Israel-Hamas war
Security rules
Re “Virginia delegate warned to stop bypassing metal detectors at school board meetings says he shouldn’t have to go through security” (Dec. 15): As a 27-year Marine veteran and 13-year Isle of Wight County School Board member, I recognized the rules applied 100%. Aboard U.S. Navy ships even the captain went through security like everyone else — and the “ole man” was expected to have to do so.
I recommend Del. A.C. Cordoza stops being a pain and abides by the security rules, period. If you can “walk on water,” you are exempt, as are members of the Holy Trinity. Get the message?
— Herb De Groft, Smithfield
There seems to be an effort to create a dichotomy between treacherous Hamas and innocent Palestinians and pressure to cease bombing Hamas targets because innocents may be injured.
But a poll published Dec. 13 shows the majority of Palestinians support Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7. And Palestinians in Gaza elected Hamas to lead them in 2006. I remember Palestinians celebrating in the streets after 9/11. There are pictures of them handing out sweets and candy after Israelis were attacked.
Did the Allies refrain from bombing the Nazis because “innocent Germans” might be killed as collateral? Did we abstain from bombing Japan because we didn’t want to hurt “innocent Japanese”? You can’t start a war and then complain about the consequences.
When President Joe Biden was asked by reporters how long America would underwrite Ukraine’s war with Russia, he replied, “as long as it takes.” So why is he putting limits on Israel?
This is not a case of two equal but opposite sides in a struggle. Some Palestinians do not want a country of their own living peacefully side by side with Israel. They want a country in place of Israel with no Jews allowed. It isn’t about territory; it’s about ideology. One side wants to live in peace and security. The other side wants to annihilate and spread its vision of dominance over the other and the rest of the world. Judging by the events of Oct. 7, this is a matter of good versus evil.
— Dr. Sheldon Fineman, Virginia Beach
Gas pipeline
Virginia’s conflict of interest law is clear: section 2.2-3103(6) prohibits a state official from accepting “any business or professional opportunity when he knows that there is a reasonable likelihood that the opportunity is being afforded him to influence him in the performance of his official duties.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported in 2022 that Virginia Marine Resources Commission Commissioner
J.J. Minor, who was scheduled to vote on a Columbia Gas Transmission permit request to the commission for its Virginia Reliability Project, had “been lobbying elected officials to support the project,” according to public records.
Recently, the VMRC heard the habitat permit application from Columbia Gas Transmission to construct in the region’s wetlands. While it’s disappointing that the permit passed, one commissioner voted against it. And after several comments opposing the project and against Minor participating, with close to 200 commenters, Minor recused himself. The Virginia Reliability (Ripoff ) Project would wreak havoc on our climate and add to the pollution in our most vulnerable, cumulatively disadvantaged communities, such as Petersburg, the unhealthiest city in the state, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison study.
— Lynn Godfrey, Portsmouth
Electric vehicles
If planet earth could really talk, what would it say to those trying to “save” it? I bet it would tell them not to waste their time and that life is too short to be concerned about something so petty.
I am not giving up my car. Electric cars are just too expensive, and nobody I know wants them.
— Mike Niehaus, Portsmouth