OPINION/LETTERS: Newport departments step up this Pride month

Clarifying thoughts on Middletown Center

My June 4 letter was critical of the Middletown Center plan because it differed from what I think is good for the town. It was not meant to question the integrity of the Planning Board, the Town Council, the developers or the process through which the plan was developed, and I apologize if it appeared to do so. I appreciate the efforts of the board and council to do what they think is good for the town. On controversial issues they face critical remarks, while their steady contributions to bettering the town go mostly unnoticed. I do not undervalue their service. I also appreciate the efforts of the developer in proposing concepts.

I would like to clarify some of my June 4 wording. A good plan should be an opportunity for the developers as well as for the town, and the developers are playing a proper role in selling their concept as the best way to meet town requirements. I used the term friends, but not to suggest favoritism, and I was not suggesting the developers initiated the process. The local developers have completed many projects in town and would not be considered for this if they had not established a positive, friendly working relationship with the board and council. Friendships should be expected. I was wrong to say I think the developers, board and council are working in concert to peddle the plan to the public when they are just proceeding with plan development, all playing their distinct, proper roles. That I thought the developers firm stand against compromise could give the appearance of confidence in their position is not relevant, and it was speculative of me to characterize them as arrogant, or imply they might not care about public opinion. It was not fair of me to state the board and council are not serving us well just because I do not favor the plan. Town officials are working with developers to develop a plan that they think is good for the town, and they are also giving due consideration to public concerns.

My letter was prompted by my concern for the library, which I value highly. Upon reflection I realized that in stating my case I made some incorrect or unfair statements along with others that could be misconstrued, and there could be other inaccuracies of which I am unaware. I, therefore, choose to retract my entire June 4 letter.

I have no animosity toward the developers, Board, or Council, as individuals or as groups. I sincerely regret that some readers of my June 4 letter might mistakenly infer that I was questioning anyone's character or integrity, or that I was suggesting improper behavior. The sole purpose of my letter was to object to some details of the Middletown Center plan, and suggest other options might be preferable to me. All my wording was intended to present my opinions, but I realize I might have unwittingly presented some as facts. I apologize for this and for any other anxiety I might have unintentionally caused.

Steve Travis, Middletown

The power of a firearm

You enter a shop festooned with a family of guns on a wall, more under glass like delicacies of mayhem, double-jointed, gray, black, humble yet notorious. You withdraw one from the wall, lift it onto your shoulder and pretend to aim it at something alive. On a range, in a lonesome desert, you pull the trigger and the miraculous rifle ejaculates bullets. Your aim improves, you are becoming lethal, transforming with power. Like a devoted animal, the rifle protects you and your family, your "loved ones."

Such is the situation it promises. Feeling it on your shoulder, against your breast, in your hands — wonderful. Let those in weakness and passivity mock. The time will come... You gaze down the barrel at a poltroon and with a laugh lower your weapon magnanimously, peacefully, handsomely. The varmint owes you his life. Casually, you spit at the hot dirt. "Now, git," you mutter, and he flees.

Minot Davis, Newport

Newport departments step up this Pride month

Kudos to Newport Police Department, Newport Fire Department, and Newport City Hall for stepping it up for this year's Pride month. Our officers are wearing patches, our firehouse is ablaze with rainbow lights, and our City Hall will be flying the pride flag as well as “rainbowfying” some crosswalks by Equality Park. It’s the most visible support for pride I’ve seen in our little city and it makes me think back to George Washington's letter to Touro Synagogue.

Pride month: 'Symbolization matters and we know this': LGBTQ pride flag crosswalks coming to Newport

“It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”

I’d like to think that our founding fathers would continue to be proud of our city where all are welcome.

Aaron Sherman, Newport

Open your home to Japanese students

Konnichiwa! こんにちは。 An exciting opportunity is launching this summer in Newport County! Gyroscorp America LLC is looking for families to host Japanese students, ages 15-18, for a two-week exchange program. If you have a spare bedroom, a welcoming attitude, and the desire to make a positive impact on a young person’s life, then you should consider hosting an ALEX student. ALEX, short for American Life Experience, is a program based out of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, that seeks to enhance the English language skills of Japanese students.

During their two-week stay, ALEX students will volunteer at a local non-profit organization (NPO) during the week. Our six NPO partners are: Aquidneck Community Table, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, Edward King House Senior Center, FabNewport, Fort Adams Trust, and Lucy’s Hearth. We ask that host families take their student on a day trip to Boston over the weekend, and share with them some of Newport’s tourist sites.

The impact you’ll have as a host is life-changing for your student, while also enriching your family’s own cultural awareness and global understanding. It is a short-term commitment that can lead to a lifelong intercultural relationship stretching across the globe. It builds on the historic connection shared between Newport and Japan.

Two-week sessions begin July 17 and are ongoing throughout the summer months. To learn more, please visit our website: www.alexprogram.com

Arigatou Gozaimasu! ありがとうございます。

Helen Sowinski, program coordinator, Gyroscorp America LLC ALEX Program

An open letter to Sen. Cruz on school safety

An Open Letter to Sen. Cruz:

Thanks to you, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, we have the solution to school safety. One single entrance with an armed guard at his/her post. Well, by golly, this idea requires a closer look.

Virtually all schools are campuses comprised of several buildings, sports facilities, play fields, parking lots and cafeterias. Unless an overarching dome were constructed, one single entrance would not be feasible. Hmmm.

For the few schools contained in monolith buildings, one single entrance could work. Oops, a fire would likely cause a jam at the now one single exit, resulting in panic, stampeding, and more injuries and loss of life. Hmmm.

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Back to the armed guard standing just inside or outside the one single entrance: He would likely be outgunned if a shooter had an automatic weapon or an accomplice. Or would that guard need to sit behind a sand-bagged machine gun? This idea assumes that each school would have trained, brave, competent, armed guard who could be recruited and equipped with, for example, a urinal, a coffee pot, snacks, and no-doze pills. This idea also assumes that said guards could unfailingly recognize all students and staff, all entering the school at about the same time, and could also with absolute fairness and certainty successfully challenge — and possibly shoot — any student who had a concealed weapon preparatory to an act of violence. Hmmm.

Gosh, Sen. Cruz, your idea appears unworkable. Was it a sincere idea? May I remind you that risk assessment is a profession with expert knowledge, based on lots of research and experience. The experts report that risks cannot be eliminated, certainly not in a large society. There is, however, little doubt among them — and among sincere, reasonable people — that the risk of mass shootings is higher where there are more guns and lax or no gun safety laws. Sen. Cruz, you know this is true, you with your world-class education and elevated position in America. To argue otherwise is quite beneath you.

Will Newman, Tiverton

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: LETTERS: Newport departments step up this Pride month