Readers sound off on moral decay, justifying violence and algebra

It feels as we’re losing what held us together

Rockville Centre, L.I.: The biggest threat to society is not social turmoil but rather social decay, the loss of morals and a sense of justice. All the time that our feckless politicians bloviate regarding the “imminent” threat of climate change would be better spent for these officials elected to public office to attend to matters that are affecting Americans today, for it appears that indifference has become the only form of self-defense by the general public, as the same idiots continue to be reelected despite the current state of affairs.

And there continues to be a growing lamentation among many of our citizens, especially those of the older generation who, since the 1990s, had once become familiar with freedom of movement without becoming the victim of robbery or random assault.

The horrid acts of violence perpetrated on innocents seen in videos and reported in the news daily are blistering examples of the results of ideology replacing justice in regards to judicial decisions by pertinacious progressive prosecutors. The changes that are needed before we hit rock bottom are not inevitable. Our perceived or actual public safety should not be a chimera and the city of New York should not become a dystopia as our esteemed mayor is predicting will happen.

But while the public seemingly acquiesces to the social and moral decay while the younger generations are diffidently mesmerized by their cell phones instead of showing the gravitas of being the vanguard of movements that would shape the world of their future, as the song grimly says, “The light bulb’s gettin’ dim.” Jason Randazzo

Fearful

Brooklyn: In light of recent events, I’m scared to go to school as a 17-year-old Jewish girl. No number of police will help me feel safe when I know there are people out there pretending to be rabbis and stabbing people, and people overall hating me simply for my religion. I am not the Israeli government, so why am I to blame? On Oct. 13, NYC schools should have gone remote because parents like mine did not feel confident enough in the NYPD or simply in the goodwill of people to send kids like myself to school. Daniella Agayeva

One-sided

Bronx: To Voicer Eugene Rodriguez: Stop trying to turn history upside down. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and Hamas has subsequently started five wars. You ignore the fact that the Hamas charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the genocide of the Jewish people. Hamas needs to revoke its charter and recognize Israel’s right to exist, and the blockade will be lifted. The Palestinians are their own worst enemies. They have rejected six offers of statehood. Michael Abbey

Stand firm

Princeton, N.J.: The eye-opening attack in Israel could change the minds of many people. It revealed the large difference in culture between Western civilization and much of the Islamic world, an idea that most people previously rejected. The previous Palestinian propaganda that they wanted a peaceful two-state solution was put to rest by their horrible display of barbarism in this invasion. I commend President Biden for saying America stands with Israel and ordering our most powerful aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. This can be seen as a warning to Iran and Hezbollah not to enter the fighting. Biden should also prevent Iran from selling its petroleum, as was done before by President Donald Trump. A dollar for Iran could be a dollar for terrorism, including Hamas. I strongly support Israel in its efforts to destroy Hamas. Charles Winfield

Distinct differences

Pittsford, N.Y.: Israel fights only in response to Palestinian violence. Palestinians make sneak attacks without declaring war. Palestinian terrorists arbitrarily knife and shoot Israelis, and bombard people and cars with boulders. The IDF never targets civilians. Hamas and Palestinian jihadis always target civilians. Israel provides medical care for wounded terrorists. Hamas murders wounded Jews in cold blood. Rosette Liberman

Ersatz righteousness

Lackawaxen, Pa.: Voicer Geidy Perez Storch, among others, seems to regard any attempt to justify Palestinian terrorism against the occupying Israel as more abhorrent than the violence itself. Contextually, within the American experience, this is an untenable position. Our nation was founded on the principle that the use of necessary force was a right, if not a duty (and the colonists suffered less under mad King George III than the Palestinians under Israeli control). And, at least from the mid-19th century, it would be difficult to determine whether American policy viewed warfare as an element of diplomacy or diplomacy as an alternative to military action. The plight of the Palestinians has a similar basis to that of the Amerindian nations: both occupied territories, but stronger forces did not recognize their social organization as legitimate polities. While neither the United States nor Israel possess any moral or historical legitimacy, they are existential realities within which solutions must be found. John A. MacKinnon

Proper targets

Bronx: While Israel needs to respond to the terrorist attack from Hamas, instead of slaughtering Palestinians in Gaza, might it not be more beneficial for Israel to demand that Qatar expel the leaders of Hamas who are living there? If that fails, why not send a mission to Qatar to kill them? Randall Borra

Perpetual policies

Bedford, N.Y.: Unfortunately, it has been the policies of conservative Israeli governments, the indifference of rich Arab states and a U.S. government intent on placating the Zionist lobby that have made peace and a long-lasting solution impossible. What Benjamin Netanyahu and his “vengeance” against the “animals” (his words) is doing is recruiting future militants and “terrorists” (some would call them freedom fighters). It’s their common disregard for the rights of all people to live in peace that is denying a future to all the children in the occupied territories and beyond. Instead of fueling hatred and more bloodshed, the U.S. government should be demanding a cessation to the brutality on both sides and reactivating dormant proposals for a true two-state solution. The hatred and violence instigated and perpetrated by both sides must stop! Iran might want to see Israel and its people annihilated, but so do dark forces in Israel who want to see Palestinian communities razed to the ground. Let’s not fool ourselves. No one is blameless, and dark-skinned children and white-skinned children deserve a better future. Celine Secada

Speaker needed

Suffern, N.Y.: Could we just put a Dolby speaker in the House of Representatives and open up for business? Rick Sinclair

Many applications

Charlotte, N.C.: To Voicer Ivan Chen: I get that you hate Algebra II. There’s a reason they sell T-shirts saying, “Another day I haven’t used algebra.” But every day we drivers take a shortcut to get someplace, we’re probably using the Pythagorean theorem, and every time you figure out the area of a room for flooring or renting or buying a home, you’re using algebra. The point of algebra is not to fill your head with meaningless theorems, facts and figures but to develop your thinking skills, and trust me, you’re going to need developed thinking skills for a meaningful adult life. Barbara Haynes

Honest mistake

Huntington Station, L.I.: To Voicer Thomas Sarc: I too was somewhat skeptical when I heard about bus driver Amal Hanna not knowing that White Claw had alcohol in it until I read her full story. Since she was undergoing chemotherapy, her taste buds were not functioning normally. In an attempt to stay hydrated, she grabbed someone else’s beverage. She has been a bus driver for 15 years and there has never been an issue. As a wine drinker myself, I was also unaware that White Claw had alcohol in it. The true tragedy here is that someone struggling with cancer might lose the job they love due to a misunderstanding. I ask you to join me in having some compassion. Ann Rita D’Arcy

The real colonizers

Hartsdale, N.Y.: It shouldn’t be Christopher Columbus who is blamed for exploring. He did it for Spain, not Italy. Spain should be blamed for their part in terrorizing and exploiting native peoples. It is evident by the Spanish language being all over the globe. Italians have a lot more to celebrate. Lucille Farrugia