Trump killed my bus route: Letters
Trump killed my bus route
July 22 − To the Editor:
I’ve been preaching the miracle of the little COAST bus that swoops into my neighborhood every hour. I can get downtown or to Trader Joe’s from the Route 43 stop at Atlantic Heights in under 10 minutes for 75 cents (senior rate) each way. For a low-income, visually-impaired old duffer, that’s like Christmas every day (except Sundays when the bus doesn’t run). Recently, I picked up an item at Staples, rushed to the return bus, and was back in my neighborhood in 36 minutes. If there’s no line, I can get a Chipotle burrito and be back home in record time. Try doing that with your electric horseless carriage!
I haven’t driven a car in over 25 years. Getting around is almost as challenging as trying to keep living in Portsmouth, as housing values skyrocket. I knew my discount days were doomed the moment I heard the morning headlines. (“COAST Bus ending these Seacoast routes after federal funding cuts”) Yup, the Atlantic Heights loop is being amputated. Maybe, just maybe, COAST can pick up passengers from the head of Kearsarge Way? Jogging another half-mile each way in all weather is probably good for me. Crossing Market Street Extension with heavy bags of groceries − not so much. For the record, the same round trip via taxi or Uber (four miles total if they are available) comes to about $30 with the tip vs. $1.50 on COAST. Hey, it’s only a bus route. It’s not like America’s worst administration in history cancelled my job or ended Social Security and Medicare, defunded my alma mater or crippled NHPR, shuttered the local hospital or obliterated democracy, murdered Truth or stumbled blindly into World War III−not yet.
J. Dennis Robinson
Portsmouth
Give Gov. Ayotte credit for vetoes of bad bills
July 20 − To the Editor:
In hopes of finding civility and moderation in our government, shouldn’t we give credit when it’s due? It appears to me that Governor Ayotte took the better path in vetoing a number of recently passed bills that were just too conservative for New Hampshire. The (7/17) article stated House Democrats “declined to give Ayotte credit.” Let’s all praise the Governor for doing the right thing when she does, in hopes that she’ll continue to do so during her tenure.
Becky Faunce
Stratham
Corrupt supreme court destroying America
July 18 − To the Editor:
The easiest way to turn a democracy into a dictatorship or one-party state without bloodshed is to corrupt a country’s supreme court. Unfortunately, this is happening here.
This court has said the president can ignore laws which made agencies independent. It has said judges can enforce the Constitution only in their state. It has allowed people to be deported without giving them a hearing even after telling the administration people must have hearing before deporting them. They have overruled judges without holding hearings. They have done almost all of this in secret without hearings or letting the public know who voted for their rulings.
Repeatedly, lower courts have ruled that this administration is likely to lose a case and ordered a stop to its actions while the case is being held. This is to prevent harm to those contesting the action. Equally repeatedly, the Supreme Court has overruled these courts and said the administration can continue its damaging actions until the case formally goes before it. Even if it rules in a year or more the president exceeded his authority the damage will have been done. Effectively, the court is letting the president ignore the Constitution for as long as possible without making formal rulings.
These actions have made Congress and the courts inferior to the presidency. This Trump court is not working for the American people or protecting the Constitution. They are protecting President Trump at the expense of the Constitution. This is how democracy dies.
Walter Hamilton
Portsmouth
Peace activists do not support Hamas; they deplore Israeli actions
July 16 − To the Editor:
A recent LTE by Jeffrey Cooper of Portsmouth entitled “Peace activists mistaken to promote Hamas,” attempted to conflate Palestine’s national flag – first issued in 1916 and adopted in its current form in 1964 – with Hamas was deliberately deceptive and I consider it a provocative attempt to symbolically try to delegitimize and dehumanize an entire people.
There were no Hamas “flags” at Market Square. In fact, I haven’t witnessed any Hamas “flags” at any rallies or vigils I’ve attended.
I’ve seen – and pleased to see – Palestinian flags at rallies and vigils I witness or attend with friends, many of whom are Jewish. That is the nature of America’s Public Square. Together, we know that Palestine’s flag is no more Hamas’ flag than the American flag is that of the KKK or the New Apostolic Reformation.
Cooper argues that “Everything about Hamas is antithetical to democracy and peaceful coexistence.”
I agree: Hamas is not a pro-democracy movement. No one I know celebrates or promotes Hamas.
No one I know or love celebrates what Israel is doing either.
Indeed, I would argue that everything about the State of Israel’s government today – its affirming of Basic Law that Israel is the Nation-State of the Jewish People, its apartheid, the genocide in Gaza, and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians taking place throughout the [internationally-recognized] Israeli-occupied territories of East Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza – is also antithetical both to democracy and peaceful coexistence.
Further, I would remind Cooper that Israel helped create Hamas, believing it would be a counterpoint to Fateh, the more secular – and popular – Palestinian movement on the West Bank.
Be careful what you wish for.
Robert Azzi
Exeter
Just say no to fascist concentration camps
July 21 − To the Editor:
It was insightful reading the July 21st letters comparing those held in concentration camps decades ago to those currently being detained in modern times. It is no mystery that the current administration is following a similar fascist playbook. All you have to do is look at how prisoners were identified in past concentration camps. Germany had a system of labelling detainees with colored triangles, with two triangles, one inverted, forming the Star of David. In modern times, it appears that the red triangle will still represent political prisoners, but instead of also identifying Gentiles protecting Jews from the Sturmabteilung (SA) or Schutzstaffel (SS), it has now become US citizens trying to protect neighbors from ICE and unlawful arrest/detainment.
From Wikipedia: from 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany operated more than a thousand concentration camps and sub-camps on its own territory and in parts of German-occupied Europe. The first camps were established in March 1933, immediately after Adolph Hitler became German Chancellor.
Folks, we are in dangerous times when Congress funds the potential building of more concentration camps in addition to “Alligator Auschwitz,” because according to the supporters of this effort, “Arbeit macht frei” or “work sets you free.” If only we could fast-forward to the end, to when the party leaders turn on their guy after they realize he is destroying their nation. This way, we can avoid the inevitable deaths that will occur if we remain on this dark path. And to those following unconstitutional/illegal orders, please, just say no.
Don Cavallaro
Rye
Others also object to use of titles in letter signatures
July 11 − To the Editor:
In a recent letter to the editor, Mr. Rich DiPentima, a man of many titles and credentials, expressed his curiosity regarding Mr. Robinson’s apparent objection to Mr. DiPentima’s use of credentials when signing a letter. He wonders “why this would be a concern for anyone?”
The Bellamy Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, in response to some of Mr. Dipentima’s published letters to the editor, voted unanimously for a resolution objecting to the use of military rank when posting a letter which could be perceived to contain un-American content. This resulted in law offices representing Seacoast Media and the Air Force Attorney General to weigh-in. The latter appeared non-committal.
For now, Mr. Dipentima is free to cite his retired military rank. However, in answer to his wonder, there are in fact those who object to his use of credentials.
Randal Heller
Barrington
Send your letter to [email protected]
Please keep letters to 250 words or less. Submissions must include the writer’s first and last names, city or town and a daytime telephone number (which is for verification purposes only and will not be published). Send letters or commentaries to [email protected]. Letters from Seacoast-area writers addressing local topics will be given priority for publication.
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