Muslim world disregards Palestinians
Re: the March 12 letter “Gaza Pier.”
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, announced the establishment of the independent Jewish State of Israel following the UN November 29, 1947 Partition Resolution that divided the UK’s former Palestinian mandate into Jewish and Arab states.
The letter writer’s comments reminded me of how the neighboring Muslim nations ignored the Palestinians who departed their former homes and ended up in huge refugee camps, where they abide to this very day, because none of their fellow Muslims opened the doors of their countries to invite them in.
By contrast, Jews who had been long term residents of those same Muslim nations were expelled around the same time but the new nation of Israel welcomed them with open arms.
Why do their Arab neighbors seem to disdain the Palestinians?
Paul Morton Ganeles
Foothills
Bicyclists ride along Mount Lemmon Highway by a large tree with yellow and orange leaves near Middle Bear Picnic Area in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Ariz. on Oct. 19, 2021.
Goodwill and respect
I prefer desert single track to asphalt but I have ridden both. When it becomes necessary for me to waste my knobbies on asphalt I ride with two things in mind. One is that now I am required to observe all of the rules of the street that cars do. Two is, I keep in mind the saying, “They are hard and heavy and I’m soft and squishy.” A cyclist will never win against a “hard and heavy” car. When I come to a stop sign at the same time as a car turning right, I’ll wave them to go first and that builds goodwill and takes away 4 seconds of my ride. Cyclists need a ton of goodwill and respect and this is how to get it.
Don’t let this scenario happen to you. Your friends are on a ride and pass your “ghost bike” memorial thinking “Hey Bob, way to go holding your line.” and never stop.
Daniel Poryanda
Southeast side
But it’s a dry heat
Re: the March 21 article “Utilities deplete our water resources.”
The difference between Arizona’s methane (natural gas) burning electrical utilities and drug dealers is customers of the dealers originally had a choice in their decision to consume life-threatening products. As Rick Rappaport’s numbers makes clear, if the utilities are allowed to continue vaporizing the state’s remaining water supplies the result will be a bone-dry state devoid of life.
But long before that, utility customers who cannot afford to pay for another fix of methane powered summer air conditioning will have moved or died. Comparing the utilities to pushers is not unjust. The water they vaporize is a potent greenhouse gas that stimulates yet more demand for their “product.” Scientists estimate this effect (increased water vapor) more than doubles the warming that would happen due to increasing carbon dioxide alone.
With all the exposed rooftops and open land here, there is no other explanation for this other than corporate greed and Arizona Corporation Commission malfeasance.
Steven Lesh
East side
Trump’s conduct
Re: the March 23 article “Who are these supporters?”
Fran McNeely’s opinion piece asks THE $64,000 question: what is wrong with Trump supporters who laugh and applaud when he mocks and demeans persons with disabilities or diverse physical features? Whether it is President Biden’s lifelong stutter, a disabled veteran who is “not a good look,” or a person whose appearance Trump does not like, his supporters ignore and defend the former President’s depraved words. Why would any person who claims to be a good Christian or a person of high moral and ethical values excuse or condone the former President’s behavior and cruel words and attacks? He insults and slurs his opponents, especially women, by calling them horseface, fat pigs, dogs, low IQ, and lowlifes.
Aside from his criminality and constant deluge of lies and disinformation, Trump is an appalling role model for our country’s highest office. Yet his mob of supporters continue to laugh, chuckle, and defend his boorish and crude behavior as well as his immoral and depraved personal conduct.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
President Biden and the price of gasoline
After yet another letter blaming Biden for the higher price of gasoline (and eggs) I had to respond. When President Biden took office in the midst of the pandemic demand for gasoline was low. When things opened up again prices surged due to high demand and low inventory. It is interesting to look at the 12-month average gasoline price over the last 40 years in 2024 dollars. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data):
1984 — $3.53
1994 — $3.44
2004 — $3.47
2014 — $3.39
2024 — $3.53 current U.S. average as reported in March 23rd edition of the Daily Star
The price of gasoline varied little over this time period. Meanwhile, egg prices are up again due to a resurgence of the bird flu reducing the number of egg-laying chickens.
Higher gasoline and egg prices are always blamed on low inventory. Interestingly, I have never had a problem buying all the $5 a gallon gas or $4 a dozen eggs that I wanted.
John Pierce
Northwest side
Donald Trump
Here’s my moniker for Donald Trump “Burn it Down Don”.
Larry Gray
SaddleBrooke
Ciscomani votes to fund NGOs for migrants
On a daily basis, there are Democrat written letters to the Star attacking Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R) from the 6th District. Democrats have attacked him for his voting record and political stances not to their leftist liking. But, Ciscomani just voted for the $1.2 trillion Omnibus bill, already signed into law by President Biden, funding government programs until October. Included is $650 million in taxpayer money for the federal Shelter and Services program that funds shadowy Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) across the country. NGOs like local Casas Alitas have sheltered thousands of migrants released by the Border Patrol. The Omnibus bill that Ciscomani voted for allows the continued use of CBP One at the ports of entry, of which in a year of existence, 450,000 asylum applicants have been allowed entry. The bill funds the WHO, gives taxpayer money to the CDC and NIH to research gun control policy, and sends money to facilities that perform abortions. Democrat readers should applaud and thank Juanito Ciscomani! LOL
David Garcia
Foothills
Current UA leadership lacks focus
Re: the March 26 article “Striving toward excellence at UA.”
I am a retired professor from the University of Arizona after 37 years of service. I share the sentiment of Dr. Powell that the primary purpose of the University Administration is to help facilitate the work of its faculty. Previous leadership has, for the most part, fulfilled its mission successfully. The current Administration seems to lack that focus. In fact, it seems to project an adversarial stance against the faculty. It is even more distressing that the Board of Regents and the Legislature have sided with the Administration and encouraged it to find ways around the voice of the faculty. Fortunately, the Governor has been a voice of reason on the issue. Hopefully, more individuals will join in to strengthen her voice so that the mission of the University will prevail and the University will continue to thrive.
Elias Toubassi
East side
National Anthem protocol
I started school in California during World War II, was taught to put right hand over heart for pledge to the flag and to stand facing the flag during the National Anthem. After the war I moved to Boston. Same protocols. I moved to upstate New York for high school. Same protocols. Went to a university in Indiana. Same protocols. It wasn’t until sometime after I moved back to California in 1961 that I saw people put a hand over their heart during the anthem. I figured it was an option.
Barbara Toohey
Foothills
Does the USA need a dictator?
MAGA extremists are saying that the USA needs a dictatorship, perhaps for the shock value. Let’s consider where a dictatorship might be a good idea.
Haiti, Venezuela and other countries have high unemployment, lack of clean water, poor health care, rampant disease, and violence. A dictatorship can catapult a country out of misery much more quickly than a democracy. How? Dictatorships can bypass checks and balances, curtail citizen rights, and ignore the country’s constitution.
To succeed, the dictatorship must be benevolent and free of graft. They must follow a plan of development and guidance from global leaders in economics. When targets are met, there is a transition to democracy, and a transition of power.
The USA does not exhibit symptoms of a country in need of dictatorship. And Trump fails to meet criteria for success. He is not benevolent, not free of graft, nor will he adhere to economic programs. Global leaders do not respect nor trust him. And, once in power, he will never let go.
Cindy Doklan
Midtown
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