Readers sound off on innocent civilians, entitlements and vape sellers

‘Both sides’ are mostly innocent ordinary folks

Roosevelt, L.I.: We must care, share and bear the brutally bloody burdens of the innocent victims of slaughter whose blood cries out from the ground in Israel and Gaza. We must share the burdens of the ordinary people, Israeli and Palestinian, in this unacceptable, deadly surprise attack on Israel and this horrible, deadly retaliation against the Palestinian people.

The large majority of Israeli and Palestinian people being massacred are caught in the crossfire of this horrific humanitarian crisis, a violation of civilians’ human and civil rights, with bullets, bombings, burnings, high death tolls, more than 100 hostages facing murder live on camera and all-out war by land, air and sea.

As a Christian, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Peace requires a mindset for change to intelligently work through the hard, jagged-edged issues of land, life and legacy between the Jews and Palestinians in the highly explosive Middle East crisis. Yes, land, life, and legacy are all directly tied to the long history of deep conflict between Jews and Palestinians. Sadly, innocent ordinary people, Jewish and Palestinian — who are not violent, high-profile government power brokers, terroristic troublemakers or military influence-makers — are targeted.

The Biden administration must push hard for peace in the Middle East because history cries out through the annals of time that this horrific bloodbath can get worse. It must push hard to save hostages, and a ceasefire must be America’s ultimate desire and diplomatic goal. Pray, push and protest for help for the Jewish and Palestinian peoples’ pain, and for peace in the Middle East with the urgency of now. Arthur L. Mackey Jr.

First wave

Middle Village: If, heaven forbid, due to the latest attack, there is a ground war in the Middle East, will the people here with dual citizenship (Israeli) be asked to fight first? John Puglisi

War criminals

Brooklyn: All hail the mighty Hamas warriors — what courage it must take to slaughter unarmed civilians! Men, women, children and even babies! If your god is great, I would rather burn in hell! Jeff Kulikowski

Appropriate term

Bronx: I am not sure where I heard it, either from a broadcaster or a politician, but as to what happened in Israel, they said it best: It was a pogrom. Martin Sandok

Ultimatum

New Rochelle, N.Y.: How to handle Hamas: “Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead.” Richard Rodrigue

Unhelpful analysis

Greenwich, Conn.: Voicer Oren Spiegler begins his condemnation of the terrorists’ attacks on Israel in a thoughtful manner, but then he taints his letter by injecting his personal disdain for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by branding him “corrupt” and censuring his “efforts to neutralize the Israeli Supreme Court and diminish Israel’s democracy.” Many of us Jews unequivocally support Netanyahu’s actions with regard to the Supreme Court, not only because we believe in the reasons behind them but because they are the actions of a government duly elected by the Israeli nation. When Israel is in crisis, it is deplorable that Spiegler castigates and disgraces the Israeli government with his own biases. It pains me to say that with such outrageous public statements condemning the nation of Israel, Jews like Spiegler foment antisemitism. Natalie Barklow

Absent ally

Woodside: So, 69,579 Americans died in Vietnam. Not one from Israel did. Why are we loyal to them? There is always an excuse. Rich Tobiassen

Spaced-out invader

Wellfleet, Mass: At Donald Trump’s recent campaign rally in Wolfeboro, N.H., he said something to the effect that the attack on Israel would not have happened on his watch. Trump said the same thing when Russia invaded Ukraine. But the invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 happened when Trump was president. Go figure. Mike Rice

Dumb do-over

Yonkers: Trump versus Biden in 2024 is a lose-lose situation. Love or loathe them, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have some accomplishments to be proud of in their administrations. More than 60% of the country does not want either to run again, and rightfully so. One term is enough for each. Biden’s age is showing and Trump is a drama show that isn’t going to end well. Please, folks, stop with all of this blind loyalty and let’s vote for some truly qualified candidates in the primaries. A Biden-Trump rerun makes us look foolish and stuck in neutral. Tony Forlenza

Sense of entitlement

Brooklyn: To Voicer Joseph Frusci: I was willing to read your letter re foreign aid until you called Medicare and Social Security “entitlements.” Online, I found this definition for entitlement: “The belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges.” The government collects for Medicare and Social Security; we are not given a choice. Don’t want us to collect what’s rightfully ours!? Don’t frickin’ take it to begin with! Lord knows the government benefits more from our money than we ever will! Kris Tapper

A question of law

Jupiter, Fla.: Jon Glauser made several impassioned claims in his recent op-ed (“Eric Adams’ unfair attack on vaping,” Oct. 7) but missed the most important point: The company he founded, Magellan Technology, unlawfully distributes an illegal product that is designed and marketed to entice children. Disposable vapes, sold in bright colors and candy flavors, have become the most popular vaping product among underage consumers, according to the CDC. These vapes are manufactured in China from unknown materials without any oversight or approval. Distributors like Magellan are flouting federal, state and local laws designed to protect our children and flooding New York City with these illegal products. Mayor Adams deserves praise for fighting back and exposing Magellan’s violation of RICO and other statutes. New York and the entire nation must do more, not less, to hold unscrupulous distributors accountable for their unlawful business targeting our kids. Edgar Domenech, retired sheriff of New York City and retired deputy director, ATF

Extraneous info

Brooklyn: Algebra II sucks! When would we really need to use it in our lives? If I asked the president a question about exponential and logarithmic functions, I could bet the $10 Starbucks gift card in my wallet that he can’t solve it. Ivan Chen

Walking away

Brooklyn: NYC used to be a veritable paradise for walkers, where a person could get his steps in without bothering to go to a gym. Any activity of daily living could be accomplished on foot. New Yorkers would walk more than just about any other population on Earth. Now those activities have become too dangerous to risk. There are bicycles and mopeds riding on the sidewalks where we were once safe. Much of this degradation has been the result of the proliferation of delivery app companies that pay riders to quickly deliver food to every neighborhood. The apps have tremendous clout with our local politicians. There are no license plates on these vehicles and likely no identification in the pockets of the riders. There is no respect for our laws and no consideration of safety. Does New York want its older population to leave the city? Ed Temple

Unmerited mention

Brooklyn: Shame on the Daily News for pandering to Taylor Swift fans. Not only was she referred to in a roundup of injured NFL players, including Travis Kelce: “… better news for the Chiefs and Taylor Swift, who is rumored to be dating Kelce…” but also in the article’s headline: “Kelce making swift recovery, but others around NFL hurting.” Such pandering to the pop star’s fans may be suitable for Page Six gossip, not the serious sports pages of New York’s Hometown Newspaper. Neil S. Friedman

Wise ones

Bloomington, Ind.: Many high-minded folks are under the illusion that their ideology serves the needs of all mankind. They’re often just following a crowd that mocks others to bolster their own needs. Blessed are those who can think for themselves, regardless of how the current consensus directs them. These individuals are few and far between, though they are easily spotted. They have an inner peace that often makes them conspicuous. They are not the most fashionable, nor do they pay much attention to social trends. They pilot their own ship as they navigate curiously. They listen attentively to advice and are almost always respectful in disagreement. They will tell you what they think, but usually when asked. Scott Thompson