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Opinion

Letters to the editor

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.23.2006
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Cause of own unrest
Edmund Hanauer's view of the Israel-Palestinian conflict is based on false descriptions of events and conditions ("U.S. support has allowed Israel to violate Palestinian rights repeatedly" Feb. 13).
The advancement of such views is an obstacle to peace. Propaganda is a weapon used in the Middle East to incite violence. When propaganda is presented as fact, it encourages those who desire to fight for the destruction of Israel to believe that such a goal is attainable and better than peace.
By their choice of Hamas, Palestinians have made a statement that they do not desire peace. This should come as no surprise. Where suicide bombers are glorified and rational voices are beaten down, it's hard to imagine an effective peace party developing. U.S. policy is not the cause of the unrest: It is acts of terror arising from the Palestinians themselves.
Eric Nadler
Attorney, Tucson
Need info to prepare
Hurricanes, terrorism, drought, fires, bird flu! All these possible disasters and past disasters seen in newspapers daily, but has anyone thought to publish even monthly what the average householder needs to do to prepare? No! Imagine if the people of New Orleans knew months ahead of time that they needed a two-week supply of food, water and medicine. Imagine the lives that would have been saved. Why aren't we being informed?
Grace Rich
Retired teacher, Tucson
Left-wingers hypocritical
Re: the Feb. 16 guest column "Stand up against extremists, reject Protect Marriage petition."
I am always amazed at the hypocrisy on the left. It seems they want everyone to be tolerant of their views but refuse to show others the same courtesy. While I do not agree with Vicki B. Gaubeca's position on same-sex marriage, I would hardly call myself an extremist, nor would the majority of Arizonans who support the Protect Marriage Arizona initiative.
What Gaubeca has done is take a play from the liberal playbook — instead of taking about the issues in a public debate, she resorts to the politics of personal destruction. The Protect Marriage Arizona initiative should be put to the voters. This is not hate-mongering; it is democracy in its purest form. Does Gaubeca believe in freedom for only those who subscribe to her narrow definition of it?
Kenneth Eugene Halley
911 dispatcher, Willcox
Tax affects visitors, too
Re: the Feb. 16 article "Tax on money transfers would fund border wall."
I sure hope I misunderstand this article. As a Canadian snowbird who is contemplating annual winter residence here, I will have to change my plans if Arizona adds 8 percent to my expenses when I transfer in Canadian dollars to spend in Tucson. So much for any thought of buying property here!
Paul Perry
Ottawa, Ontario
Careful who you call elite
Re: the Feb. 16 letter to the editor "UA lab should go."
How do you move a long-term experiment to "a less populated location?" The UA lab has been conducting the experiment in desert plant and animal biology since the early 20th century. Moving it would be starting all over again, 90 years behind.
Tumamoc is beautiful. Would it be as beautiful if covered with a gated community after the UA sells or trades the state land to a private developer? Or would the author again have to fight said developer for trail access?
The author should be careful whom she calls elite. The elite living in the new development might not like her passing by on the way to the top either. And maybe she wouldn't be able to go there if a few elite folk decide the view is best from on top and build on the best flat sites.
Joel Charles
Retired, Tucson
Harms students, professors
Re: the Feb. 16 article "College offensive-reading opt-out advances."
The lack of thought of some of our legislators is amazing. Now a student who finds evolution "personally offensive" or against his/her religion will be eligible to have it classified as smut under the overly broad language proposed by Sen. Thayer Verschoor.
A student poorly grounded in the life of many cultures and given the option of demanding alternative reading materials can extend quickly from one book, cited as the spark that started this bill, into areas of science and practice where secular and sectarian ideas clash regularly.
This proposed law would allow Arizona college students to become parochial and stilted and would hamstring professors, forcing them to find alternative materials that are milksop to meets the students' desires.
This goes well beyond literature into the ideas surrounding the quashing of thinking by sectarian groups.
Gregory Chmara
Tucson
Unbelievable proposals
Proposals moving forward in our Legislature (1) require college instructors to provide alternative reading assignments to every student who finds an assignment "personally offensive" and (2) prevent doctors and clinics from treating teens for sexually transmitted diseases unless they have parents' consent.
Have I fallen down the rabbit hole?
Faye C. Hoese, LPC, NCC
Child/family therapist and college psychology instructor, Bisbee
Negativity not good for anyone
Re: the Feb. 16 article "Officer kills man who pulled out a gun, police say."
Reporters really need to start thinking about the people who read the paper. Why did the reporter have to state that the suspect graduated from Pueblo High School? All she had to write is that the suspect is a high school graduate.
Pueblo High School is a great school and works hard to educate students. Negative press not only hurts the school but the students who are proud to have graduated and who are going to graduate from Pueblo.
Rebecca Lujan
Tucson
Exercise care in descriptions
Re: the Feb. 17 article "Coach, girl may have had liaison."
A 15-year-old cannot consent to have sex under Arizona law. She may claim it was a consensual relationship, but most 15-year-olds lack the cognitive or emotional maturity to fully understand or process a sexual relationship with a person 10 years their senior. The power dynamic that gets added into the equation because of the student-teacher relationship just makes this case all the more troubling.
When the Star calls sexual conduct with a minor a "liaison," you minimize the very real and lifelong trauma this girl will likely face. Please exercise more care in the future when describing alleged sexual violence.
Fortunately, there are places in Tucson, such as the Center Against Sexual Assault, to help treat that trauma so this girl and others like her can grow into healthy, happy women.
Michael Mandel
Tucson
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