Fond memories of Coney Island don't make for a profitable business | Opinion

Why is everyone blaming the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Music & Event Management Inc. for the closure of Coney Island? If you want to be angry, direct it at the amusement park/pool's owners for wanting to sell in the first place. For the record, I am an actual season pass holder. Fond memories don't make for a profitable business. Once the rides left, so did families, as well as company picnics. While I am very sad about the pool, MEMI is a well run company, and I am excited to see what they do next.

Melinda Lampke, Covington

Protest Coney Island closure by wearing beach attire to symphony

Here is an idea for people determined to protest the closing of Coney Island by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Continue to attend CSO events at Music Hall, but show up wearing bikinis and Speedos with beach towels draped over your shoulders, and in flip-flop sandals.

Jerry Galvin, Mount Lookout

Coney Island supporters should've bought the property

The local news is filled with heartbreaking stories of people who are upset by the shutdown of Coney Island. They tell tear-jerking stories of years ago enjoying swimming in the pool and other stories. They are now standing in front of Coney Island holding protest signs.

Where were these same people when the property went up for sale? If they wanted to preserve Coney Island as it is, why didn't they form a coalition and pool their funds, along with loans as necessary, to purchase the property?

What is happening now is true capitalism. The property has been purchased with the intent of transforming part of it into a third entertainment venue, open to the public, but also generating a profit to the new owners. Instead, they want a socialistic process to go forward wherein a small group determines what is best for the entire Greater Cincinnati area with no concern for expenses or management or profits.

William Whipp, Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Left-wing initiatives have weakened, demoralized our military

Former University of Cincinnati football coach and now Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville was roundly criticized for holding up military promotions because of his dislike for the Pentagon's abortion policy as it related to military personnel. Right or wrong on that issue, I do agree with his premise that our military has never been so unprepared to defend our country. Left-wing initiatives such as vaccine mandates and diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) have demoralized current military personnel and have led to a disastrous decline in recruiting. A prime example of how we're viewed as a "fighting force" is right in front of us, as Iran, the Houthis, and Hezbollah are currently testing us daily in the Middle East. Unless we quickly find a way to shore up our recruiting and replenish the materiel that we've sent to Ukraine, we'll remain vulnerable not only to our major adversaries but some minor ones as well. After all. protecting our country is supposed to be a president's number one priority.

Edward Riesling, Lebanon

Cincinnati's finest public pool has closed

My parents did not have the money to send me to summer camps or to join a fancy private swim club. They did buy a family summer pass to Coney Island Sunlite Pool and it was there I spent my childhood summers. At the pool, my three siblings and I learned to swim and later joined the Coney Island Aquanauts Swim Team (founding members!). Later, as a college student, I taught swim lessons at Coney Island. I was dismayed when I learned Coney Island, after operating for 137 years, was permanently closing at the end of 2023. At a time when communities have galvanize to create more access to public pools and prevent nearly 4,000 childhood drownings each year, Cincinnati is choosing to close its finest public pool. Note, these drownings disproportionately affect disadvantaged youth and minorities.

Valerie Vogel, Hyde Park

Classical music station a pleasant surprise to my ears

A pleasant, happy experience occurred as a result of one of my Christmas gifts, a new portable radio to use around my apartment or on my deck during warmer months. When I switched from AM to FM, a second gift arrived − WGUC classical music. It seems the same setting for 700 WLW-AM works for 90.1 WGUC-FM without moving the tuning dial! I have never been a big classical music fan, but the relaxing pleasant music I heard as I switched to FM was a wonderful change from my usual talk radio and rock 'n' roll/country music channels. I was so pleased with this unexpected second gift that I also put my money where my "ears" are and sent a contribution to WGUC, something I will now do on a regular basis. Perhaps others would like to give WGUC a try.

Kenneth Lysaght, Hyde Park

A long and nasty 2024 presidential race lies ahead

Regarding, "Jan. 6 insurrection wasn't normal. It may be start of something worse," (Jan. 6) by Opinion Editor Kevin Aldridge: In a conversation with Enquirer columnist Jason Williams published in this paper after the riots of 2020 to 2022, Aldridge said, "While I don’t agree with looting, property damage and violence, it is disappointing some have allowed that to become the focus of their attention instead of the very issues being raised by the peaceful protesters." Following President Joe Biden’s recent divisive and deceitful speech (about the events of Jan. 6 and Donald Trump), I fear a long and nasty 2024 presidential race. Indeed let us focus on the very real issues of our day.

Tim Souder, Pleasant Ridge

Backers of anti-trans bill want you to parent their way

Backers of the anti-trans House Bill 68 want to bar you from deciding how to parent your kids and force you to parent said kids the way they think you should. Simple as that.

Jack Brennan, Clifton

Some don't understand the blessings of democracy

Anyone who believes the President of the United States controls gas prices has no concept of the global economy. Anyone who believes this country belongs exclusively to folks of European descent has no knowledge of Pre-Columbian North America, or the official stance of the republic to harbor folks "yearning to breathe free." Anyone who believes President Donald Trump did not engage in unconstitutional rebellion against the U.S. is clearly delusional, and anyone who elects a president who believes, among other crudities, that everything is OK as long as you have a nice piece of "female backside (paraphrasing here) to grab" not only doesn't understand the blessings of democracy, but doesn't deserve to live under them, and probably won't for long.

