God bless America! Kate’s no racist

Rego Park: I am an African-American woman who believes that banning Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” and deeming her a racist is overblown. The song “That’s Why Darkies Were Born” has the abhorrent term “darkies” numerous times. The term needs to be taken in the context of the song. When I learned that the great African-American Paul Robeson also sang this song, I closely looked at the song’s meaning. The song has six verses of which the media has only highlighted the second, third and fourth verse. Without the first, fifth and sixth verses, the true meaning of the song is missed. The song, although it does use abhorrent terms, actually means that “darkies” were meant to teach whites to deal with the adversities of life to obtain access to God’s pastures.

This song should not be used as a measure to brand Smith as a racist. Would you deem the great Robeson one also? The full story needs to be addressed. If there are numerous derogatory and racist actions by Smith perhaps banning is appropriate. Even then each should be carefully reviewed for their context. Lois Pounds

Sensitivity lunacy

Belle Harbor: So Kate Smith will now become a nonperson, edited out of history by spineless wimps in the name of political correctness and “sensitivity” gone mad. Because of a satiric song she sang 80 years ago, her “God Bless America” must be heard no longer lest it somehow offend somebody somewhere. I assume these same idiots will now call for a ban on Paul Robeson’s “Ole Man River” since he recorded the same “inappropriate” song. This gutless pandering to those who are, or even might be, offended by anything and everything is simply ignorance and lunacy.

Bobby Nelson

A simple solution

Bronx: The Yankees were right to stop using Kate Smith’s rendition of the song but only playing the music renders the reason for the song meaningless. There is a simple solution. Irving Berlin sang “God Bless America” on the “The Ed Sullivan Show” on May 5, 1968 along with Boy and Girl scouts. We can honor the composer, the song and the country it stands for by playing Berlin’s rendition during the seventh inning stretch. This should satisfy all Yankee fans and all Americans while honoring the wishes of George Steinbrenner. Ken Kaplan

A better option

Rego Park: Now that the Yankees have decided to stop playing Kate Smith’s “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch, may I suggest another patriotic song? Ray Charles singing “America the Beautiful.” A much better song in my opinion. Alan Abriss

Rebuild them all

Bronx: The Notre Dame Cathedral, a Catholic landmark and a major symbol of the heart of French Catholicism and culture seriously damaged by fire, will be rebuilt. The Reichstag, a Berlin landmark and a major symbol of Germany, was seriously damaged by fire and war, has been rebuilt. The World Trade Center, a NYC landmark and a major symbol of American business and commerce destroyed by explosion and fire in a terrorist attack, had 1 WTC rebuilt in its place. The Second Temple, a Jerusalem landmark and a major symbol of the heart of Judaism and Judaic culture was destroyed twice. Will it ever be rebuilt? Josh Isaacson

No more fur

Brooklyn: Thank you for Anjelica Huston’s Op-Ed about the much needed fur ban (“Ban all fur sales in NYC,” April 20). Fur is disgusting, violent and totally unnecessary. All those animals die in agony and terror for nothing. I have been protesting it in the streets for years and will do so until it is totally gone. We can be leaders in compassion by banning it. Furriers can find another line of work. Susan Miller

Crash and burn

Howard Beach: We didn’t want him for mayor, why would we want him as president? Another crash and burn campaign takes flight.

Ernest Kienzle

No exceptions

Astoria: The vast majority of subway stations are not accessible. To expect people with disabilities to pay for congestion pricing when they have no other viable travel options is criminal. To make up for their deficits, New York City and the MTA should enforce the laws on fare evasion, which has gotten out of control. If this is truly “one city with one set of rules,” let’s start enforcing those rules without exemption. James Long

A fortunate outcome

Elmont, L.I.: I was rather appalled by Voicer Anna McCorry’s reaction to the Mueller report. She seems to feel it was a “waste of money” simply because his objective investigation did not match the outcome she and her fellow Trump haters expected. The purpose of an special counsel is to examine facts and evidence and come to a proper legal conclusion. It appears she thought it was going to be a quick hatchet job and come to some predetermined conclusion. Fortunately for America, this was not the case. Howard Mostovy

False equivalence

Brooklyn: While reporting about the lack of maintenance of NYCHA facilities is important and necessary, linking that to the need for a fracked gas pipeline is nonsensical and exploitative of NYCHA residents’ very real concerns (“Build harbor gas pipeline: tenant chief,” April 18). The report by 350.org that your article references states that the gas outages that many residents have experienced are due to NYCHA’s failure to replace or repair faulty equipment and not due to gas supply constraints. Holding necessary upgrades hostage pending the building of an expensive pipeline by a company with a poor safety record does not seem like a good deal for residents. Furthermore, following the recent passing of the Dirty Buildings Bill, the city’s need for natural gas should go down as big buildings become more energy efficient and transition to using more renewable

AP energy. The capacity that the pipeline will add simply is not needed. New York City is leading the way on transitioning to cleaner energy and the NESE pipeline has no place in that future.

Dreams misunderstood

Brooklyn: I don’t understand Paul Newberry’s attack on “Field of Dreams” (“Dreams’ is a nightmare,” April 21). It’s not an historical piece. It’s a feel-good film. It’s entertainment. Yes, baseball had racial issues and they were overcome. Ray Liotta may not have been the best choice for Shoeless Joe Jackson, but, he got the part across. As for getting a chance to play a game of catch with your dad, there certainly are many of us who would jump at the chance and certainly understood the emotions of the characters. I feel sorry for Mr. Newberry.

Oh well

Ella Ryan Vito Labella Malverne, L.I.: I read your April 21 editorial “Notre Dame and all of us“and said to myself, “Huh… maybe we‘re not all gone.” Then I read “Dreams’ is a nightmare” and I thought, “Oh well. Nice while it lasted.”

Gerard McEnroe