Use of ‘antisemitism’ to stifle dissent
The recent opinion piece claims antisemitism threatens American democracy, but what truly threatens it is the weaponization of that term to silence legitimate criticism of Israeli state violence. Zionism — a political ideology, not a religion — is increasingly used to shield a nation-state from accountability, conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism in ways that chill free speech and target activists, especially Palestinians and their allies.
This conflation erases the voices of Jews who oppose apartheid and occupation, while stifling the open debate essential to democracy. On campuses and in communities, this trend now undermines academic integrity itself. Toxic reasoning disguised as expertise in “ethics” is polluting public discourse, making our institutions complicit in censorship. At the University of Arizona and beyond, students and colleagues face intimidation, surveillance, and professional retaliation simply for supporting Palestinian rights.
Democracy demands that we resist all forms of racism, including antisemitism — and also defend the right to critique any government, including Israel’s.
Katie Careaga
Midtown
Whiplash indeed
Thank you for publishing Kathleen Bethel’s extraordinary article (on 3/23), “Experiencing Congressional Whiplash.” Her words hit me in the gut to the point where I actually got tears in my eyes. I am of that generation she references, and yes, I remember vividly everything she described. To come from that era, and now to witness the diametric opposite of the values we stood for — and the almost unbelievable hypocrisy of our Congressional representatives — is extremely painful. Bethel put into words what I, and many others of my generation, have been feeling for too long now. When did money become the sole value of this country — at the expense of healthcare, of our children, and of the most vulnerable in our society? I feel the shame of it right down to my toes.
Kendra Gaines
Foothills
Canada will be one state?
If he is serious about doing this, I agree it will be bad practice, but I think it will be much worse than what you described.
Canada is not just one big country. It has states, which they call “provinces,” and there are ten of them. Assuming that Canada does “agree” to be annexed, I think they might do so on the condition that its provinces become states instead of the whole country becoming one. Not only that will add the 50 or more Representatives to the house, it will add 20 Senators, as well.
And if most of those new representatives and senators are liberal-leaning as you said ...
Sarah Classen
Northwest side
Extra pickles, hold the mayo
Oddly, I find myself agreeing with Loren Hancock (LTEs, 3/22/24) on one point, in that Mark Kelly should have chosen something other than a petrol Tahoe after offloading his plug-in Tesla. And, yes, I would have preferred he’d have picked from any number of EVs built by any number of rival domestic OEMs. But this doesn’t change my positive opinion of Kelly in joining with the entirety of Arizona’s Democratic Congressional Delegation in voting to shut down a hijacked government, breaking with the pathetic minority of feckless Schumercrats on this point. While oblivious to you and your fellow cultists, Loren, the fascist threat of MAGA/DOGE is real and this is no time for Sinema 2.0 sentimentality coming from my party. In a recent YouTube interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, Kelly characterized what Republicans handed him from across the aisle in Continuing Resolutions negotiations as a “sh*t sandwich.” That sounds about right.
Benjamin Nead
Bisbee
Medicaid Cuts and Ciscomani
Dear Editor,
We are Masters of Public Health students at the University of Arizona who want to address Representative Juan Ciscomani’s stance on proposed Medicaid cuts in the House budget. Cutting Medicaid would have drastic and severe consequences for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income Arizonans. Analyses show that meeting the budget’s required reductions would be impossible without slashing Medicaid.
As MPH students, we understand the critical role of Medicaid, or AHCCCS, in providing healthcare access to those who would otherwise go uninsured. In a state where healthcare is not guaranteed, such cuts would disproportionately harm unemployed and underserved populations. This can potentially leave 500,000 Arizonans without coverage.
Rep. Ciscomani has expressed deep concern over these cuts in his signed letter. Will he uphold his commitment and vote against them, or will he turn his back on the communities that depend on Medicaid? We urge him to stand firm and vote no.
Bernardo Cortez-Paniagua, Zahlanii Henderson, Mon Lacea, America Ruiz-Valencia, and Elaina Tellez
Midtown
North Korea and crypto
Kim Jong Un must be grateful for Donald Trump. According to The Economist, N. Korea gets half its foreign exchange revenue, equal to 3 times its trade with China, via crypto theft. Yet, our foreign aid which had been assisting vulnerable countries improve crypto security has been canceled by Mr. Trump.
