In this file photo, a group of supporters for ending state executions gather near the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence awaiting news of the execution of Frank Atwood on June 8, 2022.
Protect all life
A writer, whose letter appeared here on Dec. 29, promoted the death penalty and ended by questioning: "Why is it acceptable to oppose executions of deserving individuals but support abortion?" I turn that question around: Why is it acceptable to oppose abortions but support executions? Shouldn't anyone who claims to be pro-life support all life from birth to natural death?
Being truly pro-life would also mean taking a stand against war, weapons of mass destruction, gun violence, the canceling of health subsidies to provide tax breaks for billionaires, the deportation of asylum seekers to places where gangs are waiting to kill them and the raising of rents that make people homeless. It is also pro-life to care for the earth, protect the environment, and plan for the effects of climate change. Protecting life for all of creation and doing it with love is our highest calling.
Sister Karen Berry, OSF
Midtown
Why Trump, indeed
A recent letter writer thinks God put Trump on earth to save America because millions of Christians believe the hand of God is on Trump's head ever since the walk down the golden escalator. I wonder if he also thinks that God put Hitler on earth to solve the Jewish problem with the Holocaust? Or did God sanction The genocide of the Native Americans, The Armenian genocide, The Cambodian killing fields, or The Rwandan genocide? The writer ends with, “God spared his life (Trump's) for his purpose to turn America back to him and his traditional values that have made America strong.” Did this same God also sanction adultery? The reader gives too much credit to God in thinking his hand is on Trump. But the Old Testament says differently. “Thou mayest choose for thyself for it is given unto thee.”
Clyde R. Steele
Oro Valley
The Social Security Fairness Act
I served 12 years in the US Army, including service in Vietnam. In 1977 I joined the Tucson Police Dept and served there for 25 years. Other than my service on the Tucson Police Dept (Where we paid into a retirement system separate from Social Security), all jobs that I held (and there were quite a few of them) I paid into Social Security. Long after retiring from the Tucson Police Dept I signed up for Social Security when I turned 62.
Police, firefighters, and teachers frequently take all sorts of abuse from the very people they are trying to help, including being attacked, assaulted and shot at. They are almost always the last on the list for a pay raise or an increase in benefits.
Don't tell me these people don't deserve the full payments from Social Security that they paid into. If Mr. Magenau feels it is so wrong to receive the Social Security payments to which he is entitled, let him give the money back.
Eric Johnson
Northwest side
Good Samaritan Paul Clifford murdered
Paul Clifford , a Pima county resident, has been murdered by a person, or persons who knocked on his door and asked for assistance with a broken-down vehicle on Christmas Eve. His body was found hours later, beside a burning vehicle in Redington Pass.
The Daily Star has barely covered this story, basically burying it on page 5 of Sunday's Tucson and Region section. This should be front-page news.
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but the lack of coverage of this heinous crime leads me to believe that this story is being suppressed.
Are we trying to pretend that Tucson does not have a serious issue with violent crime? If so, why are we sticking our heads in the sand?
This story needs to be brought to the attention of every resident of this county, and we need to stop pretending that this is a safe community. It is not.
Dan Egan
East side
We can all agree
Here’s an admonition that all voters can agree on no matter their choice for POTUS in the last election: “Just wait — you'll see!!”
A. Lawrence Glynn
East side
The era of meanness
Our city is home to an organization named Ben’s Bells whose motto is “Be Kind”. Mosaics portraying this two-word exhortation appear on the walls of schools in our community. I think about this often as I read this newspaper and the letters declaring immigrants and refugees as dangerous threats to our way of life. I read editorials that say that diversity, equity and inclusion is somehow wrong. I see the laments that public education is a hotbed of radical indoctrination that teaches that all peoples and cultures deserve respect. Laws are passed demonizing unhoused people. No parent ever said to their young children “Be Mean” as lesson for life. Why have a significant portion of our population decided that being mean is the righteous American thing to do? I just don’t get it, and it makes me sad. Bens Bells suggests that by recognizing, valuing, supporting, and practicing intentional kindness, we can change the world. That seems like a much more American value to me.
