Power and ego cannot destroy the human condition

Letter to the editor of the The Post Star in Great Falls New York

Protecting what is precious in the world

UNESCO

The power of preserving cultural heritage to build a better world.
Why do we go to great lengths to preserve culture and make it bloom? Culture is a resource for the identity and cohesion of communities.

There are so many here, around the world, throughout history doing “good” — acts to protect endangered species; stop deforestation, fracking, fossil fuels, mining; to protect the ocean, rivers, drinking water; courageous people protesting dictators and repressive regimes in Hong Kong, Belarus, Myanmar, Iran, Syria; journalists protecting free speech in Philippines, Mexico; lawyers and religious leaders protecting separation of church and state; and our neighbors in food pantries, homeless shelters, welcoming immigrants. ... People doing good work.

But others do great harm — for power and greed, in hatred and ignorance — white supremacists killing innocent people; dictators using military might to mow down protesters against despotic rule, against protectors of sacred lands, women protesting “morality” restrictions, women protecting and teaching girls and women in Afghanistan. Dictators who would destroy countries, democracy, Earth, for their own ego power — Putin in Ukraine; Trump, here, trying to overthrow democratic elections; powerful corporations — fossil fuels, big pharma, gun dealers — spreading fear through propaganda, supporting legislators working for their greed and profits over the needs of people and Earth. 

It’s painful to witness the destruction of guns, bombs, money destroying Earth, cultures, homes, schools, hospitals, electric grids, and life.

The poet Unamuno said to Franco’s generals, ”You will win because you have brute force but to persuade you’d need what you lack — right and reason for Spain’s very soul”; Victor Jara, the Chilean guitarist, kept singing while being shot by Pinochet’s police. I hear their words with voices of survivors of gun violence in Parkland, churches, synagogues, Colorado’s gay bar, along with thousands of courageous people imprisoned — all proclaiming the power of love, the reality that “we are family.”

On my desk: “You thought you buried us; you didn’t know we were seeds.”

This Holiday season, 2022, from Thanksgiving to New Year 2023, let's thank all the seeds, hard work, resistance, and struggle for justice, diversity, love, life. Give thanks for those throughout history who have protected what is precious. 

Thank you to all those around the world who protect the human condition.

Bernice Mennis, West Fort Ann, New York (Washington County)

Elise Stefanik has a list of bad Congressional votes to explain

"Lady MacBeth" is the nickname I have given to the right wing Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, from New York's 21st District, because Shakespeare's famously ambitious woman was known to call on evil spirits.  "Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”

This letter to the editor gives Congresswoman Stefanik yet another nickname. She is now dubbed "Lady of no", by one of her constituents. This letter was published in the  The Post*Star news, in Glens Falls, New York.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has become a tRumpzi political acolyte- she carries the Fascist's banner!

Elise Stefanik, congresswoman in the "no." The following list are bills that she voted "no" on. Many bills were to benefit the American people.

• Infrastructure investment and Jobs Act, Bill No. HR3684
• Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021
• Recommending that the House of Representatives find Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the Select Committee
• Women's Health Protection Act of 2021
• John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
• Consumer Protection and Recovery Act
• Invest in America Act
• Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol
• LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act
• Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act !!! 😞

In fact, Stefanik voted "no" on many more bills that could benefit the American people. She is going on right-wing talk shows to keep promoting the lie that the presidency was (#fakenewsFox) stolen. 

She no longer works for New Yorkers. Her boss is Trump (tRumpty-Dumpty). 

Cult of personality leader tRumpzi!

She once was an aspiring young congresswoman, but now outright lies are her forte. Since she has turned her back on New York, it's time for New York to reciprocate. Give the congresswoman in the "no" the same vote. This state deserves better!

June Woodard, Queensbury, New York

The letter "S" represents Republican shame and sedition

Opinion echo published in The Post Star, newspaper in Glens Falls, New York.

Former Guy has lost his mind!

Dear Editor: How does America, a country like ours, educated and Christian, elect a man as manic as (evil!) Donald Trump?

How does a country like ours, full of good people, believe an evil man like #FormerGuy Trump — a man who mimics Adolf Hitler in countless ways?

How does a country like ours, a country of democracy, allow a maniac like (evil!) Donald Trump to convince them, intelligent people, of lies for four long years?

How does a country America, full of voters who voted legally, ever forgive the political party responsible for the attempted coup and subsequent deaths at the U.S. Capitol?

How does a country America, with supposed decent and law-abiding politicians, elect politicians who are so easily swayed by power and the pursuit of it?

How does a country like America, faced with a murderous mob of our #FormerGuy president’s own making, forgive Elise Stefanik for her complicity and cowardice?

I know I won’t.

Elise Stefanik — wear your red hat to pay homage to your false god, Donald Trump. Wear, also, the red “S” for shame and sedition.

