Founding Fathers’ militias weren’t for defense
Regarding “Militias were the intent” (Letters to the Editor, June 16): As a historian of the Second Amendment, I agree with historian Joe La Sala’s letter about its intent and the fallacy of originalism, but not that its misinterpretation today is the fault of identity politics.
Identity politics were embedded in the Constitution, written by white men, excluding Indian, Black people and women, plus Mexicans once the U.S. had forcibly annexed half of Mexico. Each group would experience oppression and struggle for citizenship and formal equality.
La Sala also fails to mention research about what the white militias codified in the Second Amendment were for: killing Indians to occupy their land and to guard against slave revolts.
The Second Amendment needs to be abolished for the white supremacist entity that it is.
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, San Francisco
Let’s get free from virus
Regarding “Alameda County should end mask mandate” (Insight, June 12): A quick look at virus numbers across the area, state and country shows yet another large spike. Why? Because careless individuals like the author’s of Sunday’s opinion piece think their personal freedoms trump everyone else’s right to be safe.
As long as an attitude that somehow having to wear a mask in public is so horrific that you need to risk the health of others continues, this virus will continue to spike over and over.
Let’s get real, so-called personal freedom is an illusion. You pay taxes, obey traffic laws, wear clothing, use a helmet on a bike or motorcycle, use a seat belt; these are just a few examples of curbs on your freedoms. Why are you not screaming about these attacks? Irony much?
I’m really tired of all this whining of personal freedoms. We need to put this virus to sleep, and if that means a bit of inconvenience for all of us to get healthy, suck it up. It’s really sad how self-centered so many have become. It’s not all about you.
Time to stop being so selfish and consider a greater good.
Owen Rubin, San Leandro