President Lyndon B. Johnson shakes hands with Martin Luther King Jr. after presenting a pen to the civil rights leader after Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on Aug. 6, 1965, at the Capitol in Washington. At center is Rep. Ray Madden, D-Ind.
MLK holiday
Political fighting often brings out the worst in people. Today, the tide of hate and division threatens all of us. As we commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the crisis in America gives us a prime opportunity to move from symbolism to substance to “form a more perfect union, establish justice, and ensure domestic tranquility.”
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is a time to remember the philosophy of non-violent action for creating positive social change, and to pay tribute to those still in the struggle against racism and injustice.
We must examine our words and deeds to make sure that we do not sow the seeds of hate and stoke the flames of division and violence. We must end hateful rhetoric and the distortion of truth, which serve only to weaken our democracy. Let us work to achieve the dream of economic opportunity, racial equality, and peace. Let us renew our commitment to compassion, understanding, kindness and love.
James Kimes
North side
No. 1 priority for 2026
During the recent Golden Globe Awards ceremony, co-host Nischelle Turner interviewed an actress glowing over her new baby. "Family is No. 1," Turner enthused. Other folks may think work is what's most important in life, and still others say it's help for the needy, efforts to create world peace or a combination thereof.
I respectfully disagree with them all. Maintaining one's health has to be the top priority — in order to do for oneself and for others. A friend was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in early November and still does a modified workout at the gym three times a week in hopes of slowing progression of the disease and continuing to do for his grandkids.
I hope Tucsonans of all ages, dealing with whatever health conditions, will check with their health providers first and then do what they can to be at their best physically, mentally and emotionally.
As the flight attendants always tell passengers, if oxygen masks are needed, put on yours first, then help others put on theirs.
Barbara Russek
North side
Roads require ongoing investment
Pima County’s roads are in bad shape. Potholes, cracks and congestion make daily commutes frustrating and unsafe. Propositions 418 and 419 provide a long-term plan to address these problems without raising taxes. Both measures must pass for the plan to take effect.
Roads are not a one-time project. They require continuous funding to remain safe and reliable. These measures will continue the progress made over the past two decades and fund the next generation of improvements. Without them, Pima County risks losing nearly two-thirds of its transportation funding, leading to stalled projects, delayed repairs and threats to essential services like dial-a-ride for seniors and residents with disabilities.
State and federal transportation funding has been stagnant for more than 30 years, and many grants require local matching dollars. Without Propositions 418 and 419, these funds could be lost or redirected to other regions.
Pima County must invest in itself. Vote yes on Propositions 418 and 419.
Ted Hinderaker
Midtown
You decide
It appears that Jonathan Ross was faced with a difficult decision in Minnesota last week. Either he takes two steps to his right, or in about the same amount of time, he takes a stance, fires a bullet through the windshield and into the driver, followed by two more bullets through the open window for good measure as the car pulls alongside. Tough call? You decide. I tend to lean toward the former. At worst, he risks spinning off the fender of a car going 4 mph in order to save a life. In any case, it appears he will escape accountability, as will President DJT, DHS Secretary Noem, border czar Homan, AG Bondi and others. Without a doubt, these four and others put Ross into this situation, a situation that he was unprepared for and unqualified to deal with, as a result of their own gross incompetence. Now Ross has to live with it, and so do we.
Don Schmidt
Oro Valley
History repeats itself
Anne Frank, Jan. 13, 1943: "Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared."
Blueprint to fascism: USA, January, 2026. When will Republicans fight for our democracy?
A sick man, referring to himself as "President of Venezuela," wants to expand his empire, orders killing of Americans, fires highly qualified experts from government departments, insults opponents.
How can Trump honestly send "help" to Iran to protect the protesters, when the same thing is happening to protesters in this country? Who is going to protect our citizens from ICE killings and kidnappings?
How can Trump label Mexicans as criminals/rapists, when he himself is a felon/rapist?
The world is afraid. The USA is no longer the country of hope and freedom that my grandparents cherished.
In less than one year, one deranged man has destroyed our reputation in the eyes of the world.
Sandra Katz
Foothills
Loss of Republican Party ideals
It is a shame that the Star's letters have been so anti-one person (i.e., Donald Trump), but it is factual that this individual and not necessarily the Republican Party of Lincoln, Garfield and Theodore Roosevelt, etc., that has necessitated this negative response. Those Republicans acted in the interests of all Americans at all times. They believed in unification, negotiation, cooperation between labor and business interests, law and order and, as per James Garfield, Civil Service reform. Regrettably, Donald Trump acts in a manner that is totally opposed to those presidents, thereby ignoring all those Republican ideals. It was wrong for Hilary Clinton to have called those who voted for Trump "deplorable", but it is time for those who did so to wake up and recognize what the person they voted into the White House has done to the now unrecognizable Republican Party and their nation.
Chuck Cabrera
Oro Valley
Elections have consequences
Piggybacking on Howard Strause's letter, saying "elections have consequences." Think of this in conjunction with school closings. If parents of children in public schools are hurt by school closures, I want to say to them, "Who did you vote for?" If you vote for Republicans, you are voting to continue voucher expansion and the privatization of education. Vouchers take money and students from public schools, and then they are forced to close. The dismantling of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., is a huge step in this process. The Republican long game is to get government out of the business of educating your children. So, yes, elections and your vote have consequences.
Jane Peterson
Oro Valley
A world turned upside down
Donald Trump claims to defend street protesters in Iran, cloaking himself in the language of freedom and human rights. Yet in the United States, he condemns demonstrators, threatens force, and demands submission. In Trump’s world, protest is heroic abroad, but treason at home.
The damage spreads outward. Allies no longer trust us. Nations are quietly decoupling from American leadership, unsure whether we stand for democracy or for one man’s grievances. Treaties are weakened, institutions mocked, and the rule of law treated as an inconvenience.
In just one year, Trump has normalized corruption, attacked the press, politicized justice, inflamed social division, and undermined confidence in elections. None of this happens without help.
A Republican Party that once spoke of principle has replaced it with obedience. Checks and balances have given way to excuses. Silence has become policy.
This is not conservatism. It is surrender, to a demented cult of personality and a spineless GOP that refuses to stop it.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Just passing through
The shooting of Renee Good reveals a truth to all average white citizens. By the time she was attempting to simply leave the scene (turning away, at about 2 mph), she was surely afraid for her life. She might be dragged from her car to the icy street. She might be pummeled and handcuffed. She might be taken into custody for perhaps days, and end up with bruises and legal fees.
For centuries, this is what Black Americans have faced, often just for being black. We are now watching what Trump, Noem and Vance have unleashed. Now, even white citizens, even those who were not even a part of a protest, are facing this hostility. This administration has empowered poorly trained ICE agents to inflict even gunshots on any person they suspect of trouble. Even protesting ... or wanting to leave the scene of a protest. Meanwhile, Trump has assured Iranian protesters, "Help is on its way"!
Don't worry. Be happy — this is now just business as usual.
Ted & Emily Morrison
Midtown
Waiting for the Nobel
Gee, how many wars does Trump have to start before the Nobel Committee breaks down and gives him the Peace Prize? C’mon guys, hurry up.
George Timson
Midtown
Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star.
