Letters to the editor

Don’t question person’s American citizenship

Re: “Letter: Trump’s tweets are not racist — they are just tough love” (Letters to the Editor, July 21):

To Mr. O’Connell, I find it ironic that you are utilizing your own First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and the press so as to encourage the suppression of that right in others.

Perhaps if you don’t enjoy living in a country where people are free to express their opinions and criticisms of the government, then you should find another home yourself. You deplore the way these individuals are dividing America, yet your view is the most divisive that one could possibly have.

It is a view that says that you are either “with us or against us” and that there is no room for critique and challenging discourse. If you disagree with the substance of others’ arguments, please engage with them on the issues that they bring up. But don’t question the validity of their citizenship. They are expressing what it truly means to be an American.

— Lauren Friend, Santa Cruz

Garden offers San Jose a way to back sustainable land use

Re: “Days numbered for beloved San Jose community garden near Google project” (Mercurynews.com, May 29):

I am writing to ask for readers to support the appeal of development at Middlebrook Gardens.

This garden is bursting with knowledge of sustainable living, regenerative urban agriculture and the future of responsible land use.

It would take years to re-create this rich ecosystem, which is utilized by both humans and local wildlife. The San Jose Planning Commission has the chance and an obligation to support sustainable land use and protect the community’s health, safety and education.

San Jose is long overdue in implementing climate-smart land use and declaring itself a

climate crisis city. Alrie Middlebrook is communicating with potential partners to buy and develop the block around the garden into a hub for sustainability with low-income housing. Alrie and her landlord, Fred Soltanzad, need time to negotiate a deal that allows the garden to continue serving the community in a time we need it most.

— Allegra Watson, San Jose

‘America: Love It or Leave It’ not about race in ’70s or now

“America: Love It or Leave It” was a slogan on a bumper sticker popular in the early 1970s and was definitely not racist. This was not directed at immigrants, racial or ethnic minorities. It was directed at myself and other, mostly white, hippies.

The current sentiment of love it or leave it also has nothing to do with skin color but the content of character and opinions. The media wants to make everything about skin color these days to gin up debate but is often fake news. And unlike some of his supporters Trump has not advocated sending anyone anywhere, but has offered leaving as an option. Big difference.

— Howard Myers, Santa Clara

Trump attacks all who defy him, including the ‘squad’

America is (and was) great in 2016, but it needs to be made great now.

An old political anecdote goes like this: When an American tourist to the USSR, touting freedom in U.S., claimed anyone can say Nixon is unfit to be U.S. president, he was told anyone can say that in the USSR too. Not anymore, after Mr. Donald “Pitbull” Trump was elected president by the Electoral College.

Trump gets vicious if anyone, even past friends, disagree with or criticize him, the latest being Paul Ryan. The “squad” of four congresswomen probably said nothing against the U.S., but criticized him and his policies. But for Mr. Pitbull, facts don’t matter.

Mr. Trump claims they hate the U.S. and suggests they “go back.” Yes, America needs to be made great again. Congressional leaders, regardless of their other interests, need to put the country first. They need to exercise powers to curb the erratic behavior of the president.

— Raghavendra Rao Loka,

Palo Alto

Ideas on immigration and bipartisanship applauded

I love letters to the editor because they provide unvarnished views of average people. Sometimes offensive, many times insightful, they reflect the thoughts of We the People.

Given the gridlock, polarization and ineptness of our political leaders, We the People have to demand solutions that work. Politicians of both parties would rather prolong the stalemate than seek solutions. If you actually solve a problem, you lose a campaign issue that can drive your base.

Cameron Church’s letter (“To help, expedite paths to citizenship and deportation,” July 21) decries the stalemate over immigration reform, noting “general paralysis,” which has been the case since the 1990s. He makes common sense suggestions that I bet most Americans could gladly accept.

Larry Polyak in his letter (“Independent voter asks: Why is there an aisle?” July 21) makes an interesting suggestion to integrate the seating in the legislative body so that representatives of both parties would have to sit next to each other rather than “across the aisle.” Hear, hear to both.

— Dave Riggs, Aptos