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Victims, women havefinally been heard
Re: “Files on Epstein closer to release” (Page A1, Nov. 19).
Jan Soule, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Conservative Republicans, describes the release of the Epstein files as “politically motivated” and a distraction from car break-ins in her neighborhood. She is quoted as saying, “Who the hell cares? Why people are making this big deal over it, I don’t know.”
Is she speaking for all the female members of her organization and for conservative Republicans even more broadly? I hope not. The fight to release the Epstein records is not about politics. It is about the physical and emotional degradation of women and the damage it has created. Powerful forces led to the concealment of the records. The most powerful force is President Trump, who has intentionally made the issue political, hoping that his cult-like members of Congress will fall in line. Finally, the truth will speak. Every woman, regardless of political affiliation, will finally be respected and heard.
Judy BarbeauSan Jose
Epstein secrecy shouldcost Johnson his job
Re: “Files on Epstein closer to release” (Page A1, Nov. 19).
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s weeks-long refusal to bring the Epstein files to a vote is an unacceptable failure of leadership. The public deserves to know whether this delay occurred under pressure from Donald Trump, who had clear political motives to slow the release. Transparency is non-negotiable when the case involves decades of abuse, systemic failures and powerful individuals shielded from scrutiny.
Serious questions also remain about why Ghislaine Maxwell appeared to receive unusually favorable treatment and why the government has never fully addressed widespread doubts surrounding Epstein’s death. Persistent secrecy has created a credibility crisis that erodes trust in our institutions.
The Justice Department must operate independently of any president; current leadership has not met that standard and should step aside. And for obstructing the vote and withholding critical information from the American people, Speaker Johnson must resign.
Jag SinghLos Altos
Map is not a part ofantisemitic conspiracy
Re: “Classroom is no place for teachers’ politics” (Page A6, Nov. 18).
An Aptos man doesn’t trust school teachers to present apolitical information to their students, citing an alleged example of a map in a classroom showing the area of Israel designated as Palestine.
It’s entirely possible, assuming a map like that is on some classroom wall somewhere, that this is a historical lesson being taught. The entire area of which Israel is now a part was known as Palestine before 1948, when collective world guilt carved a place for Jews out of the territory known as Palestine, at the time a part of the British Empire. Britain at the time declined to grant any more land for a Palestinian state, wanting to maintain control of oil resources there. This is not a denial of Israel’s right to exist.
Despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, not everything is an antisemitic plot against a nation committing atrocities under the cloak of retribution.
Eugene ElySan Jose
Screens are robbingstudents of learning
Re: “Spelling isn’t a subject we can afford to drop” (Page A6, Nov. 19).
I believe the impact of screens in the classroom has been decidedly negative for children’s education. In classrooms that I have worked in, children as young as 10 are given access to laptops to complete their schoolwork. As a consequence, children are losing precious opportunities to exercise their fine motor skills, resulting in sloppy writing and a lack of coordination. Additionally, the reliance on spellcheck prevents children from learning and correcting their mistakes.
Research supports the negative impact of screens in education, with one study finding that reading print significantly improves reading comprehension versus reading digitally. By providing so much access to the digital world for our children, we are not better preparing them for the future. This misguided effort has damaged their ability to learn and grow. To change this, we must take all screens out of the classroom.
Iris YipSan Jose
Open all activitiesto special needs kids
I am writing to highlight the vital importance of including students with special needs in all activities. This includes sports, arts and all activities offered to the public.
Inclusion is not simply an educational strategy; it is a commitment to building a community where every child feels valued, supported and empowered. Inclusive activities foster empathy, cooperation and understanding among all students. They teach young people to collaborate with peers who may learn or communicate differently, helping them grow into more compassionate and socially responsible adults. Additionally, these programs can be supported by high school students who are looking to earn community service hours, and will build empathy and understanding of the variety of needs in our community.
I urge parents and community leaders to prioritize inclusive practices, invest in supportive resources and celebrate the diverse strengths that all students bring.
Chasity RamirezSan Jose