Trump’s right on Andrew Jackson

Costa Mesa, Calif.: Clearly your writer does not know U.S. history that well or as well as President Trump (“President Trump questions why Civil War happened, thinks Andrew Jackson would have prevented it,” May 1). Yes, Jackson owned slaves and was responsible for the Indian Removal Act: He was a man of his times. However, he was not tolerant of any attempt or discussion of secession. Jackson was the only President other than Lincoln to deal with a serious threat of secession. Again, with South Carolina.

He had the Navy dispatched to Carolina’s ports to collect the tariffs that the federal government had put in place during the nullification crisis. When secession was threatened by South Carolina, Jackson threatened to personally lead an army to the state, and not for a friendly visit. Contrast Jackson’s approach to that of President James Buchanan’s lazy drift into Civil War. I can perfectly understand Trump’s comment on this subject. Aubrey Jackson Clifton, N.J.: President Trump can’t understand why the Civil War had to be fought and why there couldn’t be a negotiated agreement. Maybe he should read some books about the Civil War and its causes politically and economically. He also stated that Andrew Jackson could have brokered a settlement of the problems. Andrew Jackson died in 1845. He is Trump’s favorite President. Knowing Trump, what he knows about Jackson you could fit in a thimble. Long Island City: The News’ anti-Trump everything is on display here. (And I did not vote for him.) Perhaps the editors should read Jon Meacham’s biography of Andrew Jackson. His commitment to the Union, including the use of federal military force to preserve the nation during the nullification crises, is well documented. Lincoln quoted Jackson as part of his argument in favor of the federal military reaction to secession. Whether Jackson would have sided with the slavers in 1860 is not clear-cut. Remember, not all slaveholders wanted to secede. Trump’s speculation may or may not be accurate, but it is not unfounded. Manhattan: A commentator noted that President Trump said: “America has never seen such success.” I guess it depends on how you define “success.” I’ve lived in the U.S.A. since 1968, and I’ve never seen such chaos. Actually, it’s very sad. Staten Island: So our President wants to change the libel laws to persecute, I mean prosecute, the media while he continues to name-call and belittle those who disagree with him. And while at his “rally” for the job he has, he said how he was so glad to be out of the Washington swamp. Remind me again why he wanted this job? I’ve never seen a President so divisive and disrespectful toward the country he wants to “make great again.” Wrong. Manhattan: Thanks for your story about Donald Trump Jr.’s killing of prairie dogs, including pregnant ones (“Trump Jr. slammed for hunting possibly pregnant prairie dogs,” April 21). Just as his father, in heedless ignorance and arrogance, is doing his best to push life on Earth over the cliff edge of climate change, so we see the same murderous stupidity and cruelty in the son. Elon, N.C.: It seems that the generation of students we have attending universities is taking many steps back. Within the last two to three years, the number of racist-themed parties being held at college institutions is increasing. In April, an article was released by the student publication at Elon University regarding a racistthemed party held by a sorority and fraternity. The article exposed photos of the many different types of racist “costumes” students wore. While, yes, there may not be any direct intention of being racist by these students, simply dressing as negative stereotypes of those in the minority community is completely offensive and disrespectful. Students were dressed as “cholas,” “gangsters,” pregnant young women, “thugs” — and the list goes on. The theme of the party was “shock your mom,” as if those who are black or Latino are the only ones who can shock their parents in certain situations. Elon University is reportedly not the only university where racist-themed parties occur; there are many other schools that have these exact parties going on. Universities need to work toward making their campuses inclusive, creating an environment where all cultures, races and ethnicities are respected. There are plenty of other themes that students can come up with. Manhattan: I’m shocked and appalled by The News’ editorial supporting Linda Sarsour’s commencement address at CUNY (“Sorry, no safe spaces on campus,” April 27). What appears to be lost on The News is the distinction between supporting free speech, giving a forum for people to speak and debate, and inviting an individual to give a commencement address at a publicly funded university. Supporting free speech means allowing people to speak and publish. It doesn’t mean giving them a forum and buying them a printing press. The editorial notes that a commencement speech should be unifying, while Sarsour is just the opposite. So how exactly is she an appropriate choice by the administration? The answer is that she is not. The commencement is to mark the transition of the students to the next phase of their life. The commencement address is supposed to be words of wisdom that support this transition. For the administration to ignore the needs of the students and undermine the the commencement to further their own political objectives is not only inappropriate and unacceptable, it is deplorable. Not only should the commencement speaker be replaced; everyone in the CUNY administration that supported bringing her in should be replaced as well. Flushing: Linda Sarsour is a pro-Palestinian, anti-Zionist activist selected to deliver the commencement address at CUNY’s School of Public Health. Freedom of speech grants her permission to speak. Her commencement address should inspire the new graduates to seek fulfilling careers that will improve the health of the public. A commencement is not an appropriate forum in which to inject her personal views regarding Israel and Palestine. Cincinnati: Calling Joe Mixon a “sociopath” and a “degenerate” only shows that it is the Daily News that suffers from a broken moral compass (“Bengals aren’t the only sports team with a broken moral compass,” May 1). Mixon overreacted to a drunken woman who attacked him, and he has paid a tremendous price for that reaction. The media choose to tell only the most sensational part of the incident because it sells papers and it fits the politically correct message about violence against women. But, because it does not fit your agenda, there is no mention that numerous witnesses said Amelia Molitor was drunk, and no mention that Mixon does not drink at all. There is no mention that Mixon was starting to walk away when Molitor attacked him, so the real story could just as well be about violent women against men, but that certainly is not PC. You make no comment about JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS Mixon’s community service since the incident or the incredible abuse he has endured at the hands of the media. Because you choose to sensationalize one part of a more complex story to sell papers, I do believe it is The News that needs to repair its moral compass. Manhattan: We are now teaching young women that their booties are more important than their minds. Intelligent real men are not attracted to women who have everything showing. Ladies, please leave something to the imagination. Stop looking like sluts. Staten Island: In regard to Voicer Thomas Sarc’s point, to be a guard at a concentration camp you had to volunteer for that position. You also had to be a member of the SS, which you also had to volunteer to join. Since Jakiw Palij was not of German stock, he had to have Aryan features. I say the best thing for Palij is to deport him to Syria. He will fit in really well there. Queens Village: I’ve written this before, but you didn’t publish the letter. In my neighborhood, I can walk across the street and get non-NYC taxed cigarettes. I no longer smoke, and I feel sorry for those who do who do not live near a border or who do not have out-of-state friends.