Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli military strike on a target in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March, 25, 2026.
Not antisemitism
In response to Dennis Abrams's LTE (March 24) FYI, "Genocide is the deliberate, systematic destruction-in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group involving killing, causing severe harm or imposing conditions to destroy them." This accurately and factually describes Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza. The whole world can see it for what it is. Calling it genocide is not an uninformed and ignorant claim, and principled, legitimate criticism of Israel is not antisemitism.
Stanley Steik
Midtown
Safe and secure elections
Thank you. citizen Don Trump, with your courageous example in the Florida State Representative District 87 election (Mar-a-Lago address) that mail-in ballots are secure and safe. While you had every opportunity to vote in person with the most reliable transportation opportunities at your service (i.e., see golf trips), you decided to visit Elvis in Memphis, demonstrating that the safest, most secure and best way to vote was by mail. Thank you for the example in safe, secure, and righteous elections.
John (Jay) Van Echo
West side
60-year friendship in peril over politics
Everyone I talk to in my Democratic volunteer work has close friends and relatives who are in the Trump camp. Every single one. A devout Catholic, my college roommate's long affinity for Trump stems from her strong anti-abortion beliefs. In 2020, we were worlds apart politically. What to do? At my suggestion, we readily agreed to keep our contacts solely about family. I have abided by this. She has not. In our twice-yearly letters, she inserts her "subtle" political views. Over the years, these have included: masks (bad), vaccines (draconian), education (deceitful), religion (more godliness needed), protests (antifa). I am wondering how she feels now that her beloved first grandson, a 20-year-old Marine, will likely be deployed into the Iran War, which is predicted to be a "bloodbath" for Americans.
Mel Strijdonk
Northwest side
Voter fraud
Voter fraud is so rare that Donald Trump has been convicted of more felonies than the total number of cases of illegal voting in the past 20 years.
Terry Louck
East side
Peaceful world
I want a peaceful world. Like democracy, peace is not something that just arrives from down the way. It is first acknowledged, known and desired, then worked for and maintained. Peace isn’t just the absence of war, it is the freedom to be, the feelings of understanding, joy and love for others around us and the respect for our home planet. Peace is a seed we are each born with that needs nourishment and attention. Imagine a world as John Lennon did, where you are treated with respect, have needs met easily and are encouraged to be all that you can be. Imagine a world where conflicts are settled because life-giving compromise is valued more than fighting. Imagine your peaceful world. What would it be like? Start small by working through irritations. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh said, "peace in oneself, peace in the world." Find a peaceful moment each day to celebrate, then imagine peace everywhere.
Barbara Rose Gaynor
Midtown
Regrets?
To the letter writer who is now unhappy with his vote for Trump because of the Jan. 6 pardons, Trump’s denigrating comments about Robert Mueller and Trump’s appointment of loyalists instead of competent administrators: You knew exactly who Trump was when you voted for him. You knew he was going to pardon the rioters because he said he would. You knew he would appoint loyalists because he said he would. You knew he always attacked anyone who investigated him because he always did. You knew who you were voting for, as did 70 million others. We are all now suffering the consequences of those who simply ignored what was so plain and obvious.
Rick Unklesbay
Midtown
Make America Happy Again
Tom McGorray and over 77 million voted for Donald Trump in 2024 (LTE March 25). Like McGorray, I am unhappy. Trump has divided America, alienated allies and made a mockery of democracy.
Democrats condemn Trump voters, asking how anyone could vote for a convicted felon who abuses women, lies, cheats and rules ruthlessly.
America had a choice in 2024, and it was bad. The contest was between Trump and Biden, a senile, unpopular incumbent who asked to finish the job before his campaign collapsed weeks before the election and Kamala Harris, who never received one vote from constituents before she was nominated. The unprepared Harris spoke of “happiness and joy” and turning the page to a new chapter before she was asked what she would do differently. Her response, “Nothing I can think of,” sent shockwaves through the country.
Trump was a bad choice, but for 77 million, he was the better choice. Hopefully, Democrats field better candidates this fall and in 2028. If so, we will all be happy.
Ronald F. Eustice
Northwest side
Totalitarian architectural plans
President Trump's horrific remake of the Oval Office into what a guest columnist for the New York Times calls it, a "Gilded Rococo Nightmare" was the start of a massive remaking of your and my public architecture of Washington, D.C. Trump then demolished the East Wing, which was excellently preserved per the demolition crew, for an overwhelming ballroom to be decorated as badly as the Oval Office. His "renovation" of the Kennedy Center will probably be just as tacky.
But President Trump's plan for a massive arch is reminiscent of Hitler's Germania, which would have built huge buildings in Berlin to Hitler himself. We know that Trump prefers his huge version of Arc de Trump, which would be twice as tall as Paris' Arc de Triomphe, which was built by Napoleon I, another totalitarian. Trump's proposed arch would be topped with a massive gold eagle.
Shelly wrote the poem "Ozymandias", the Greek name for Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, as a warning. His warning, 200 years later, refers now to Trump.
Matt Somers
Midtown
Tucson heroes
It’s time to display the real heroes of Tucson. I would suggest the Mayor & Council take a look at the possibility of a Heroes Wall in place of Pancho Villa’s statue. He was, perhaps, a hero in Mexico during the Mexican revolution; however, he committed murders in the United States & was pursued by the American military, certainly a questionable candidate for Tucson hero.
The Tucson heroes memorial could be composed of uniformed personnel who have given their lives to make our lives better in Tucson: Law enforcement, military, or medical.
Perhaps the wall or memorial could be a design competition at the U of A College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Design. We have the talent in this town — why not use it?
Glen Van Dyke
Northeast side
Taking responsibility for our actions
"I messed up" were the words spoken on Sunday night, March 22, by an air traffic controller at NY's LaGuardia Airport, who assumed total responsibility within minutes of a collision there between an Air Canada jet and a firetruck.
I think the controller "jumped the gun" by blaming himself alone before all the facts were in, including:
— Many more departures and arrivals that night due to airport delays
— The need for multitasking by the only two controllers on duty
— Lack of a transponder on the firetruck
On the other hand, many people commit crimes and deny any involvement in them, perhaps through fear of punishment or loss of their good name.
Thankfully, most of us will never be in either position. But I wonder about the third scenario: when "busted" in everyday situations, do we pass the buck or apologize and make amends?
Barbara Russek
North side
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