Their true colors
For numerous years, the Republican Party has been criticized for the fringe elements of white supremacists and also accused of blatant racism by the Democrats. Now, we find that the saintly Democrats have hid their serious warts quite effectively. It appears that significant portions of their supporters are vicious racists who actively want Israel to disappear along with the Jewish population living in that country. Although there were suspicions that the Democratic Party was not as pure as advertised, it is surprising that the large number of college students, professors, young people, and even legislators have exhibited such a hatred for another group of people. It makes one wonder which other groups are in their sights. This is reminiscent of 1935 in Germany when the Nazis were spouting a similar vitriol and their general public bought into the idea. In the United States, this type of behavior is absolutely unacceptable and should be berated incessantly and prosecuted legally whenever possible.
Loyal M Johnson Jr
Oro Valley
SNAP and the farm bill
As a woman living with heart disease and a nurse, I know the importance of access to healthy foods. Thankfully, I have resources to provide nutritious foods for my family, despite the rising cost of groceries. For many of my family members and patients the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enables them to put food on the table.
Unfortunately, Congress didn’t reauthorize the farm bill by Sept. 30, leaving the future of SNAP — and the families who depend on it — uncertain. As the mom of two young children, this is particularly upsetting when I think about the nearly 17% of Arizona households with infants and toddlers experiencing food insecurity.
As an American Heart Association volunteer, I share my story to help make sure everyone can access what they need to thrive — including nutritious foods. That’s why I’m calling on Congress to prioritize and modernize important programs including SNAP in the farm bill and improve nutrition security for families nationwide.
Naomi James
Vail
The end of the Republic
Voters need to realize that one year from now Trump has a 50/50 chance of ending nearly 250 years of democracy. His takeover of the Republican Party has been his ultimate grift.
The GOP Project 2025 (available on the internet) will end the people’s right to representative democracy. On day one of his presidency, Trump plans to invoke the Insurrection Act to unleash the military on U.S. citizens. He will end the independence of the Department of Justice and other agencies and end Civil Service. He has stated that Article 2 of the Constitution allows him “the right to do whatever he wants as president.” It is unforgivable that so many are ignorant of the destruction this man would unleash on our country and the world.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
The writing on the wall
Voting closed approximately 51 minutes ago. My prediction is as follows: Oh, I know and accept “who cares what I think, right?” Anyway I voted! Mayor Regina Romero will retain her position for as long as she is legally entitled to and wants it! The same for Lane Santa Cruz! When Romero wishes to vacate, she and only she will decide! The Mayoral baton will then be passed on to the second person I mentioned! One of, if not “the” star reporter of your rag, remarked some time ago that running against Romero would be quite a challenge! Perhaps, though I viewed it as “silly”! The writing has been on the wall (shoulda hung it out some tall windows) in upper case letters for at least the last cycle! Nothing sinister implied here, just plain old everyday “REALITY”! May God bless!
Robert Powers
South side
Climate change clarification
Re: Oct. 26 letter “Climate change”
This writer acknowledges that “The earth is warming up,” but seems dubious about the cause: “… be it from the awful emissions from the tiny human infestation or just the earth’s natural cycle.”
Scientists have known for a long time that if the climate were not being altered by humans burning fossil fuels, we’d now be emerging from an interglacial period, headed for another “ice age” thousands of years in the future. Earth should be cooling, not warming.
Nature works slowly but the “tiny infestation” has managed to pour 80% of current heat-trapping pollution into the atmosphere in just the past three decades.
The writer says “stop whining” and “adapt.” Yes! The first step is to stop making matters worse. That’s why I support “Carbon fee and dividend” legislation (HR5744) to put the power of our economy strongly behind the transition to clean energy sources.
Greg Lewis
Midtown
I’m Furious!Re: the Nov. 5 article “Reading education restrictions worry Tucson teachers.”
I just read your article about the new law telling teachers how they must teach reading. Or what? Be fired? After ‘much’ research, Tom Horne, superintendent of public instruction, claims the only good way to teach students to read is using the Science of Reading technique, i.e. phonics. He’s ignored 90% of the research showing there are several recognized ways, including Science of Reading, but using it alone is dangerous. Why? Because HOW you learn to read can influence your love of reading for the rest of your life. This is why we need other ways as well. Teachers deserve the freedom to determine what their students need for this most important subject. My suggestion is keep teaching your way, they can’t afford to fire all of you. Do NOT put up with this, as it’s just a beginning. Teachers who work in Arizona are paid so little, that the only reason they do it is because they care. Don’t take their creativity and decision making away from them!
