I agree with the Tribune Editorial Board’s strong defense of the First Amendment right of U.S. permanent residents (“US green-card holders should not be made to live in fear,” March 11). I disagree with its characterization of Mahmoud Khalil as “a supporter of Hamas” rather than as a supporter of Palestinian rights.
As Hitchens’ razor states: Claims without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. Where is the board’s evidence that he was a Hamas supporter?
By all accounts, he was negotiating on behalf of protesters demanding that Columbia University disclose its investments and divest from companies invested in Israel’s brutal occupation, which has resulted in thousands of deaths, including 50,000 in the past year.
Something worth speaking up about.
— Mohiuddin Ahmed, River Forest
Rights of noncitizens
Noncitizens are our guests and should be treated as such. The rights and privileges granted them should be spelled out and align with the purpose of their residency.
In my judgment, a noncitizen should not be granted the unfettered rights and privileges of citizenship, including those of the First Amendment. This is especially true for anyone in league with a perceived enemy such as Hamas.
If you want to live with us but advocate against us, first become one of us.
— Bob Fitzgerald, Chicago
Editorial is an insult
Much troubles me about the editorial about green card holders.
First, the Tribune Editorial Board states: “We consider supporters of Hamas on campuses or anywhere else to be misguided.” Putting ketchup on a hotdog is “misguided.” Supporting a murderous terrorist organization actively engaged in committing the worst crimes imaginable is despicable.
Second, the board concedes: “Jewish students have rights, too, and deserve to be free of harassment.” How generous of the board. For anyone who had a child at Columbia, Northwestern or many other schools over the past two years, this throwaway line is an absolute insult.
— Michael R. Weiner, Chicago
Don’t applaud spectacle
When will Donald Trump fatigue set in? For me, not soon enough. The 2024 inauguration of our current leader feels like it occurred a century ago, in a faraway land.
I am beyond exhausted, hurt, terrified and insulted. This is the stuff I shudder about when reading news articles and history books about other places, not my country. I keep wondering how this can be happening, and yet there are Americans cheering it on. I watch Elon Musk gleefully wield a chainsaw or President Trump hawk “Teslers” on the White House lawn when, in reality, the current layoffs of federal workers is the ultimate affront.
My fellow Americans, please stop applauding this shameful spectacle. Crack open a history book, read our Constitution and open your eyes.
— Moisette Sintov McNerney, Arlington Heights
Bringing jobs back
I am truly fascinated by the apparent debate over bringing industry and therefore jobs back to America. People seem to forget that we sent these jobs overseas with our demand over lower prices on everything. Wages in countries such as China and India are substantially lower than in the United States. The television you buy today for $600 would like be 50% higher or more manufactured in the U.S.
So when the same goods now manufactured overseas become produced here, people should expect higher prices. It is a simple economic fact. So tariffs, while raising prices on imported goods with the expectation of moving product to the U.S., is simply step one to higher prices. One could argue that bringing jobs back will lead to people perhaps being able to afford higher prices, but likely it just leads to more inflation. And it is not only the higher cost of labor but also the cost to industries to duplicate manufacturing capacity that will lead to higher costs.
Does anyone think that corporate America will just eat these costs?
Politicians are all about short-term thinking. And while bringing jobs back to America sounds like a worthy goal, it comes with a price that they would rather not talk about. Much easier to kick the can down the road.
— Ken Stead, Aurora
Now on the watchlist
These United States, land of the free, have joined the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia in inclusion on the Civicus Monitor watchlist as a country with deteriorating civil rights, notable for a decrement in freedoms directly linked to President Donald Trump’s administration’s “assault on democratic norms and global cooperation.”
In its listing, the international nonprofit cites suppression of protest and of the media and the replacement of nonpartisan employees with loyalists as an “unparalleled attack on the rule of law.”
Yay, us.
— Mia Marietta, Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Support food systems
Wake me up from this nightmare. I am pushing for solutions to strengthen local food, protect farmers and support all families in a myriad of crumbling systems.
On March 11, Illinois farmers, food businesses and families facing the US. Department of Agriculture funding freeze, tariffs and Farm Bill delay provided testimonies in a subject matter hearing held by the General Assembly’s Agriculture Committee. Upstanders provided compelling responses to the Illinois Department of Agriculture recently receiving word that the USDA would not provide reimbursement funding for costs incurred after Jan. 19 in local food assistance programs.
The stories told, data provided and statements made need to reach every eater in this state.
Without healthy soils, there will be no healthy people. The programs that were abruptly cut by the current federal administration were designed to help Illinois farmers growing food and taking care of soils as well as boost nutritional offerings provided by many food banks. Distribution efforts were actually impacting students and families in both urban and rural communities of Illinois!
Promises were broken, and people are paying the price now. This decision is negatively impacting our food, education, health and economic systems in one fell swoop.
If you aren’t joining folks advocating for a better food system in Illinois now, what are you waiting for?
— Amy Bartucci, Park Ridge
The fight against cancer
Recently, I traveled to Washington to join the One Voice Against Cancer coalition, to ask U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Richard Durbin and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider to protect funding for cancer prevention programs and federal cancer research to ensure continued progress in the fight against cancer. As a 27-year breast cancer survivor and volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, I shared with them how the nation’s critical research foundation has played a role in advancing every major breakthrough in cancer research over the last 50 years.
In fact, a record number of Americans are surviving cancer today due to these previous research investments. There are more than 18 million U.S. cancer survivors today, and death rates have continued to decline with 4.5 million fewer deaths since 1991.
While these numbers show positive momentum, our work is far from over. It is estimated that 2 million people in America will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025 — that’s roughly 5,500 diagnoses each day. This is a dire statistic that calls for all hands on deck. We can’t afford to lose momentum in the fight against cancer because lives depend on it.
Thank you to Duckworth, Durbin and Schneider for meeting with me and for listening to how cancer has affected so many constituents.
— Maggie Powell, Waukegan
Nurse’s view of vaccine
I strongly disagree with the messaging about the current measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, which is now spreading to other states.
As a pediatric and certified college health nurse for more than 40 years, I have given many thousands of vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella and found the vaccine very safe and effective. It is a live virus vaccine, but the virus in it is attenuated or weakened. Because of this, it provides excellent immunity. The side effects are minimal, all gone in a day or two. The manufacturer, Merck, has always been a great partner with our nurses and was always available to answer our questions on its hotline.
People should be confident in this vaccine. No amount of nutrition or exercise will prevent this airborne virus from spreading. We had an outbreak at Northwestern University in the 1980s after spring break, and after seeing a case, we could not use that exam room for 24 to 48 hours after cleaning. It is very contagious!
Of course, always consult your doctor about the right time for your child or young adult to receive it. They should not be sick or feverish.
Hopefully, we can eradicate this very intense disease again.
— Mary Karin Oatess, Wilmette
Blows to VA research
I am an Army veteran (Vietnam, 1968-69), and I am very grateful for the benefits I have received from the Veterans Affairs Department. To assist in the good work of the VA, I have volunteered to take part in the Million Veteran Program, described by the VA as “a national research program looking at how genes, lifestyle, military experiences, and exposures affect health and wellness in veterans.” Most Americans do not know how much important medical research is performed by the VA.
Now, the Department of Government Efficiency and the VA, under the direction of VA Secretary Doug Collins, is postponing and canceling important clinical trials and other medical research. In addition, Collins has promised to fire 80,000 VA employees by June.
I am angry and disgusted by this dereliction of duty to serve and care for veterans. It is an affront to all veterans and all decent Americans. It must be stopped.
— Alan Bergeson, Winfield
Praise for immigrants
My dear wife battled Alzheimer’s disease for seven years before she died. In those years, I hired several caregivers to help me with her care. Most of them were immigrants. I thank God for each and every one of them.
One of the caregivers was Lithuanian. When the Russians took over Eastern Europe after World War II, her father was sent to Siberia for 17 years. His only crime was his wealth.
Vladimir Putin has a special place waiting for President Donald Trump
— Tim Ryan, Downers Grove
Not along for the ride
Trying to piece together a cogent agenda for this administration is like working with Silly Putty. Administration officials mold it one way, but since that direction makes no sense, when they come back in 24 hours and see it was a bad choice, they mold it in another direction.
The degree of uncertainty is having a terrible effect on the income and savings of most Americans. This administration has known all along that the results of its sophomoric behavior will hit below the belt for most voters. Now scary words such as “recession,” “pain at the pump” and “up to $12,000 increases in new car prices” are being peppered into officials’ soundbites.
I’m OK with this administration’s voters getting caught in the lies, but I don’t want to come along for the ride.
— Sandy Pernick, Wilmette
Letter writers’ objections
Jim Nowlan and Ray LaHood lay out a solid case against Illinois gerrymandering in their Feb. 27 op-ed (“Extreme gerrymandering as bad as old white-only primaries”).
I found the objections to their thoughtful piece — from letter writers Mary Peterson (“Op-ed is hypocritical”) and Kathleen Hernandez (“Only OK for GOP to do?”) on March 9 — to be beyond disingenuous.
The objections point out that gerrymandering also happens in red states. Of course it does. However, Nowlan and LaHood live in Illinois, and the bulk of the Tribune’s readership lives in Illinois.
What value would have been added if LaHood and Nowlan had noted the same sin is committed in red states? Can’t we aspire to do better than those states?
The only other states worth noting are Arizona and Washington, states that have had the good sense and integrity to establish nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
— Sam Cordes, Chicago
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
