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Evil of antisemitism
must be taught
Re: “Antisemitic display brings calls for more understanding” (Page A1, Dec. 12).
The recent events at Branham High School are remarkable. The students who participated in this antisemitic act need to understand the magnitude of their actions. Hopefully, they understood that the symbol they portrayed was offensive to many.
No one should be surprised by this event or similar events, though. This is what happens when our governmental school system fails to teach history.
Thomas Baker
San Jose
Reaction to Australia
attack affirm faith
Re: “Grief, resolve follow attack” (Page A1, Dec. 15).
As a Muslim, I unequivocally condemn the Bondi Beach Hanukkah terror attack in Sydney, Australia.
In the wake of the tragedy, my faith leader, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, declared that nothing justifies violence and that Islam upholds the sanctity of human life. He further emphasized that opposition to the policies of the Israeli government regarding the Palestinians does not justify or excuse violence against innocent civilians.
I offer my prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families.
I also commend the heroic actions of a Muslim bystander who, at great personal risk, intervened by tackling one of the perpetrators. The words of the leader of my faith and the actions of a Muslim Good Samaritan embody the essence of faith and affirm our shared humanity.
Sohail Husain
Mountain View
Future generations will
question fallen state
“Welcome to the White House archaeological dig,” a sign might proclaim at the entrance of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. Perhaps a modest fee will be suggested upon entrance, as it seems the president’s “destruction/construction” site may still stand as is.
Maybe subsequent administrations will simply leave a plaque, “What happens when you allow a less-than-adequate president to run our nation’s affairs.” It could be instructive to anyone who looks at the state of our nation when the legislative branch takes a prolonged holiday, and the judiciary is ignored. Evidently, what could go wrong obviously did.
Will folks generations after ours look in wonder at how the country went from a model for much of the world, to become a very troubled and declining state of lost opportunities?
Mike Caggiano
San Mateo
Let’s learn to live with
wolves, not kill them
Re: “Bid to find 3 young wolves curbed” (Page B4, Dec. 18).
“Euthanized” is a pleasant-sounding word, like something being gently put to sleep. Instead, it really means mercilessly shooting wolves and cruelly leaving their pups to starve. Wolves were here first and have every right to be here. We drive them from their land, and when they are merely trying to survive, we hunt them down and kill them.
Wolves are noble creatures who care for one another and bond with their pups. Since they are sentient beings, they also feel overwhelming terror when they are being chased and slaughtered. We need to learn to live with nature, not merely destroy it when it becomes inconvenient.
I don’t know what “nonlethal efforts to stop them from preying on local cattle” were tried, but I suspect it was simply less expensive to kill them than attempt other measures. Unlike humans, wolves don’t kill for fun and have every right to exist here.
Jerry Gudeman
Santa Clara
Hamas, neighbors hold
key to waste removal
Re: “Mountains of garbage threaten health of Gaza” (Page A6, Dec. 19).
In her letter, Rosemary Everett calls for relief for the people trapped in Gaza. That humanitarian concern should not lose sight of who is responsible for the entrapment.
The most concrete proposal for addressing Gaza’s waste crisis links garbage removal to large-scale reconstruction. President Trump’s plan to remake Gaza into an economic development zone, while requiring the temporary relocation of refugees, acknowledges the scale of the problem and the need for outside resources. Neither Gazans nor the Palestinian Authority possess the financial, logistical or institutional capacity to manage massive debris and waste removal on their own. Pretending otherwise delays a real solution.
Responsibility for lifting the restrictions on Gaza does not rest with Israel. Hamas, along with Egypt and Jordan, also bear responsibility to relieve the restrictions that keep Gaza sealed and unlivable.
Fred Gutmann
Cupertino
Trump’s dismantling of
US institutions is sad
Re: “Our petty, hollow, grotesque ogre in chief” (Page A7, Dec. 18).
Is there no end to Donald Trump’s disgusting ego, putting his name on the Kennedy Center and of course, above JFK’s? He is petty, hollow and grotesque, as Bret Stephens says.
Starting with Dwight Eisenhower, every president has expressed the value of immigrants to our country; has maintained the dignity and decor of the White House and Oval Office; has given medical and food aid to any country in need; has honored our commitments and support of our allies and NATO; has spoken out on dictators like Vladimir Putin. That is, every president but one, Donald Trump.
In 11 months, he has managed to destroy our leadership and reputation in science, medicine and education. He is an embarrassment. So sad.
Sandy Foehr
San Jose