Faith delivers
Re: the May 26 article “Faith misleads, doesn’t deliver its promises.”
Gil Shapiro’s opinion piece in Sunday’s paper says, “Reason: the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking, in orderly rational ways ... stands in strong opposition to faith.” I was a math major in college and have an orderly rational mind. As a way to relax, I work logic puzzles. I am also a woman of deep faith. As a teacher of math and religion, I saw no conflict between rational thinking and living by faith.
Shapiro calls faith an imposter for not delivering what it promises. He doesn’t understand that people pray not to change God’s mind, but because they understand prayer changes them. He also says, “Ask faith-based thinkers if they ever doubt their deeply held beliefs ... The answer will surely be ‘No’.” Of course, we have doubts! We also have the peace that comes with the ability to believe beyond understanding.
I remember the quote I posted in my math classroom many years ago: “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived.”
Sister Karen Berry, OSF
Midtown
Wilson for Justice of the Peace
I will be voting for the Honorable Kendrick Wilson to remain as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 9. Judge Wilson is an experienced attorney and judge. Before taking the bench, he prosecuted domestic violence and animal abuse cases for Pima County and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. As a Justice of the Peace, he has presided over specialty courts addressing Domestic Violence and Animal Welfare, demonstrating compassion for crime victims and defendants, emphasizing offender treatment to avoid recidivism. He has done an outstanding job and is a model judge with the type of integrity, character, and judicial demeanor the position requires. I hope fellow residents of Precinct 9 will join me in voting to retain Judge Kendrick Wilson as our Justice of the Peace.
Amelia Craig Cramer
Downtown
Fixing societal problems
Our society is stressed. Income inequality, global warming, inadequate health care, discrimination, inflation, immigration, illegal drug use and skyrocketing deficits represent some of the problems that we as a society need to solve if we are to survive. We have the resources to do exactly that. However, the problems need to be addressed jointly by all since no group has all the answers. They need input not only from both political parties but also that of independents, which represent a significant segment of our population. We don’t need political solutions, but workable solutions that have political support. However, I see today’s Trump sycophants as roadblocks to a civil and productive effort. They have put party before country. At Trump’s direction, they’ve become non-cooperative and uninterested in working with others. While both parties need to change, the chance that the GOP will is nil should Mr. Trump be elected again as president. God forbid.
Michael Mount
Foothills
U of A farm system
Now that the University of Arizona has to pay its athletes and has become the ersatz AAA Farm team for Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association, shouldn’t they be sending them a bill? Off the top of my head, maybe for about 20 million per year?
Jeffery Miller
Northwest side
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover
Keep Conover
As a senior citizen who has lived in Tucson for over 50 years, I’ve seen politicians come and go. I’ve seen them make promises and, when elected, swiftly break them. I’ve seen politicians court us during their campaigns and ignore us once they’re in office.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover somehow accomplished the exact opposite, despite COVID. She built a Fraud Unit. She began visiting Senior Living Facilities and neighborhoods, first virtually and then in person to instruct us, in English and Spanish, on how to protect ourselves and our neighbors. She delivers on her promises and keeps in touch with her constituents. It’s obvious that she cares.
Due to her effective, humane crime enforcement policies, we live in a safer community, with violent crime way down compared to other similar size cities.
As I said, I’ve seen politicians come and go. I definitely want Laura Conover to stay!
Miriam Furst
East side
What about the rest of us?
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has said in regard to his wife’s flag flying, “my wife is an independently minded private citizen. She makes her own decisions, and I honor her right to do so.”
I wish Justice Alito honored the rights of the millions of other women to make their own decisions when it comes to their bodies.
Fran McNeely
Northeast side
Republican leader?
Now that Donald J. Trump, the future Republican nominee, has been convicted of all 34 counts and is now a convicted felon. Should he be confirmed as the leader of their party? This is going to be a huge decision for the future and direction as a party. This should be interesting.
Mary Schneider
East side
Trump wasn’t a student of Nixon
Here’s a quote that’s apropos.
“If you are ever going to lie, you go to jail for the lie rather than the crime. So believe me, don’t ever lie.”
Richard M. Nixon’s remarks to John Dean (April 1973) as quoted in Nixon Tapes “Submission of Recorded Presidential Conversations to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives,” 1974.
Matt Somers
Midtown
Trump found guilty, still wants to be president
Trump supporters cry that their aspirational figure is being persecuted. In Thursday’s unbiased jury verdict, all 34 counts were found guilty. Jurors listened closely to every word from attorneys and witnesses. THEY WERE THERE! While deliberating, they asked questions.
MAGA politicians-protesters and MAGA supporters were not present at every court appearance. Neither evidence nor emails were seen. How do they KNOW he’s innocent? Because he TOLD them? They blindly believe in him, trusting his unsubstantiated claims without material proof.
In his unorthodox “podium,” set up to obliterate everyone from Biden to Merchan to Garland, he only says, “I am innocent.” I did nothing wrong!” And they believe him? He eminently seeks power and wealth.
Trump uses the same words over and over because he has a limited vocabulary. “My Civil Rights have been totally violated with this highly political, unconstitutional and election interfering WITCH HUNT .... Our failing nation is being laughed at all over the world!”
Why does he still want to be president of all that?
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
You win ... or
To the letter writers that permeate this forum every 10 days or so (against the Red Star’s ground rules) I guess you are giddy about Thursday’s court verdict. But consider whether this is good for our country. If the current regime can silence the opposition through the court rather than an election are we any different from Russia et al. Also, you wind up with an infirm old old guy and a bobblehead for four years... your choice!
Richard Aufmuth
Foothills
Thankful
It is with profound relief and sadness that I received the news about the verdict in the Trump New York State case. Relief that the system pulled our country from the abyss one more time. Sadness that so many people in our country do not feel the same way.
Cindy Soffrin
Northeast side
League of Women Voters
Re: the May 29 letter “Citizen initiative process”
This letter to the editor does not represent the opinions or reflect any actions or decisions of the League of Women Voters of the United States or the League of Women Voters of Arizona. The League of Women Voters’ policy of “speaking with one voice” unequivocally states that only the president or designated spokesperson may represent the League’s position on any issue. The individual who submitted the letter was speaking on her own behalf and, as such, should not have referenced her former league affiliation.
As an all-volunteer organization, we deeply appreciate the work of our members in advancing our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. However, all members are informed that they speak for themselves and not on behalf of the League unless authorized to do so, and may not reference their current or previous affiliation with the league when expressing their personal opinions, where this affiliation might be misunderstood to imply endorsement or lend gravitas to their argument.
We appreciate the Star for providing a valuable platform for discussions on matters concerning Arizona citizens and applaud the public for sharing their views. The League will comment on legislative matters and ballot initiatives when appropriate. Opinions of current or past members are personal and do not reflect the League’s endorsement.
Pinny Sheoran, League of Women Voters of Arizona, President
Arizona
Own it
If President Trump would have accepted his 7-million vote loss in 2020 with any class, our country would not be this divided, raging mess. Instead we got a Jan. 6 insurrection and four years of divisive, hateful rhetoric that has taken our country to the edge. Mr. Trump could have vowed in 2020 to come back in 2024 to take his crown back, and he still might, but the wreckage he has left behind these last four years might just be enough to make the America we all love unrecognizable.
Dennis Rivera
Foothills
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