Readers may recall reading in their high school history class about the so-called Peloponnesian War that took place in ancient Greece. Even while Greece civilization was flourishing, Athens and Sparta — both city-states in Greece — went to war with each other. The fighting went on for 27 years. Democracy declined. A young Macedonian ruler named Philip conquered the Greeks and took over the country. And the Greeks lost their independence.
We’ve heard it said that “history repeats itself.” Well, I can’t help but think that what happened in ancient Greece is happening right now in our beloved United States.
The Democrats and Republicans are so focused on destroying each other that they seem to not be noticing how divided our country is becoming. I only hope that people wake up — before we lose our freedom, too!
— Barbara Gembala Nakanishi, Fox Lake
Lie about hurricane relief
Recently, while I was standing in a glacially moving line at the Starbuck’s in Plaza del Lago, I was treated to an exchange between two young men in their early 20s, I’d reckon. Two sentences caught my ear, and I felt obligated to speak up, as the onset of old age has, more or less, emboldened me into not letting things stand.
The first one, the one who had clearly already established which side of the political fence he was on, said verbatim: “The White House is withholding hurricane relief funds from districts known to be Republican-leaning.” “No kidding,” the other said. “That’s just terrible.”
I turned around and, to their astonishment, spoke to them as if I was involved with their discussion from the beginning. “Do you think, in an election year, in an election year in which margins are razor thin, do you think Democrats would decide this is the right time to punish voters for being Republican? Don’t you think that the devious Democrats, the ones you are sure stole the last election, would have the political savvy to say, ‘Gee. We have an opportunity here to go out of our way to be even-handed in our hurricane relief and at the same time perhaps ingratiate ourselves to the local GOP voters. Naah. Instead, let’s deny them aid and offer up fodder for unsubstantiated (and ridiculous) claims.’
“What makes more sense?” I asked, hoping for an answer but not really expecting one.
“Well, that’s what I heard,” the first speaker offered, as if that was going to let him off the hook. No, not today. Not by me.
“Exactly,” I said. “And now you understand that while you might be a miniscule part of the problem, you are certainly not part of the solution. Maybe the next time you hear something that you’re prepared to accept hook, line and sinker, you’ll ask yourself: ‘In what universe does this make sense? Is this something I can repeat (as fact) and thereby associate my name with it?’”
— Stuart Linderman, Wilmette
The key pillars of freedom
Steve Chapman’s column (“Kamala Harris’ campaign claims the cause of freedom,” Oct. 3) says everything I’ve always wanted to say to those who tout the “Republican” freedom narrative, that Republicans stand for freedom and the Democrats will enslave you.
On each of the key pillars of freedom (religion, speech, press, reproductive choice, who you can love), Chapman shows the stark contrast between the presidential candidates. I am confident that any “undecided” who reads this piece and who truly cherishes liberty and freedom, will get off the fence.
— Tom Healy, Madison, Wisconsin
True meaning of religion
Kenneth Seeskin’s op-ed on Oct. 3 (“During Rosh Hashana, the challenge is turning a heart of stone into a heart of flesh”) resonated with me and compelled me to finally write my first letter to the editor.
With trepidation, I dare to summarize the thrust of his opinion piece as the purpose of religion is to lead people to better behavior. Prayer and other religious practices are good only if they lead to good behavior. Seeskin proposes, based upon his understandings of the writings of Isaiah the prophet (who is quoted or referred to 85 times in Christian Scriptures), that better behavior is helping the needy, seeking to right injustices and forgiving all those who have harmed us. This course of behavior could be further summarized as “love one another.”
That, I believe, is what God wants from us because that is what is best for us. This good behavior leads to peace, prosperity and happiness. Too many religions, unfortunately, are still nationalistic and sectarian and promote hate for those who do not adhere to their cult, code and creed. That thinking leads to conflicts, wars and chaos. Most of the wars since the beginning of the common era have been related, to some degree, to nationalism influenced by underlying religious sectarianism.
It is time that we adopt the concepts expounded by Seeskin and acknowledge that some of the primitive remnants in our religions are causing us to hate others and unreasonably fear them. What he writes may anger many Jews, Muslims and Christians who feel that the purpose of religion is to have God favor their position, their nation and their needs. We must realize, however, that a loving God could not want us to wage war against others in his name.
The only solution to the conflict in the Middle East is for all parties to love one another, forgive one another and help the needy among them. That is the true meaning of religion.
Thank you to Seeskin for his brilliant opinion piece!
— Michael Sise, Chicago
Ex-first lady’s shrewdness
Former first lady Melania Trump’s recent revelation about her support for bodily autonomy should not come as a surprise. In her recently released memoir, she questions why a woman shouldn’t have the power to determine what she does with her own body. Is the timing of her memoir’s release a coincidence? Possibly. Or is it plain calculating? Most likely.
On the cusp of the election, her husband is struggling with the abortion issue; there are 10 states where abortion rights will be on the ballot this fall. Two of these states are swing states, Arizona and Nevada. There is still a very small percentage of undecided voters, and the fact that Melania Trump has weighed on this issue at this juncture smacks of shrewdness and greed to me.
— Moisette Sintov McNerney, Arlington Heights
What happens in abortions
Responding to Heidi Stevens’ column “Abortion rights about far more than access” (Oct. 6), there is still one issue that is studiously avoided: What actually happens in an abortion? Stevens rightly recalls three terrible instances in which women were denied abortions. These are horrible but relatively rare cases.
After 50 years of Roe v. Wade, the issue has been relegated to “rights.” And abortion has become commonly used birth control. When the issue of the life of the unborn child is raised, pro-abortion rights advocates accuse anti-abortion rights advocates of imposing their belief.
There is no need to consult a pastor or rabbi or imam. If you honestly want to know what happens in an abortion, follow the science.
— Paul Seaman, Chicago
Tyranny seems to be theme
In a recent discussion in letters to the editor of majority versus minority “tyranny,” an important issue has been overlooked. Twenty of our fifty states presently have veto-proof Republican supermajorities in both legislative chambers, which most of those state legislatures have used to gerrymander their states’ electoral maps in order to ensure that those supermajorities are pretty much set in stone.
And what have states with these all-powerful supermajorities done? Passed draconian anti-abortion rights laws, passed laws that suppress voting, interfered with public school curricula and stymied anti-climate change legislation. If they think they can get by with it, will they interfere in the upcoming general election by throwing the certification of results into chaos?
Certainly sounds like tyranny to me.
— John Feaster, Valparaiso, Indiana
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.