Mark Hanna
Foothills
Response to 'Why Trump?'
Mr. Evans’ letter “Why Trump?”, claims Trump supports Christian values. Does Trump, as you imply, display “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…” (‘fruits of the Spirit’ in Galatians 5:22-23 in the Bible)? His public behavior exhibits “immorality, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, dissensions…” (Galatians 5:19-20).
You believe God put Trump in office to politically stop abortion. Yet, the Bible indicates Jesus and scripture writers had no interest in political solutions to world’s problems. Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36) and resisted his followers’ efforts to make him a king (John 6:15).
I agree that “millions of Christians” support President-elect Trump. Why? Jesus implied most people interested in God want the “broad” but not the “narrow way.” Perhaps the warning in 2 Thessalonians 2:2-11 about God allowing a Man of Lawlessness to deceive people “who do not love truth” has merit today.
Mr. Evans, please read your Bible more carefully before writing about politics and Christian values.
David Chojnacky
Foothills
Jimmy Carter: A real great American
Of all the American presidents, Carter was probably the greatest champion of decency, economic fairness, democracy, public service, environmental/global sustainability and civil/human rights before, during, and after his presidency!
No other president in my lifetime so completely strove to embody our "better angles" in his personal and professional life.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: Actual Great Americans we can be sincerely proud of as leaders and human beings.
If we all strive to emulate their humility, dedication to equality in all forms, and tenacity for the common good, our nation could be great in the ways that truly matter.
Melissa McCormick
East side
A response to two scary letters
Two recent LOEs were so troubling I felt compelled to respond: First, "Smile and Relax," wherein the writer suggests that his new president is going to fix everything fails to mention that what will be "fixed" applies only to those who are wealthy, white, heterosexual, male, and "Christians." For the rest of us, the thought of Trump in the Whitehouse causes severe fear and anxiety. Trump does not care about the common man/woman, nor rights for those he deems less than; which is everyone who doesn't fall into the above categories. Personally, I won't be able to "Smile and Relax" until he's gone. The other letter, "Why Trump," has me truly questioning the role of religion plays in politics. I am a Christian and believe in the tenets of Jesus, which are caring for the poor, the sick, and the stranger. Trump believes none of this and also belittles those who Jesus would help. How someone could believe this horrible human was sent by God is confused at best.
Terri Hicks
Northwest side
Re: A new Constitutional Convention
Guest opinion writer Marriah Star, in his Dec 29 article, declares democracy is dead. His case is 100% nonsense. He begins by citing a US Supreme Court decision that overturned a case where the state of Colorado tried to keep Donald Trump off its 2024 state election ballot. Mr. Star fails to mention that the SC wrote a unanimous 9-0 decision and then complains the US Congress failed to act. Well, duh. It's obvious that the SC sent a clear message to today's Congress and every state. "You can't do this."
The imperious and insufferable concluding paragraph states, "We need to update political theory to show that we no longer need to fear people because educated individuals are now the majority of the country." This is academic elitism on full display. Historians assess that George Washington had, at best, an eighth-grade education. I'm sure the elites have a yada-yada answer.
Steve Sollenberger
Foothills
To be a president
Prior to beating Gerald Ford in a presidential election, recently deceased Jimmy Carter allegedly said the following, "If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president." That said to the populace would be laughable to today's voters. Honesty, morality, truth of word are no longer important in the slightest. I personally will support our incoming president because I must. But I, being of an advanced age, long for those days of yesteryear when principles, truthfulness, loyalty and advanced leadership ability really meant something. Alas, I know that time has passed me by. I ask you though, after electing this individual, would you ever truthfully explain to your children how "I want you to grow up and be exactly like our president"? I suspect I know the answer to that.
Philip Reinecker
East side
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