Edinburgh, Scotland: U.K. Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer and President Biden need to catch up with the public. In this context, I mean voters as opposed to the mysterious people who the pundit industry take into focus groups or those who answer opinion pollsters (who never seem to be people like me who always vote).
The voting public, a shrinking phenomenon outside of referenda, understand what Starmer and Biden do not: Gaza is just a worse version of Ukraine, which is a more up-to-date version of Iraq.
We are sick of warmongers and sicker of those who pander to or enable them. That instinct was clearly on display when, despite the withholding of relevant information, the public sensed the wrongness of the illegal invasion of Iraq when the press and politicians were duped. When it comes to Ukraine, with its white European-esque population, Western governments and their voters have been in lock-step on the whole. With Iraq, they got it wrong. With Gaza, they are getting it so very much more wrong.
When it comes to Gaza, Biden and Starmer are forgetting one thing that is different from Iraq: Voters don’t have to accept the legacy media slant or that of the politicians. It’s playing out in real time before their eyes on a daily basis. I have said it before; it bears saying again — to both Starmer and Biden — in the coming national elections, when turnout for both will be pivotal: The ghosts of Gaza are waiting. Amanda Baker
Brooklyn: To all those who are rightly outraged by the situation in Gaza, on either side of the issue, I believe now is the time to give voice to your feelings. Let the government know what you feel about our policies in the region. But in November, please remember that we live in the United States of America, not in the Middle East. There are too many serious challenges to our own democracy to vote for a presidential candidate based on problems half a world away. Ilsa Ruthen
Ridgewood, N.J.: Re “Aid orgs halt Gaza work” (April 3): A known food storage and distribution warehouse. Three well-marked vehicles of aid workers. Coordinated with IDF area commanders. All that and the IDF “accidentally” attacked the convoy — right. Israel’s attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy was no accident. It was a calculated exercise in terror so that Israel can continue to starve the residents of Gaza. The murder of these aid workers was a war crime. Because of this Israeli terrorism, several aid groups are withdrawing from Gaza. Hamas may have started this latest fight, but this blood is on Israeli hands. Peter J. Peirano
Brooklyn: Israel is obviously getting its wish to be able to kill Palestinians. The thing that really gets me is the standard, apparently justifiable statement, “The attacks of Oct. 7, the attacks of Oct. 7.” Take a look at what Israel was doing to Palestinians prior to Oct. 7 and maybe all may understand the other side of the conflict. Jim Carney
Garfield, N.J.: To Voicer Philip A. Farruggio: If Oskar Schindler were an Israeli Jew, he would have never been able to open a factory in Gaza. Remember that all Israelis were forced to leave in 2005, and Gaza became Judenfrei. Then it became a terrorist state. If he would have tried to open a factory at that time, chances are he would have been massacred, like the two soldiers who took a wrong turn into Ramallah. George Schwartz
Middletown, Conn.: In Thursday’s paper, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he doesn’t have a big concern about Giancarlo Stanton. Why would he? Stanton is a Triple Crown player. He can not hit, run or play the field. When will the Yankees finally face reality, write a check and say goodbye? Gerard Winzer
Ottawa, Canada: Watching the news about New York’s earthquake and the recent Baltimore bridge collapse warrants urgent inspections of all bridges, particularly where huge containers and ships pass through — and prayers that nothing like that collapse happens again. I was in Tampa when Sunshine Sky Bridge collapsed, and I was glad to hear Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg mention it during his take on bridges. Lately, things are happening that we never imagined, like windows being blown away from the plane. Sometimes, things happen. Anant Nagpur
Astoria: Tuesday, presidential primary day, was a gray, rainy and rather raw day. I took the Q101 bus to Manhattan. Due to a fall, I am walking with a cane. As I went to take a seat, the bus driver called out, “Don’t sit on individual seats on the right side of the bus, they are wet.” I was so happy to sit, I neglected to notice. I found a dry seat and parked it! The bus driver called out, “Are you OK and in a seat?” He waited for my reply before pulling out of the bus stop. I thanked him, then he thanked me for acknowledging his concern. When I arrived at my stop, I thanked him again. With a warm smile, he answered, “You are very welcome. Have a wonderful day.” For the remainder of the day I walked around in a good mood. During these times, simple acts of kindness can go a long way! Karen N. Pearlman
Manhattan: Migrants are receiving debit cards with money loaded to be able to purchase food for their families. This is a slap in the face to many New Yorkers who reside here who are already struggling with having the essential necessities. Ultimately, I’m not surprised because you get what you vote for. Most New Yorkers have been brainwashed to vote for one party instead of critically thinking for themselves, and that probably won’t change. Omar Branch
Jackson Heights: Before Gov. Hochul overrode them, the MTA was demanding a $750,000 ransom from the New York Road Runners, the organizers of the New York City Marathon, to compensate them for lost toll revenue by shutting down the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. With the current outrageous tolls, that’s about the amount generated by a dozen cars and 10 trucks. How about going after the fare evaders? Or does that make too much sense? Glenn B. Jacobi
Brooklyn: To Voicer Robert Mascali: Glue traps are a horrible and torturous way to die, often a slow and agonizing death. Yes, we need to do something about the rat problem, but using such a method is inhumane. They gnaw their limbs off just to try and get free. Their skin and fur adheres to the surface, tearing from their bodies. Horrible and unnecessary! No creature should have to endure this. We use humane mice traps and they work great. No harm to the little guys, and we set them free outside. They rarely come back inside. While I don’t have the answer for the rat problem, more research needs to be done into alternatives, such as birth control and natural deterrents. All creatures deserve respect. Susan Cassano
Bronx: The unprecedented interest in the April 8 total solar eclipse tells me that people sense that something important will be happening in the U.S., especially in the path of totality. An eclipse wipes something out so that something else can replace it. Since the eclipse occurs at 19-degree Aries, people born on that day will have to take care of their health and well-being; 19-degree Cancer, 19-degree Libra and 19-degree Capricorn, in square to the eclipse point, need to pay attention also. If you have 19-degree Taurus or 19-degree Scorpio in your second or eighth house cusps (like Aries), buy lottery tickets after the eclipse and for a few weeks after. I would expect weather and economic changes, a spotlight on our youth and changes in a couple governorships. There is more to say, but observe the results of the phenomenon and learn to judge events. Rose Mary Lancaster
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