‘Girl’: A statue with no standing

Tappan, N.Y.: While we’re on the topic of statue removal in New York City, I should mention that I am still waiting for the removal of “Fearless Girl” from Bowling Green. The statue is nothing more than an advertising campaign for State Street Global Advisors. “Fearless Girl” isn’t celebrating women; it’s celebrating an index fund whose NASDAQ ticker symbol is “SHE” by a firm that recently had to pay $64 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Justice for fraud. In addition, its positioning in front of Arturo Di Modica’s “Charging Bull” exploits his work for commercial purposes and alters the perception of the bull, which is meant to symbolize American resiliency and prosperity.

When “Charging Bull” is taken in its intended context, the girl is essentially just defiantly standing in the way of progress. “Fearless Girl” corrupts the bull’s artistic integrity and completely distorts the intent of the statue from a symbol of optimism and strength to a villain and bully, all for State Street’s commercial gain. Bloomberg News estimated that the statue generated almost $7.5 million in free advertising for the company.

We have become so self-righteous as a society that we now intentionally take art and its meanings completely out of context to further a politically correct agenda and create arguments where there previously were none. Phil Giuliano

Double dare

Hazlet, N.J.: To Voicer Linda Ranallo: Re your harsh criticism of football players taking a knee during the national anthem. One: Is there a Mr. Ranallo you’re married to? Second: Would he stick up for you if you said these words to the face of these ballplayers? And lastly, what color flowers would you then like me to send to Mr. Ranallo’s funeral?

Donald DeMartino

‘Thursday Night’ lights

Staten Island: I am very confused about how it is that Roger Goodell just secured a $200 million contract yet is unable to address the “Thursday Night Football” controversy. Playing football on Sunday and then again four days later is problematic and can lead to serious injury. I offer a simple solution. Every team has a bye once in the season — so use that week off as extra time away to prepare for the Thursday game. For example, last week the Falcons hosted the Saints for the Thursday night game of the week. These same two teams had a bye during week five. Why wouldn’t the NFL in its infinite wisdom schedule their Thursday night encounter week six, after their week five bye? This would give both teams 10 days off before their Thursday night game, and after it as they would not play again till the following Sunday. Yes there would be some things to further tweak in scheduling these byes to accommodate a full slate of “Thursday Night Football” games, but I am sure the NFL can figure that piece out. This would be a win-win for the league, the players and the fans, with less risk of injury and a full slate of players available to play for the Thursday night game. Joe Mennella

All the right moves

Schenectady, N.Y.: To Voicer Gregory Chupa: You were incorrect when you wrote Philando Castile did not follow directions prior to his murder by that Minnesota police officer. Yes, Castile volunteered he had a firearm. The policeman then shot him pointblank. The policeman did not instruct Castile not to reach for his gun. He simply murdered this black man, as his baby was in the backseat and his girlfriend filmed his murder. Obviously you missed that part of the testimony.

Diane Hombach

No replacing Roland

Cincinnati: It’s sad to see they’re taking his show off the air (“TV One cancels Roland Martin’s ‘News One Now,’ ” Dec. 7). He kept us informed on what is going on today in this mean world. I hope someone else picks him up because we need someone like him who is not afraid to speak his mind. Mia Powell

Bring him back

Brooklyn, Md.: I am completely horrified to imagine waking up without Roland Martin. This is the worst time in our country for something like this to happen. He must not be silenced. We need his perspective, his sense of history, and his intelligence. Please don’t do this. Ramocille Johnson

Thank-you note

Brooklyn: As an American voter, naturalized citizen and grateful participant in our democracy, I want to commend the Daily News for exposing the arrogant duplicity of President Trump and his Republican cronies. This is a great service to our country. Listening to this President, Senate majority leader and speaker of the House pontificate about their great Christmas gift to the middle class is sickening. These so-called fiscal conservatives are frauds who aim to explode the deficit, deprive millions of health care and further enrich corporations and the top 1% — all in service of special-interest groups and their deep-pocketed political donors. Americans need to look more closely at the details of the proposed tax overhaul and ignore the double-talk and phony economic analysis emanating from these Republicans. They have rushed these proposals through both chambers, counting on the gullibility and blind trust of the electorate.

Edward Wawrynek

Give him Al

Staten Island: Unbelievable! You must have written Al Franken’s resignation speech (“Three men, two standards,” editorial, Dec. 8). Ever hear of “two wrongs don’t make a right”? Your editorial should have highlighted Franken’s continued denial of any wrongdoing. That was the story. You are giving him a pass.

Ray Magnuski

Just watch

Bronx: Re “Frankensense” (editorial, Dec. 7): You are not naive, you are just circling the wagons again. You know damn well that Franken is not going to resign. He admitted to nothing in his speech. He is biding his time, waiting for the Alabama election. If Moore wins, Franken will stay on to “get Moore expelled.” If Moore loses, Franken will “have reconsidered his options and decided the nation needs him to impeach Trump.” Mike Clarke Union, N.J.: While I do not condone the abuse of women, I also cannot condone the abuse of the rule of law or 15-minutes-of-fame accusations. I applaud Taylor Swift: She took her accusation to court and let it withstand the investigation it underwent there. If all these accusers of honorable men like Al Franken are so sure of their accusations, why not take him to court and withstand the scrutiny? Spurious photographs and undocumented hearsay should not be enough to derail a career. Neither should glib presidential denials be enough to thwart the path to justice for those who accuse Donald Trump. Roy Moore has a whole town in Alabama that agrees he did what he was accused of, yet he and his GOP support say, “No, he didn’t!” and he is still in the running for the Senate. How many senators and congressmen are in the “Black Book”? Men who paid their accusers to remain silent, a true admission of guilt. This knee-jerk Puritanism has to end, and a day in court is the only answer. Lou Alt

Wrong Muslims

Brooklyn: To Voicer Ciro Coppola: Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain didn’t assail Trump for his stand on Muslim terrorists. May assailed Trump for his stand on Muslims. There is a difference between peaceful Muslims and the terrorists who pervert Islam DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGES for their own sick intentions. Every religion has its extremists. We can’t condemn all for the actions of a few. Joylene Wisdom

Rich mom, poor mom

Greenwich, Conn.: Re “Family Court’s rampant delays in solving child support cases hurt low-income parents: lawsuit” (Dec. 8): Many, many high-income people do not “buy themselves out” of the system. In fact, there is legal abuse, in which high-net-worth fathers bankrupt mothers by refusing to pay child support and using lawyers to litigate or delay hearings. All you have to do is spend time in court and watch judges not endorse judgements on willful noncompliance by wealthy dads. And watch the lawyers provide silly arguments and excuses to delay hearings. The delays cost taxpayers as well, because these children and families burden society with support needs unnecessarily.

Elena Gershon

Tix thanx

Astoria: Thanks for the tickets to “Latin History for Morons.” My wife and I enjoyed the show (for the most part). Anthony Siano

Say it: Christmas

Hamden, Conn.: Well, it’s the time of the year for “Happy holidays,” “Winterfest” and “Season’s greetings.” May God bless the Knights of Columbus, who say: “Keep Christ in Christmas.” We who are Christians must keep our faith alive!

Patricia Mayko Santacroce