It was bad enough that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was sent to France over the weekend to represent the United States to honor the sacrifice of Allied soldiers who risked their lives during the D-Day invasion.
June 6 marked the 82nd anniversary of this feat that liberated Europe from the stranglehold of the Nazis and saved the Western world. Yet Hegseth chose this solemn occasion to compare the storming of the beaches of Normandy to immigration in Europe, saying today’s beaches in the region are being “stormed by different dangerous ideologies.”
Hegseth’s xenophobic remarks are a disgrace to the European nations that fought the Nazis and lost millions of civilians and soldiers under Adolf Hitler’s reign of terror.
Comparing the influx of immigrants in Europe to the horrors of World War II shows Hegseth’s ignorance of history and prejudice against people who do not look like him. It disrespects all of the soldiers buried at Normandy.
He is unfit to lead our military or have any role in the U.S. Cabinet. He needs to be fired immediately. But this will never happen because Hegseth’s disgraceful boss probably agrees with him.
Jan Goldberg, Riverside
Don’t ignore root causes of ‘teen takeovers’
Former WGN TV reporter Robert Jordan’s commentary on “teen takeovers” that was posted online on the Sun-Times website identifies an uncomfortable truth: Adolescent misbehavior is a symptom of a much deeper crisis affecting many of our nation’s children. The critical question that we must confront is what circumstances lead young people to seek belonging, attention and identity in ways that place themselves and others at risk.
At Human Rights for Kids, our research examining the connection between childhood trauma and youth involvement in the justice system found that exposure to violence, abuse, neglect, parental substance abuse, family instability and community trauma are common experiences among children who later become involved in delinquent behavior. Trauma alters brain development, impairs impulse control, increases risk-taking behavior and contributes to difficulties with emotional regulation. These are not excuses for harmful conduct; they are explanations that policymakers ignore at their peril.
Jordan describes many of these youth as experiencing “painful invisibility.” His observation is supported by decades of research showing that children who feel disconnected from their families, schools and communities are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors in search of acceptance and recognition.
The answer is not simply more arrests or harsher punishment. If we want fewer “teen takeovers,” we must invest in the conditions that help children thrive: trauma-informed schools, accessible mental health services, violence prevention programs, positive youth development opportunities, mentoring and safe community spaces where young people feel valued before they find themselves in crisis.
Chicago’s youth deserve accountability when they cause harm. But they also deserve a city willing to confront the underlying conditions that produce that harm. If we fail to address the disease of childhood trauma, neglect and disconnection, we should not be surprised when more symptoms emerge.
James Dold, founder and CEO, Human Rights for Kids
Selective hearing
President Donald Trump was booed during the NBA Finals Monday night, or at least that’s what I heard on my TV. But he said it was mostly cheers. I shouldn’t criticize given my fading hearing. But then it doesn’t really matter as much if I mishear something, unlike Trump.
Trump seems to have misheard the 2000 election results, as he still believes he won.
He can’t seem to hear or acknowledge the cries of pain and sorrow in the Middle East, Ukraine and other places of sadness.
The more worrying matter is that he won’t listen to anyone, including voters.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
Let them go
The Illinois Legislature can do us all a big favor. Let the Bears go to a landfill, bog or whatever it is that suits them in Indiana. Amend the Illinois Constitution to stop the automatic public pension fund increases. Use some of the savings to invite another NFL team to the area. Bring in an organization that, unlike the McCaskey clan, is willing to pay their own way and one that wants to be in northern Illinois.
Thom Stall, McHenry
No blame, just gratitude for Bears stadium bill failure
On Sunday, the Sun-Times ran a cover story asking which Illinois politicians — Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson and others — were to blame for the state Legislature failing to pass a bill that would have provided for a taxpayer-funded stadium for the Bears.
But I credit all those political leaders for making the tough decision to let the team go waste Indiana’s money instead of wasting ours. A sincere thank-you to all of them is in order, as well as condolences to the people of Indiana.
Benjamin Recchie, Little Italy
Money-grubbing McCaskeys
Interesting reading in Sunday’s Sun-Times.
It seems as though everyone is blaming everyone else for Illinois’ handling of the stadium issue.
As a humble taxpayer, I blame the McCaskey family. It is hard to shed any tears for this billionaire family.
This year the NFL will be playing football six days of the week, not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Just think how much extra television money the McCaskey family will be banking.
This cash cow gets bigger and bigger every year. Yet they want the taxpayers to foot the bill with higher taxes. It was a sad day for Chicago when the McCaskeys inherited this team and likely will move them out of town for nothing more than GREED.
John M. Arvetis, Clearing
The Sun-Times will publish select letters from our readers on their thoughts on America’s 250th birthday and what this milestone means to them. Submissions of no more than 375 words should be sent to letters@suntimes.com.