William Durbin
Foothills
Law and order disparity
So MAGA world is upset about attacks on Teslas. I don’t condone violence as a form of protest, it’s inexcusable. But the MAGA crowd that applauded the pardon of insurrectionists who attacked police officers and wanted to hang Mike Pence feel that a 20-year prison sentence is appropriate for torching a car. Priorities and sense of justice are seriously out of proportion.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Size matters
March 22 I had the opportunity to attend the rally at Catalina High School in Tucson.
It was planned to be in their auditorium with about 3000 people, they had to move it to the football field as we arrived. There were approximately 23,000 people showed up.
I ran into several seniors that I have known. We shared the common concerns.
We depend on our traditional health care and Social Security. All want strong vaccine availability. We are a mix of independents, Republicans and Democrats. We support common sense. Just the facts.
Don Bannon
Midtown
Response to Stuart Brody opinion piece
I am disgusted with the piece by Stuart Brody regarding Mahmoud Khalil. Brody calls for readers to consider Khalil’s motives who has been accused of activities in “support of Hamas,” a tired accusation thrown at anyone that empathizes with Palestinians that refuses to acknowledge their history prior to October 7th. Brody claims that the chants, “from the river to the sea” and “free Palestine” mean “the destruction of the State of Israel and the consequent dissolution of Jews comprising it.” In actuality, the destruction of Palestine and the dissolution of Palestinians is what is occurring and has been for decades. How else do you explain the senseless killing of Palestinians the past year and a half, the majority being women and children? What about the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu? If the Palestinian movement supported the “dissolution of Jews” in Israel, explain the role Jewish Voices for Peace has played supporting the movement.
“Professor of ethics,” you should be ashamed.
Alessandra Teran
Downtown
Strategies for addressing homelessness
As MPH students at the UA Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, we are writing to express our concerns regarding the homelessness crisis in Tucson. We believe the growing lack of funding for services alongside strict eligibility requirements in many shelters contribute to a critical situation. We suggest that Tucson consider Houston’s approach to addressing homelessness. Houston shelters implemented the Housing First model, which provides permanent housing to individuals without prerequisites such as sobriety. This strategy involved collaboration between local government and nonprofits, enabling Houston to reduce its homeless population by 64% from 2011 to 2022. While not all aspects of Houston’s model may be suitable for Tucson, it is certainly worth exploring.
Danitza Molina, Ariella Cohen, Kevin Begay, Matthew Fernandez
Midtown
Our standing here and abroad
My grandmother had three sons in the service when we entered the war in 1941. Thankfully, they all came home! They went on to build careers, raise families, buy homes and live out the American dream. Their service was part of a giving nation where democracy prevailed.
I mean, cutting true waste is one thing. But removing thousands of Americans from their jobs, where institutional memory is key and slashing programs is dangerous and anathema to what this country is about. It’s about everyday people accomplishing important things together. Congress, we have your back. Please do not cower under executive power. We need you to stand up for the other 340 million people you serve. America has been the world’s beacon of strength, security, and hope for decades and longer. For us to abandon our allies now and focus only on our own interests weakens us on the world’s stage.
Linda Rothchild
Midtown
Presidency
Mr. Hancock spends the first 2/3rds of his March 22nd letter to the editor criticizing Mark Kelly’s decision to donate his Tesla and two sentences to Elon Musk’s DOGE “cutting wasteful spending.” I’m not sure how either defines “wasteful spending.” The money spent to keep our national parks operating or the money spent overseeing tax returns and VA benefits? The money spent to prepare for and prevent forest fires or the money needed to address civil rights complaints? Apparently the Bureau of Consumer Protection and the National Nuclear Security Administration are not important. Musk is cutting “wasteful spending” on cancer research and other unimportant diseases such as Alzheimer’s. He is dismissing Federal Aviation Administration workers and issuing cuts at the Government Services Administration responsible for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. You can only cut wasteful spending after carefully examining agencies, interviewing employees, studying their accomplishments and shortcomings. You don’t randomly eliminate jobs and entire departments (to minimize the already-low taxes of billionaires).
Kenneth Cohn
Northwest side
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