Pershing fought world hunger
Cincinnati: In response to “Donald Trump’s lie about John Pershing is not only ignorant; it’s dangerous for the fight against radical Islamic terrorism” (Op-Ed, Aug. 17): If President Trump himself studied Pershing, he could learn some important foreign policy lessons. Pershing was an advocate for feeding the world’s hungry. The general teamed with Herbert Hoover for the “Invisible Guest” campaign that helped feed the countries left devastated by WWI. It was a series of fund-raisers to help nations that had not rebuilt their agriculture after the war.
Trump, on the other hand, has advocated reducing U.S. international food aid. The Trump budget calls for eliminating the McGovernDole global school lunch program and our Food for Peace initiative. We should be increasing our food aid since there are so many nations experiencing hunger, including Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Mali and Haiti.
It is Trump who should learn from Pershing that feeding the world’s hungry should be a priority, and it may be our best path to peace.
William Lambers, author of “Ending World Hunger”
All wrong on Malcolm X
Waterbury, Conn.: To Voicer Kevin Scott: Please get your facts straight. Yes, Malcolm X did call white people “devils” early in his career. But he apologized and denounced that ideology when he learned true Islam does not believe that. He did not “jump for joy” when President Kennedy was killed. He did say “the chickens have come home to roost,” meaning hatred has claimed a President. Minister Malcolm represents the ability to change for the better. Read his book, you might learn something. And I seriously doubt Mayor de Blasio hates white people. Tyree Pope
Terrorism is spreading
Cedarhurst, L.I.: I’ve been saying for years now that Israel is the canary in the coal mine of the world. What happens there invariably follows suit globally. We have to wake up and address Islamic extremism and terrorism quickly and firmly before it is too late, or we will all be lost. Pray for the souls of the brutally murdered innocents in Barcelona and around the world, and that we extricate ourselves from the grip of these monstrous terrorists!
George Weiss
What about FDR?
Metuchen, N.J.: Since President Franklin Roosevelt was responsible for the Japanese internment camps during WWII, isn’t it about time his name was removed from the FDR Drive and Roosevelt Island? Ron Perri
Use rebel statues as lessons
Woodhaven: Instead of tearing down these Confederate monuments, let’s repurpose them! Let’s install a plaque that reads “This statue of (rebel general), a man who broke his vow to defend the Constitution and betrayed his country, was erected by white supremacists in (year) as part of a nefarious plan to deny their fellow Americans of their constitutional rights. (Rebel general) fought valiantly for his right to buy and sell human flesh.” No people can afford to forget its past and expect to thrive.
Neil C. Giannelli
Reminiscent of ISIS
Hartsdale, N.Y.: The destruction of Confederate memorials reminds me of the destruction of antiquities by the Taliban and ISIS in the Mideast. James Barry
Trump’s a living nightmare
Staten Island: No matter how many times he lies, how many people and American institutions he denigrates, how many organizations disassociate themselves from him, how many anti-Trump protests there are both here and around the world, how many incendiary comments he makes, how many Republicans come out against those remarks, how many conflicts of interest he has, his refusal to release his income tax returns, I wake up each morning and Donald Trump is still President. There are three options: He resigns, he is removed or we have to suffer through this term and possibly the next. And I continue to live a nightmare.
Michele Corelli
Media pushes its agenda
Astoria: Wolf Blitzer’s monumentally idiotic statement on CNN that questions will be asked about whether the car attack in Barcelona was a copycat of Charlottesville is proof positive of the mainstream media’s increasing desperation as it molds events to fit its liberal agenda to destroy the Trump presidency and demonize his supporters. ISIS has already decreed that vehicles must be used as weapons, most notably in Nice. The event in Charlottesville was a driver beset by armed, bloodthirsty liberal thugs and who was desperately trying to escape. Videotape doesn’t lie. Any moderately competent defense attorney will get him acquitted with it. As one who has been to Trump rallies, I’ve seen firsthand that all the violence is initiated by Antifa and their leftist ilk. All of it. Brad Morris
World’s actually better now
Smithtown, L.I.: I’ve been around almost 80 years. I remember family and friends serving, and some dying, in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. I remember my father had a map showing how far the Nazis were in Europe and how they were bombing and killing my English relatives. I remember being taught in elementary school how to duck under my desk and hold my hands over my head in a nuclear attack. We all were afraid of the Communists, especially when they were sending missiles to be pointed at us in Cuba. I remember New York’s “Mad Bomber” and the Son of Sam. Now, when I look around me I see a world more peaceful than it has ever been, and I see great optimism with a leader who loves America and who will undo some of the harm done by the last President. I realize optimism doesn’t sell newspapers, but today I see a world more peaceful than ever. Alan Franks
Racist waiter sickens him
Manhattan: Re “Manhattan restaurant customer called ‘Ching Chong’ on receipt” (Aug. 18): I have been to this restaurant a few times and I’ve found the food and service OK. And although I generally agree that the staff and management should not be punished for the stupidity of one server, it’s not credible that this was just the first manifestation of the ignorance, insensitivity and perhaps hate in weaponizing the racial epithet “ching chong” towards that Asian-American customer. Unlike other disgusting racial epithets, like the N-word, that have been co-opted and culturally appropriated in some instances to where it’s used as a term of endearment by the targeted group, there is no such affectation in the use of “ching chong” to those who look East Asian. In whatever context it’s used, its intent is to demean, degrade and to hurt. It’s simply not believable that the entire management and staff of the Cornerstone Restaurant was oblivious to this one racist server. I will never again frequent this establishment and I call upon the Asian-American community and our friends to do the same.
Alfred Hong
Johnny in the wrong spot
Manhattan: A neighbor called to inform me that I had two toilets in front of my house. I had to stop work, go to the 32nd Precinct, over to the Harlem Chamber of Commerce (responsible for this occurrence, but no one was there to address the issue), and call the portable toilet company Call-AHead to get to the bottom of this.
Lost season for the Mets
The Harlem Week Street Festival takes place on a predominantly residential street (135th St. from St. Nicholas to Fifth Aves.). As a homeowner, my experience has not been good with this event. I have expressed my concerns (and frustration) verbally and in writing with the Chamber. When Valerie from the Chamber contacted me about moving the toilets, she chuckled, stating that it was a mistake. It is no laughing matter. The Harlem Chamber of Commerce strikes again. How and why does this mismanaged and unprofessional organization continue to exist? Rose Seabrook Lindenhurst, L.I.: I have been and always will be a Mets fan, but this season has to be one of the worst I’ve ever experienced. Yes, there were injuries to key starting pitchers, but there was also a lot of poor pitching and poor defense, too. The heart the team has shown in recent years seems to have been lost this season. Mets management always seems to want to cut payroll; the giveaway of quality players this summer, like Jay Bruce and Neil Walker, for “prospects” who don’t look like they’ll set baseball on fire, is another example of what appears to be stinginess on the part of ownership. Will we lose players like deGrom and Syndergaard when they’re free agents? While I won’t ever stop being a Mets fan, I hope the organization will scrutinize every aspect of this season and get it right for next year!
Larry D’Angelo