Ginia Desmond Downtown
Language of addiction matters
As a scientist and addiction professional, I was both encouraged and disappointed when I read Samantha Hendrickson’s thoughtful article on the financial consequences of addiction.
Encouraged because this is one of many recent articles addressing — with compassion — addiction. Disappointed in the use of outdated and harmful labels in the headline. Words like “junkie” and “druggie” obviously display judgment, but even terms like “substance abuse disorder” and “addict” foment negative cultural attitudes toward addiction. Just as we no longer use hurtful words like “insane asylum” or “crazy” related to mental health issues, we should be mindful of the words we use to describe a person with substance use disorder [SUD] (the preferred language according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy). It can be difficult to keep up with cultural shifts and the corresponding appropriate vocabulary, but we should make an effort to use language that acknowledges SUD as a medical condition rather than a choice or a moral failure.
Martha Ackerman-Berrier
West side
Tucson Mall a pleasant surprise
I recently went shopping with a friend who had not been to the Tucson mall since pre-Covid. The whole time we were there she was commenting on how she was pleasantly surprised how many people were shopping, how clean and safe the mall was, variety of food options and how wonderful it was to shop in the mall stores, as well as the large anchor stores, JC Penney and Macy’s and Dillard’s. She said there’s nothing like seeing the merchandise in person and it helps you focus in on the bargains.
She stated what I’ve always said: It’s great and convenient to order things online, but if we want to keep our economy and Tucson thriving, we should all visit the mall at least once a month.
Donna Pedota
Oracle
Ending life a winning issue for Democrats
Last night Democrats scored victories in the Kentucky governor’s race, Virginia state legislature and on ballot initiatives in Ohio. What was the primary issue that Democrats were voting on? Abortion. The governor of Virginia had supported a 15-week abortion plan, but that was not good enough for Democrats, i.e. women who want the ability to have an abortion in the third trimester, well into when the form of a baby can be clearly seen on an ultrasound. The best political thing that ever happened to Democrats was SCOTUS’s ruling on abortion overturning Roe vs. Wade. That was a voting boon for them and they should be grateful to the conservative justices for it. That ruling impacted the 2022 election wherein Republicans were supposed to capture a super majority in the House of Representatives. They ended up with a single digit majority. The bottom line now for Democrat voters is not the disastrous border, Bidenomics or rampant crime, but rather terminating the life of a developing innocent human being.
Christy Daniels
North side
History lesson on Israel
A short history lesson on the land of Israel. It is a well-documented archeological fact that the land of Israel was deeded to Abraham and his descendants 4,000 years ago (Genesis 15:18)!! There are Stele’s in Egypt (13 BC) and Canaanite (9 BC) that speaks of Israel by name.
The Jews are not occupiers, they are the “Indigenous” people of the land. They were living in this land 2,100 years before anyone was referred to as Palestinian and 2,600 years before Islam became a religion. From 586 BCE to 1948 AD various empires took over this land and for 2,500 years they dispersed the Jews from their land. Palestine did not come into existence until 135 AD when Roman Emperor Hadrian overtook the area and renamed it Palestina. Up until 1947 all the birth certificates issued called the people Palestinians. The Philistines occupied the land for over 2,100 years until the Jews took their land back and gave it the rightful name that it had always been, Israel!
Linda Schaub
East side
Wacky Wadsack must go!
Not only are those of us living in Arizona Congressional District 1 saddled with the likes of Republican Congressman Eli Crane — one of the leaders of the clown show in the U.S House of Representatives — but we also have the burden of Republican State Sen. Justine Wadsack “representing” State Legislative District 17.
After she and Wendy Rogers, another wacky Arizona state senator, visited with disgraced retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, the two of them appeared on a talk show this week that spreads anti-semitic falsehoods. While on the show, Wadsack also continued to spread her stolen election, book banning, anti-LGBTQ+, and Great Replacement rhetoric.
Please Republican voters, ask yourselves next November if someone has an “R” after their name, do they really represent you and your values?
Karen Schickedanz
SaddleBrooke
Between a rock and a hard place
I admit to having a certain, however limited, compassion for Republicans attempting to win electoral office.
In our current political climate electoral-race results are often less than five to ten percentage points apart.
When a significant percentage of potential voters are influenced by MAGA culture, I am compelled to skew my political communication message to cater to them, or I will not be elected.
Witness yesterday’s national election results.
If I am a Republican, aspiring to serve our nation, I am between a rock and a very hard place.
Paul Zohav
East side
