Willful blindness toward history
Regarding “Ignorance and arrogance fuel political polarization” (Insight, July 9): Jonah Goldberg seems to fail to acknowledge two critical items. First, Millennials and everybody else do not learn history from fiction but apply what they know to what they read. If I don’t know much about the Cold War, then “1984” offers me very little, but the more I know, the more I gain. It’s the same with all books.
Second, the problem is not with ignorance of history but acceptance of it. Many people do not believe the moon landing was real or have other funny ideas about the truth in history and science. They know the facts but disregard them. That is more than ignorance, that is willful blindness, and it can’t be solved by a Google search or a “good book” recommendation.
Adam Sagehorn, Stockton
Like father, like son
Regarding “What they were hiding” (Editorial, July 12): So President Trump’s son met with a Russian official last year with the expectation of getting information to use against Hillary Clinton in the presidential election? As an old idiom about parentchild relationships goes, “The apple never falls far from the tree.” But in this case, the fruit is rotten.
Tobias Blackwell, San Francisco
Trump’s childish tweets
I read “Leave Steinle out of immigration debate” ( John Diaz, Insight, July 9): Regarding The Chronicle reader who suggests that media outlets not use President Trump’s name unless his words or deeds are worthy of his position as our country’s leader: I would prefer that any time one of the president’s childish tweets is published that it be accompanied by these words: “Written by Little Donnie Trump, Age 71.”
Dorothy Van Horne, San Francisco
LGBT family cook
Concerning “Ensuring family eats healthy food a job for dad, too” (Insight, July 9): While I enjoyed reading this article about how today’s moms and dads revert to traditional gender roles when making sure their kids eat nutritious meals, the writer made no mention of single or same-sex parent households. As the teenage daughter of two gay dads, I am apparently quite fortunate that both of my male parents are skilled at purchasing and cooking locally grown food.
We have a “no junk food or soda” rule at home and only break it once a week (usually at a restaurant). We’ve also tried making healthy cookbook recipes as a family activity, which has, in turn, helped me (and my teenage brother) learn more about nutrition. Although there is no “mom” in our household, I’ve learned that love — and sharing good food together — is what really makes a family.
Deirdre Valenzuela, Redwood City
Dads can cook too
Priya Fielding-Singh’s article is a complete stereotype of fathers — and mothers, for that matter. If she has this opinion or experience with cooking, why not go out and actually do some journalism and find fathers who engage in the ritual and capture their experiences? As a single father, I am well aware of the cooking challenge; however, the article seems to omit any research or dialogue with fathers. I would tell her that she lives in a place with more fathers dedicated to cooking healthy than she reflected in her article.
Gehry Oatey, Oakland
Protect the press
Regarding “We must not allow Trump to take down our free press” (Robert Reich, Insight, July 9): “The so-called press is artificial ... and indecent. It is of paramount interest to the state and the nation to prevent these newspaper scribblers.” No, these words were not tweeted in 2017 by President Trump. Rather, they were written by future German Chancellor Adolf Hitler in his 1925 book “Mein Kampf.” But as Reich notes, our president’s increasingly “incendiary tweets” against media personalities and vicious attacks on our journalists as purveyors of “fake news” are threatening our nation’s independence.
As U.S. citizens, we are obligated to speak out against Trump’s attempts to destroy our free press, lest we allow our country to be transformed from a democracy into an autocracy.
Dylan Seeger, San Francisco
Join the constituents
Regarding “Feinstein rallies against health plan” (Bay Area, July 8): I do appreciate John Wildermuth’s article, but what would really count is a health care plan that all government representatives would also be required to have. Do away with their cushy health benefits, and join their constituents.
Glenis Koehne, Sunnyvale