Steve Hennessy, Westwood

Poorly trained teachers with guns won't make schools safer

I wonder how long it will take for a student to take a gun away from a teacher and use it. Friendly fire has hurt people in wars. Guns in school with poorly trained teachers is not the answer.

Ernest McAdams Jr., North Avondale

Bengals have put all their eggs in Joe Burrow basket

What to do about the Cincinnati Bengals’ $250-million-dollar baby, Joe Burrow? Sure, he’s very likeable and has great talent and leadership ability. But there’s one big problem: He’s extremely injury prone.

Last year, he had a knee strain in January, a knee/MCL strain in February, a calf strain in July, and a wrist ligament tear in November. That’s unfortunate, of course, but in each case, he was of little or no use to his team. Without Burrow, the Bengals floundered.

Maybe Bengals management should rethink their decision to put all of their eggs in one basket, and decide to spend money boosting other positions on the team. That might give them a better chance of winning when Burrow is out of commission.

Powell Grant, Oakley

Historical P&G factory in St. Bernard should be preserved

I hope Procter and Gamble and the St. Bernard Soap Co. can find a way to use the historic and the oldest of P&G's factory sites in St. Bernard. Many cities have renovated old factories and created museums to educate the public. This building and its history would exemplify Ohio's Social Studies content curriculum goals in many ways. Illustrating the past history of the popular products created here and their effects on Cincinnati's economy are just some examples.

This presents a valuable opportunity to teach our children the value of preserving history for future generations. I believe this site could become a popular field trip destination for schools, tourists and other groups.Ellen McGrath, Westwood

No matter how you spin it, slavery caused the Civil War

Regarding, "Threat of secession by disgruntled Southern states caused Civil War," (Jan. 7): All Southern states in their Declarations of Secession are quite clear on their reason for secession from the Union − it is slavery. Mississippi, for example, stated, "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery." South Carolina likewise said, "An increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery, has led..." The author of the column is correct that secession was the original reason the Civil War was fought, but the cause of secession was slavery. To imply that slavery was not the cause of the Civil War does not match with the documents of secession.

William Phillips, Green Township

Pro-Israel lobby keeps US from being a fair mediator

In his book, "They Dare to Speak Out," Paul Findley (a former Republican congressman from Illinois) wrote, "our Congress has become an occupied land by AIPAC." AIPAC is American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobby group, primarily advancing Israel interests over U.S. interests.The stumbling block preventing the United States from playing a fair and neutral role in mediation is the pro-Israel lobby.

Pro-Israel lobby groups have been active for many decades working on shaping American public opinion in favor of Israeli policies. The pro-Israel lobby influenced almost all spheres of influence in American society such as mainstream media, social and cultural clubs, educational institutions, congressional, state and local legislatures. Almost the only issue Democrats and Republicans agree on is the unconditional and unwavering support for Israel!

Recently, it was reported that AIPAC intends to spend over $100 million to remove six members of Congress from office who became critical of Israel's attacks against Palestinians. Since it was created in 1948, Israel has received well over $200 billion in financial aid as well as military aid from the United States. Most Americans object to the use of their hard-earned tax money to finance Israeli wars and occupation; the money should have been spent in the U.S. for infrastructure and socioeconomic development, education and health care.

The Palestinian people strive to live in freedom and peace in their historic homeland, but Israel seeks to maintain the occupation and displace them (ethnic cleansing). Israel rejects the two-state solution and rejects the one-state solution in which all people would live under democracy in a secular state with equal rights for all under the law. All people of the land, regardless of their faith, should have the right to live in peace, justice, equality, liberty and freedom.

Ribhi Daoud, Dayton, Ohio

Unscrupulous politicians see ethics as obstacle to winning elections

If Donald Trump is the 'threat to democracy' that Democrat leaders claim, shouldn't enough Americans be smart enough to recognize that, thus denying him the presidency in 2024. Apparently, that's not a sure thing because David Plouffe, Barack Obama's former campaign manager, wants liberals to vote for Nikki Haley in the primaries "because it might hurt Trump's chances of winning." Unscrupulous politicians (in both parties) obviously continue to view the word "ethical" as an impediment to winning an election.

Loretta Papes, Mount Lookout

Hidden costs of US debt cannot be overlooked

The Jan. 4 Enquirer story about U.S. debt hitting a record $34 trillion was extremely misleading. It claimed: "The national debt does not appear to be a weight on the U.S. economy right now, as investors are willing to lend the federal government money." False! Every dollar that an investor lends to the federal government is a dollar that is not available to be invested to build factories, buy equipment or develop technology for the betterment of all. This hidden cost − now $34 trillion worth − should never be overlooked.

Paul Thiel, Crescent Springs

Hamas, Iran to blame for atrocities in Gaza

Regarding, "Atrocities in Gaza too great to ignore," (Jan. 4): Lisa Sais's article is a hearts-and-flowers presentation. These atrocities must be put on Hamas (and Iran), since they instituted mass murders in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The killing and injuring of many Gazans is regrettable; however, it must be remembered that 44% voted to have Hamas rule and govern them. Hamas has appropriated UN and other assistance for their own use leaving only crumbs for the rest of the Gazans. These terrorists have no respect for human life as evidenced that they have used public buildings, schools and hospitals to conceal their weaponry and headquarters, using their citizens as shields. There will be no peace as long as Iran is funding Hamas and other terrorist organizations − and Iran wants to destroy Israel and drive out the United States from the Middle East.

Seymour Broad, Springfield Township

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra not to blame for Coney Island closure