Changing the clocks marks the change of seasons
Stamford, Conn.: As we approach daylight saving time this Sunday, we have to again endure the whining, complaining and calls for its abolition. So-called health experts once again talk about all of the physical and mental problems that changing the clocks cause in an effort to gain support for just one standard year-round time.
Daylight saving time has a long history in many parts of the world. It can be traced in one form or another to ancient civilizations. And the purpose has always been the same: to allow for the enjoyment of longer days of sunlight in the summer. What can be wrong with that?
To me, objections to daylight saving time are all a bunch of hogwash. Daylight saving time is the annual ritual that marks the unofficial end of the long, dark winter and the beginning of spring. It allows for later evenings outdoors, long walks, playing catch with the kids after dinner, family barbecues, a quick nine holes of golf starting at 6 p.m. and all of the other activities that draw us away from winter blues and back to the warmth and extended days of sunlight.
Change is good. And daylight saving time draws that line between hunkering down in front of the television during cold winter months and getting back to outdoor fun with family and friends. Don’t believe all the noise about the evils of the time change. It represents new life and renewal. It’s a ritual that should be enjoyed. Peter Janoff
Fee affordability
Holbrook, L.I.: A working person starts off his or her day being charged $9 for driving into Manhattan before even buying a cup of coffee. Here is my solution: You want congestion pricing? Fine. Leave the cameras up and charge $2. I don’t think any working person would mind paying $2 per day instead of $45 per week or $180 per month. It should be $2 per day for five years and then $2.50 for the next five years. MTA, take it or leave it. M.J. McManus
Land granted
Jamaica: To Voicer Michele P. Brown: The Zionists didn’t steal anything. They legally immigrated to Palestine and legally purchased land from absentee Arab landlords. The state of Israel was established under international law, the November 1947 UN Partition Resolution, which offered the Arabs a separate independent state in Palestine. You have overlooked the establishment of the Arab kingdom of Transjordan by the British in 1921, on 79% of the area of its Palestine mandate. Ebere Osu
Good-faith exchange
Manhattan: A suggestion that could have a positive effect on ending the impasse in Gaza would be this practical quid pro quo: Israel wants the return of the 24 to 30 (verified) surviving hostages and of the remains of the estimated 35 dead captives. Hamas says it wants the restoration of humanitarian aid for Gazans. The proposal would involve Israel’s agreeing to admit to Gaza 20 trucks of humanitarian aid per each released (living or dead) captive. Obviously, this is not going to resolve the issue of Gaza’s future, but it could mitigate much suffering and constitute a useful baby step toward encouraging the resumption of ceasefire negotiations. The proposal requires a tiny amount of imagination, a small amount of self-interest by Israeli and Hamas leaders and a moderate amount of courage. It’s worth a try. Aviva Cantor
State agent
Huntington Beach, Calif.: Thank you for publishing Danielle Bryant’s important op-ed on the Anti-Defamation League (“The ADL goes quiet on some hatreds,” op-ed, March 4). Sadly, the ADL has betrayed its original mission of fighting all forms of hate by acting as an apologist and attack dog for Israel’s far-right government, whitewashing its brutal oppression of the Palestinian people and war crimes in Gaza. By amplifying voices like Bryant’s that challenge powerful institutions, you foster important accountability, which is the role of a free press. I hope to see more viewpoints like this in the Daily News. Jeanne Whitesell
Wayward org
Culver City, Calif.: I really appreciated Danielle Bryant’s op-ed on the ADL. Many people have been noticing for years how poorly the ADL lives up to its stated mission and how misleading its reputation is. It is actually aiding and abetting the effort to quash free speech in the U.S. regarding Israel, and it is doing that in a particularly despicable way by branding that truth as antisemitic speech. Hopefully, Bryant’s article will help more of the public understand what this organization is doing. Thank you for the decision to publish this piece! M. Theresa Basile
Klepto-crazy
Brooklyn: It seems to me that the global tax war is about helping 2% over 98% of the U.S. and world population. It is about helping the 2% of the corporatocracy over the 98% of small businesses and their customers. Hail, hail the kleptocracy — nah! Barry Brothers
Lost it
Manhattan: After reading Voicer Charles Michael Sitero’s screed about Joe Biden and Ukraine, it’s obvious whose head has really exploded. David Sgorbati
Economic pressure
Delray Beach, Fla.: When ex-President Joe Biden was in office, many predicted a net loss of 20% of their portfolio, which I am sure did happen to many people. President Trump comes into office and yes, he has done an excellent job with the migrant situation, but what else has he done? Cuts, cuts and more cuts. All gains from when he took office are now gone. I am sure they will come back, but why the anxiety? For the average American, nothing has changed — food prices are off the charts (don’t even mention egg prices), no change in high interest rates, just beating down the average working citizen. Why do trade tariffs now when there are more important things for this country to worry about? Once again, the American people suffer, and there was no reason for it. Manny Agostini
Get serious
Richmond Hill: Why are the Republicans and the president taking so much time fussing about names of food, places and things? Republican Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to file a resolution to change New York strip steak to Texas strip; the president changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico and changing Denali to Mount McKinley — who cares about these names right now? They should be concentrating more on important government issues. The president and Republicans should spend their energies on the job they were voted in to do. While they are arguing about names, our country is worried about inflation, rising prices, job layoffs, economic instability, cost of health care and national security (including cyber), to name a few. They should use their time for more consequential issues! Ene Kelly
Grounds for hate
Scarsdale, N.Y.: Trump said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a lot of hatred for Vladimir Putin and that hatred was a real sticking point in brokering a ceasefire and peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. When the leader of Russia invades your country and bombs hospitals, nuclear power plants, residential buildings and schools and attempts to assassinate you several times, I’d be kinda surprised if you didn’t hate him. I know I would. Trump has this embarrassing and disturbing tendency to take Putin’s back when the rest of our intelligence apparatus says he’s not to be trusted. I’m beginning to think it’s more than just dictator envy. Curious. John Kern
The #2
Itasca, Ill.: I’ve supported both political parties, but George H.W. Bush vs. Mike Dukakis in 1988 tested me. On the campaign trail, Dukakis sounded more polished and astute. I voted for Bush anyway. My decision was determined less by Bush’s curious choice of Dan Quayle for a running mate than by the people who would actually run the country if Bush died in office. Essentially, I voted for Bush, Kansas Sen. Robert Dole and Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn. How can that be? Dole and Nunn weren’t on the ticket. Nunn was a Democrat. Here’s how: It wasn’t 2000, 2016 or 2024, when America received crash courses in Electoral College and Supreme Court function (or dysfunction). If Quayle became president, Dole, Nunn and a few others would have done the heavy governmental lifting. Spite was neutralized by a mutual desire to accomplish great things. Will the same be true if JD Vance replaces Trump before 2028? Jim Newton