9/11: Unity, pain and patriotism

Brewster, N.Y.: As the names of every 9/11 victim were read Monday, the faces of those who were lost appeared on the television. The names and faces of our fellow human beings killed 16 years ago consisted of every possible ethnic, religious and racial background. That is what has made America great. It is within our fabric of differences that has provided strength to our country and has made us a beacon to the rest of the world. When will the haters in our great country understand that hate destroys what we really are and what our country stands for?

If the losses suffered on 9/11, comprised of Americans of all backgrounds, could help bring an end to discrimination, prejudice and hate, America would then truly become great again. May God bless all of our 9/11 families and first responders and let all Americans learn to respect the diversity in our great country. David Fruci

Missing memory

Pleasantville, N.Y.: Whenever I look at the World Trade Center site, I feel that we did lose to the terrorists (“On this day,” editorial, Sept. 11). By not having back what was taken from us that day, which was the twin towers, we have helped Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda finish what they did. Instead, we are stuck with buildings and a memorial and museum that wound up being boondoggles, not to mention costing a lot to even visit. Even worse, the sphere that was designed by Fritz Koenig and happens to be the last surviving remnant of the original World Trade Center won’t even be returned to that site, but rather over at Liberty (or Zuccotti) Park instead. My guess was that putting it back on the site would make people ask why the twin towers weren’t just simply rebuilt if they meant so much — especially with that sculpture being a reminder of just that. Tal Barzilai

Past patriotism

Spotswood, N.J.: Remember that right after Sept. 11, all of the American flags were sold out. “United We Stand” stickers were everywhere. Patriotism has faded. Now many Americans actually think we should give up fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan. It’s very sad. Luckily, some of us still support our military. The U.S. will triumph. Tom Scott

A day of painful memories

Whitestone: My brother and his wife, residents of northern California, were visiting me in Queens 16 years ago. Watching TV, they observed the fall of the twin towers. They had been due to return to San Francisco on that day on Flight 93 from Newark, but changed their mind, desiring a later flight. Unfortunately, that plane crashed over Pennsylvania on that day, leaving no survivors. Absolutely no flights were then available anywhere, so they had to rent a car and drive home all those miles. Just a few years ago, my brother, a psychologist who taught at San Francisco State University, lost his life to cancer. All who respected and loved him were devastated. What will truly make not only America great again, but the whole wide world, too, would be the end of wars between nations. Finally, all would rejoice to know that the horrendous disease cancer was no longer a threat to humanity! Oh, if only my dreams could finally be realized! Leonore Brooks

Shallow Waters

Brooklyn: I call on all Jews to boycott the has-been Roger Waters’ concerts this week in Brooklyn and Long Island. This anti-Semite, anti-Israel knownothing creep has called for a boycott of Israel and has demanded that no performer should go to Israel to perform. He bashes Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, yet has no problem with the anti-gay, anti-women’s rights, human sufferings and all the atrocities committed in the other countries in that region.

Steve Lehrer

Upgrade MetroCards

Brooklyn: I think that city school MetroCards need more rides on them, as four swipes are simply not enough. My daily commute to and back from school uses up my MetroCard, but I need it the most after school. I work after school and I am forced to buy a monthly MetroCard, something I think the school should pay for. I break my back after school, and I think that it is only fair that the school is there to support me. If I am not able to work, my quality of life will go down, which will result in lower grades. The city Education Department should help and protect its students. The majority of students work after school, and it hurts us to have to spend our hard-earned money. I urge the mayor to add more swipes or allow for students get more than one card, so it better suits the people’s needs. Nick Franczak

The (other) Bill and Hillary

Brooklyn: I made the mistake of watching the Democratic mayoral debate between Bill de Blasio and Sal Albanese. No wonder the feds owe $20 trillion and the states and cities all owe billions as well. We only get idiots as our “choices.” Sal is an honest guy, but a moron, but the smarter and formerlydown-to-earth Blaz seems to be turning into a corporate robot like his former boss Hillary. Dear Bill, I voted for you, and I liked you and think you’ve been a pretty good mayor, but nothing sickens me more than to watch you slowly get corrupted by your powers, and for you to become exactly what you hate. You’re becoming the tall Giuliani. Please look in the mirror and do some soul-searching. We want real candidates, not phonies with meaningless scripted talking points and stiff (read: dishonest) behavior. Hillary Clinton was dumped by voters two for two in presidential races. How do you not learn from her hated-by-allsides idiot mistakes? (OK, Dick Cheney and Co. all endorsed her, so someone likes her!)

Jack Dickenson

Where to hear the Chairman

Garwood, N.J.: To Voicer Irene Hersberg: Thank you for the tidbit on where to hear Frank Sinatra. My stereo is not working, and I have loads of Sinatra tapes. I know William B. Williams did Sinatra on Saturdays. I will try WNYC-FM radio to hear Sinatra. From 8 to 11 weekend mornings is a good time, while I read the papers. Maybe Jonathan Schwartz can play Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” I’d love to hear Dinah Washington’s “September in the Rain.” Joan Tully

Hurricane preparedness

Staten Island: Since 9/11, I have taken many FEMA courses in emergency disaster management. One of the points stressed was evacuation preparedness. FEMA teaches that if a hurricane is predicted, your evacuation should be completed before the outer bands of the hurricane are in your area. This warning should not be taken lightly. I am a retired NYPD lieutenant and certified by FEMA as an expert in homeland security.

Robert McKenna

Benedict’s ‘Boot’

Bay Shore, L.I.: To Voicer Lavington Charles: You are misinformed. There is a monument to Benedict Arnold — the so-called “Boot Monument” in the Saratoga National Park in Stillwater, N.Y. It sits on a shady corner of the battlefield near where Arnold was shot in the leg during the Battle of Saratoga. The monument does not bear his name, just a frieze depicting his boot. On the other side of the marker is the inscription: “In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army who was desperately wounded on this spot, the sally JEFFERSON SIEGEL port of Burgoyne’s Great Western Redoubt 7th October 1777 winning for his countrymen the Decisive Battle of the American Revolution and for himself the rank of Major General.” It is meant to be a tribute to his heroism in pressing the battle while his superiors balked and simultaneously denounce his treason.

Linda D. Garramone

Honoring those most deserving

Bronx: All over the city are monuments to the brave soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic — the Union Army of our Civil War. These monuments are all but forgotten, the inscriptions fading. One way to confront the heinous acts of the Confederacy is to honor and maintain these monuments to our brave defenders of the Union and liberators of America’s slaves. Kevin Harrington

Fast and furry-ous

Reno: I’ve read your “Connecticut councilman resigns after ‘furry’ profile revealed” article (Sept. 8). I am concerned about the comment, “Many furries also have a sexual fetish involving the costumes, though,” which is simply not true or even close to fact. Please do more research about the topic you are writing about. A good place is to Google “yearly furry survey” — a survey that the online furry community takes a part of for scientific research. I hope you’ll read this and reconsider editing your article based on real facts and not stereotypes from the 1990s. Kelly Smith