Queens Gazette

Letters





Didn’t Vote. Don’t Protest.


To The Editor:


The war is depressing and prove to those opposed to it how inconsequential one person is in a democracy ruled by the majority.Yet our form of governance empowers any citizen to voice their opinion, and to exercise objection by voting for a change.


Every year the number of qualified voters who exercise their right to vote becomes smaller. Those who are heard complaining of the quality of our leaders though, increase daily. At a time like this, with large numbers protesting in the streets, the question should be:how many of these people voted in the last election?


Perhaps the right to protest should be granted only to those who cared enough to have participated by voting. Maybe by linking the two, Americans would finally wake up and accept that one vote can alter the course of history.


To many the war in infuriating, without justification and worrisome for the consequences that can be expected to follow it.The nation seems terribly misguided, and at risk of losing its moral imperative. The shadows that have always seemed frightening are more defined and imminent.Optimism appears a fool’s hope.


Apathy may have been cause for most Americans avoiding the voting booths in the past. September 11 changed the world, and with it hopefully, our view of the power of voting. The government was empowered by those who voted. To change the course of U.S. policies, domestic and foreign, is as easy as pulling a lever.


Edward Horn


Atlantic Beach


Deplore Prof’s Remarks


A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette.


President Lee C. Bollinger


Office of the President


Columbia University


202 Low Library MC 4309


New York, NY 10027


Dear President Bollinger,


As members of the New York State Assembly and Senate representing thousands of young men and women who are voluntarily risking their lives to protect our country, we were incensed and outraged by the hateful remarks made by Professor [Nicholas] De Genova during the March 26, 2003 teach-in at Columbia University. His call for "a million Mogadishus"—referring to the Somalian city where 18 American soldiers were slain in a bloody ambush in 1993—was compounded by his statement that Americans who call themselves patriots are imperialist white supremacists.


Freedom of speech and the right to protest against policies and individuals are enshrined in our constitution, and are certainly encouraged in both the political and academic worlds. The right to disagree is fundamental to our democracy. However, De Genova’s bone chilling remarks go beyond rationality and condemn everything this country stands for. His raw hatred of Americans and his expression of a fervent desire that our young men and women be killed is reprehensible and should not be excused under the guise of free speech.


By giving this malicious racist a platform from which to spew his venom, Columbia University is enabling De Genova to spread his doctrine of intolerance and hatred. There should be no place for such an individual at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Does he have the right to disagree with the war? Absolutely. Should you allow your dais to be used by a man who derides patriotism and calls for "a million Mogadishus" to happen to American troops who are acting to protect the very freedom he enjoys? Absolutely not.


The state legislators from Queens who signed this letter were:


State Senator Nettie Mayersohn, Toby Ann Stavisky, George Onorato, Frank Padavan, Serphin Maltese, Assemblymember Barry Grodenchik, Michael Gianaris, Barbara M. Clark, Mark Weprin, Ivan Lafayette, Margaret Markey, Audrey I. Pheffer, Brian McLaughlin, Anthony Seminerio, Ann Margaret Carrozza.


Deplores Kerry’s Comments


ToThe Editor:


Democratic Presidential frontrunner Senator John Kerry’s statement that "we need regime change in the United States" even as our troops are being fired upon in Iraq is beyond reprehensible, beyond irresponsible. It really is not hard to see how these statements could play out on Iraqi State TV and television networks throughout the Middle East. (Perhaps…"[President George W.] Bush’s likely successor Democratic frontrunner stated today that regime change in Iraq is a secondary consideration. The U.S. needs a regime change even more. Anti-war protesters in New Hampshire, U.S.A. supported Kerry’s statements saying the U.S. is an outlaw nation whose illegal war on Iraq is a terrorist act.Separately France’s Prime Minister indicated America’s actions are morally and legally erroneous. Syria called for a cease fire and a negotiated solution.")


Lest anyone think Senator Kerry’s statement was an errant slip of the tongue or merely an ill conceived and uninspired attempt to display an absent wit and non-existent personality—it wasn’t. Heck, even Senator Hillary [Clinton] has parsed her words more carefully on different days of the week.


Senator Kerry clearly thinks the American people are half-wits. More particularly he must believe the left win in his own party will carry him through key Democratic primaries as a reward for his irreverence and lack of solidarity with our president and our troops. Its axiomatic after all that the left has inordinate sway over Democratic primary results whereas the inverse trend can be observed in the GOP.


Senator Kerry’s thinking quite clearly must go something like this…"Mental note to self…


Peaceniks and left-wingers are halfwits. I’ll say something aggrievously (sic) anti-American but pithy and they will just eat it up.They’ll forget I gave the Prez a blank check vote for the war. Then after the Democratic opposition thins out in early 2004 I will remind more rational centrist voters that I am a decorated Vietnam veteran and voted for the Iraq war so I am equipped to be Commander inChief and that will enable me to recapture the independent voters.After all the voters have short attention spans. The vets will remember, but I’ll promise them a better benefit package and that will give me cover.Then maybe I will try and confuse Irish Catholics into thinking I am Irish and can refresh the stories about that paternal grandmother being of Jewish heritage.I really need to come up with a new look too. Maybe a new hairstyle?"


Sincrely,


Vincent Tabone,Esq.


Vice Chairman, Queens County Republican Party Executive Committee


Astoria


Hails 114th Precinct


To The Editor:


Your cover story, "Bloomberg Confers Award on 114th Precinct Cop," April 12, 2003 gives me pause to remember and thank that precinct again.


Last year I was being brutally assaulted.They came to my aid quickly.I’m alive today because those officers responded, arrested and charged the assailant. They put me in touch with Safe Horizons and the district attorney’s office.


God bless them.I have my life today. I’m not some other woman killed by a boyfriend or husband.


Very truly yours,


Patty Loughran


Astoria




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