to name genocide, wags the finger and says, “Cease soon or I will recognize the state of Palestine”? Surely, this is a man who provided petrol, suggesting to the pyromaniac that if he throws another match on the smoldering ruin, he will officially recognize that there used to be a house there. Amanda Baker
Hostile land
East Meadow, L.I.: In my opinion, the Real Madrid soccer club is being very diplomatic by saying that playing one of the regular season games in the United States would hurt the integrity of the competition and the legitimacy of the results. I wonder if the club actually doesn’t want to play in the U.S. because during these times, it could be dangerous in our country if one has a Spanish accent or speaks Spanish in public. Jeff Tuck
Ringside creep
Woodstock, N.Y.: So, for America’s 250th anniversary of her founding, the Orange Felon is planning to stage an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in the White House. What next? Monster truck rallies on the lawn? Pole dancers in the new “ballroom”? But wait! Aren’t many of those UFC fighters people of color? He might need to send in ICE to the festivities! Suzanne Hayes Kelly
Dishonorable deployment
Scranton, Pa.: I’m old enough to remember when our troops were sent to places with unbearable, ungodly heat, like Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, bravely rooting out terrorists intent on making their mission their last. Today, their commander in chief, steeped in scandal and seeking diversion, has them lugging their gear around in the summer swelter of our nation’s capital with a mission of evicting the homeless, many of whom may have served their country in the aforementioned locales. Unfortunately, the soldiers’ boss’ gaudy $200-million ballroom has yet to be built. If it were, perhaps they’d be invited in to sit on the floor and watch the upper-class diners scarfing shrimp cocktails and chugging champagne as they are served leftover Mickey D’s burgers and fries. And when their military service is over, if they become down-and-out themselves, I doubt they’ll be invited back. Vin Morabito
Criminal in chief
Fairfield, Conn.: The biggest crime wave in Washington, D.C., occurs at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Arrest the suspect, President Trump, and watch the drop in the crime rate. The Trump administration: totally incompetent, total liars, totally corrupt. Bob Bodo
Supervillain
Arcata, Calif.: Washed-up racist piece of trash Dean Cain — unemployed since the 1990s — is insane. Thirty years without a job, but now he has one: Rounding up Latinos for profit and for fun. Psycho Kristi Noem gave Cain a gun, so “Fat Superman” can shoot young dogs like crazy Kristi murdered her puppy. “Make America Gross Again,” says Cain. Even Lex Luthor wasn’t as evil as this chump. Hopefully, Gene Hackman is haunting Trump. You know Trump’s bestie Jeffrey Epstein is! Suicide in his jail cell? Fake news. Jake Pickering
Bears responsibility
Manhattan: Voicer Taplow Vincennes was right-on in his opinion regarding Trump’s investigation of Letitia James. However, he was 100% wrong when he included James Comey in his list of “courageous, distinguished, brilliant, accomplished, faithful, honorable public servants.” Perhaps he doesn’t know that in 1995-’96, Comey was a deputy to chief counsel Michael Chertoff and the Republicans on the Senate Whitewater Committee. It was his job to dig up damaging dirt on Bill and Hillary Clinton. I was an associate counsel on the same committee for the Democrats. The committee found zero wrongdoing. So it was no surprise when, 11 days before the 2016 presidential election, Comey violated a clearly written DOJ rule against taking any actions close to an election that could affect the outcome. Defying written directives and the advice of DOJ counsel and associates, he announced a continuing investigation of Clinton’s emails. I hold him responsible for Trump, as should most Americans. Steven Fromewick
Photo book
Manhattan: Does the Daily News ever think of creating its own New York City coffee table photo book? What a great idea, we would love that! New York City throughout the last decades. I’ll help create it! Does such a thing exist? Eva Juliette Tortora
Too many kinks
Madisonville, Pa.: Hey gang, this is about your new e-edition. The phrase “close but no cigar” comes to mind. For example, it takes just a little bit longer to flip from page to page. And if I tap on an article to expand it to full screen, the old format had a nice close with an X in the upper right-hand corner and took me back to the page I was on. The new setup? It isn’t as easy. And getting the evening edition to open is a frustrating experience. When I got to the end of the evening edition, the three cute little comics that used to be there were nowhere to be found. I am not anti-change, but another saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It wasn’t broke, but you fixed it anyway. Tom Mielczarek
De-listed
Flushing: I’m a digital subscriber who gets the physical paper on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I enjoy the e-edition because the physical paper lists the TV lineup. Now your e-edition interface has changed and does not contain the TV listings. I hope this is a momentary oversight. Please bring them back. Judith Mermelstein
Errors to entry
Hauppauge, L.I.: Why did the Daily News update its e-edition format? It doesn’t work now. All I keep getting is “Bad request — cookie too large” error messages on my phone. The previous format was perfect and simple and never had issues. Please stop trying to improve things that didn’t need improvement in the first place. How am I going to read my paper now? Greg Arnold
Personal irresponsibility
Brooklyn: I respectfully disagree with Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez (“Delivery apps and bad e-bike riding,” op-ed, Aug. 13) on one major point: This has nothing to do with corporate greed. I drive Flatbush Ave. daily, from Flatbush Junction to MetroTech. Delivery drivers abound, but it’s the recreational users who abuse the roads. E-bikes race to get ahead of buses, twisting between cars, which makes me cringe. Roving bands of teens on e-bikes take over swaths of the avenue to pop wheelies and race. I’ve seen so many near-misses — and not one person stopped for breaking the law. If I touch my phone, I get fined and get points on my license. These kids create mayhem and have videos to prove it. Enforce the law, please. Susan Caprio
It stinks
Bayside: To Voicer Marlene Torino: Thank you for your letter. It was my sentiments exactly. I too line the brown compost bin and place the food scraps in plastic bags and it all still smells after a week of sitting there. Even putting the can in the garage so the raccoons don’t attack it doesn’t alleviate the smell. Simple biology: Rotting organic matter will smell. Mary Santora