Carol Decosse, in Peru, New York

The Republican party is ripped from its moorings!

Echo opinion letter published in The Post Star a New York newspaper:

What is it that makes people in the North Country (New York, Vermont, New Hampshire... or in any community (?) continue to support Donald Trump?

 "In spite of the overwhelming evidence of his guilt, Republicans chose to make fools of themselves..."

(In Maine Writer opinion....They are blindly and ineptly hypnotized, caught in a cult mentality), in spite of the evidence that tRumph is illegally enriching himself and eroding the institutions of democracy? 

The Republican Party has been ripped from its moorings. What is it they stand for? It’s certainly not the rule of law or fiscal responsibility. Squash the opposition at any cost? Well, the cost my friends is our democracy.

Socialism is bad? What about Medicare and Social Security? What about public schools, hospitals, National Parks, fire departments, roads and bridges? How about the FCC, CDC, FAA, EPA? Are these not necessary in our society? What about health insurance? Let families go broke and/or die? Those are the choices facing many residents in this area. They don’t go to the doctor, they don’t get medicine for fear it will bankrupt their families.

Trump’s behavior is that of a tyrant. The Senate acquittal of Impeachment charges has emboldened him to move faster in his quest for power. In spite of the overwhelming evidence of his guilt, Republicans chose to make fools of themselves with ridiculous arguments designed to please him. Our own representative, Elise Stefanik was among them. The Senate made a big mistake in acquitting without allowing witnesses and documents. Trump is now using the federal judiciary to punish his enemies and obtain leniency for his accomplices. He knows the Senate will not hold him accountable.

If Trump is reelected in 2020, there will likely be no off ramp. We will all be living in the Land of confusion. Authoritarian oligarchy. Profits for the rich, social program cuts and more work with lower pay for the poor. This is what American soldiers fought against in WWII. The 2020 elections will be pivotal.

Debra Parker, Hudson Falls, New York

Donald Trump creates his own political vortex

Opinion letter echo published in The Post Star newspaper in New York state:

Donald Trump must leave the White House.

All he does is blame others for his own self inflicted faults.

Guess who’s at the epicenter of all the “blaming” that’s going on? And guess who’s going to save us from all of these “evil empires?” You guessed it! Donald Trump!

Let’s start with the invasion of Mexico. So Trump will build a wall to keep them out, using money budgeted for military families! Next, China is ripping us off so Trump creates tariffs which are paid for by farmers and consumers. Oh! Did I leave out Russia and his good friend Putin? Well, someone had to get him elected as self-appointed world leader! Now Putin can play both sides against the middle!

As for the “evil empire of Iran,” they have always been evil since they kidnapped our embassy ambassadors and got rid of the Shah of Iran. The Saudis buy our weapons, line the pockets of Trump (or Bush, for that matter) and expect us to protect them from Iran. Reminds me of in-laws that won’t move out!

Trump has the world’s largest military, but can’t use it for fear of recession and losing his job in 2020! At home, the “socialists” want to give free medical care and college educations to all the illegal Mexicans. Really?

Could it be that Trust-me-Trump is creating more problems than he is fixing? (Trump is intensifying the political vortex of confusion and emphasizing his failed leadership.)

Ron Hintz, Argyle, New York

Why did the Trump campaign have so many conversations with Russians? Mueller Report

Echo opinion letter published in The Post-Star a New York State newspaper:  Editor:

I have been following the coverage of the Mueller investigation from its beginning. I have read many news articles, and because I am too cheap to pay for two upgrades for ESPN and the Golf Channel, my cable package does not include #45's favorite channel. Being unable to hear both sides' opinions, I decided to read the Mueller report. I purchased my copy for $.99 online.

Volume I is a nightmare. It is so redacted, and includes numerous names of Russian persons and organizations, that you need to constantly refer to Appendix A to make sense of it. 

My biggest concern was why were #45's people in contact with so many Russians?

Volume II proved to be much easier to follow. Two parts that people should definitely read are #45's answers to Mueller's questions. For a self-proclaimed "stable genius with a great mind," #45 had difficulty remembering or recalling numerous events.

Reading the possible obstruction of justice cases was much easier. They involved not just #45, but many of the people who he personally knew or worked on his campaign. Each case is quite easy to follow and involves many members of #45's closest allies. My suggestion is that if you really care about what is happening, you should take the time and read this report. 

As for the congressional hearing, I feel badly that Mueller didn't memorize what was in the report so that he could answer more eloquently.

One more thought. I believe that there are 435 members in the House of Representatives. Why is Donald Trump so focused and obsessed with four of them?* If people in the districts they represent don't agree with them, they will vote them out in the next election. That is also true of the next presidential election.

Daniel Trainor, Queensbury/Florida

*Trump escalated his attacks on a group of four minority congresswomen:  

• Representatives Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota 
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York 
• Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
• Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts