Long-obstructed Palestinian self-determination
Manhattan: The Voice of the People has through the years presented a sampling of opinions on many topics. It would be interesting to read a few more about how the Palestinian problem should play out, 20 years after the death of Yasser Arafat.
For hundreds of years, Palestine had been an Arab and mostly Muslim territory, controlled by the Ottoman Empire since the 16th century. The Turks picked the losing side in World War I and were forced to relinquish it in the peace agreements. At this juncture, one must suspend disbelief that a newly formed League of Nations, lacking any Arab members, had the authority to dispose of former Ottoman territories. But the League de facto created a U.K. mandate over Palestine, where the Brits decided to include a refuge for Jews (which did not go well). World War II happened, and while their co-religionists were perishing in Nazi death camps, the Zionist faction began manipulating to convert the promise of “homeland” into a state (there were supporters of Zionism without territorial ambitions). The UN came into being, passing the partition plan for Palestine in 1947. Israel declared independence, with the UN’s ex post facto blessing. The UN Trusteeship Council overseeing Palestine until it was ready for independence essentially became moribund after Israel jumped the gun.
If one accepts provisionally that Israel’s existence is legitimate (i.e. that the UN had the authority to allow a mostly immigrant population, constituting maybe 30% of the total, to take control), it would seem that that control could not exceed the boundaries of the UN’s 1947 partition. Further, if the Palestinians chose other than the unified governance that has failed all over the globe, would the UN allow that degree of sovereignty? Michele P. Brown
Stand with them
Brooklyn: I keep all my VOP letters. I remember one very clearly. Here it is, May 25, 2021: “I will never forget the time my fifth-grade daughter was assigned ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel. She was crying. I went into her room and we read it together that night. We both cried. I suggest many of you should read it as well.” At this tragic time in history, we must use our voices against antisemitism. We must show our support for the Bibas family and all the hostages. Once again, I am sharing this, and it’s sad that I have to. Mariann Tepedino
Ignored atrocities
Bronx: To Voicer Toby Lerner: Those you call “prisoners who for whatever reason deserved to be jailed” were not charged nor brought to court. Many were children. Many were tortured and raped (with the torture and rape bragged about on social media). Keep spouting your Zionist B.S. Richie Nagan
Spelling it out
Manhattan: I could not help noticing that in Monday’s edition, the WordWheel puzzle at the top of page 29 had all the letters of the word. The idea is to omit one letter and replace it with a question mark. I enjoy this puzzle a lot. By the way, the word was “disperse.” Charles Adrian O’Connor
Soulful songstress
New Windsor, N.Y.: I was saddened about the loss of Roberta Flack. With a voice that was smooth as butter, along with a great deal of class, she was one of the greatest female vocalists ever. “Killing Me Softly with His Song” was her signature song, but there were many others, like “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Not to mention collaborations with Peabo Bryson, The Fugees, Maxi Priest and last but not least, Donny Hathaway, with whom she had several hits. Rest in peace, Roberta Cleopatra Flack. You and Donny are now indeed “Back Together Again.” Todd Schuster
Mirroring
Brooklyn: Voicer Robert Rundbaken regurgitates the left’s rubbish that’s constantly spewed against President Trump. He mentions the mindless assertion that Trump is a convicted criminal. He is convicted in the same sense that Americans are often convicted in Russia and China for fabricated crimes. To people like Rundbaken, it apparently does not matter what kind of degenerates did the convicting as long as it was against someone they don’t like. Government officials involved in the Russian collusion debacle, for example, were as dishonest and rotten as they come. But Trump-haters like Rundbaken have no problem with that. He tells me to “look to yourself for giving blind support” to Trump. I have, and I find myself giving enlightened support to one of the most honest and dignified human beings to occupy the White House. Rundbaken should look at himself and determine why the gross dishonesty of the left does not bother him. Josh Greenberger
Lay off, already
Linden, N.J.: I am exhausted with the tenacity of the Dems and press in this Trump witch hunt. The Dems weaponized the judicial system to pursue Trump, who, in my opinion, was an altar boy in comparison to the debauchery and questionable financial arrangements enjoyed by Hunter Biden and his father’s sources of income. Does that not make Joe Biden complicit? But then he pardons his son and entire family. Concerned with payback? I don’t think Trump is perfect, but none of them are. The Dems perpetrated a lie for four years, pretending Joe Biden was coherent. Don’t you feel deceived? I do. How can I trust them again? It seems that Biden’s only agenda was to get Trump, not run the country. Trump’s approach is “shock and awe.” Give our president a chance. Charles Olbrys Jr.
Comedy of corruption
Bronx: Every day since the inauguration, I’ve felt like I’m living a “Saturday Night Live” skit. Trump wants tariffs on Mexico and Canada because he thinks the current trade agreement is a disaster. But he drafted it in 2018. Ha! Trump promised no cuts to Medicaid, but Medicaid cuts are part of the proposed budget. What a riot! He wants to rid the country of “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” and allow only white South Africans and millionaires to come in. Funny stuff! Musk violated his student visa and became an illegal immigrant, yet all is forgiven — nay, rewarded! Teehee! He needs access to sensitive data, so of course he hires someone who was fired for leaking confidential information. I can’t stop laughing! Who wrote this script? It’s genius. Maria Bonsanti
Unchecked claims
Manhattan: You have to hand it to the PR department of the MTA. The B.S. they put out is on par with the B.S. the Trump administration puts out. Where is the accountability from the media challenging their so-called facts? Joseph Duffy
Top cop
Brooklyn: As the city of New York drowns in corruption, mismanagement and crime, the only person capable of bringing it back is Jessica Tisch. Just think about it. Louie Scarcella
Insufficient funds
Whitestone: “Dashing through the cold with scant pay” (op-ed, Feb. 24) highlighted the struggle of food delivery drivers even after a law was passed to raise their wages. They work hard and deserve proper compensation, but the lower wage of FDNY EMS members sticks out like a sore thumb. New York’s EMTs, consistently overlooked despite promises to address pay disparity, start at $18.94 per hour, just above the $16 per hour delivery workers get while idling and far below the $30 per hour they were supposed to get while on delivery. EMS workers are dedicated to their difficult and dangerous jobs, which involve regular contact with communicable diseases, coping with significant stress, and even attacks and muggings while on duty. I can no longer tell the public or my people in good faith to join or stay in the FDNY if the city does not seem interested in fixing this issue. Oren Barzilay, president, FDNY EMS Local 2507
Far-flung banking
White Plains, N.Y.: With so many pot stores in walking distance in White Plains and so few banks in walking distance, I feel they are making it easier to buy drugs than to walk to a bank. Most seniors would rather have fewer pot stores in walking distance and have their banks a lot closer to them. Which one should be more important? I am sure that if you asked, having banks closer would be the answer. Joan Cocurullo