Why doesn’t Egypt help the Gazans?

Concerning the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, can someone please explain to me why Egypt hasn’t allowed the UN to build a tent city across the border in the Sinai?

I understand that Egypt is afraid of Hamas entering, as they already have their own terrorist problem there, but why not just let in the women and children? The poor civilians would be out of harm’s way, medical aid would be available and they could receive all the humanitarian aid they need with no interference from Israel.

If Egypt is worried that they wouldn’t return, the UN can promise that they will dismantle the camp when the fighting ends. If money is the problem, Saudi Arabia and Qatar can easily fund it.

Why, when safety is only a short distance away, is the world shedding crocodile tears, and allowing these poor people to be used as shields for Hamas and political pawns by the Arab countries in order to condemn Israel? Why?

LILA HOROWITZ

Squirrel Hill

feel compelled to respond to Thomas O’Boyle’s “Lebo pride — and prejudice” (Mar. 18). If my first-grade child had said, “Dad, my teacher told me that sometimes parents get it wrong about boys and girls,” I would have welcomed the teaching moment.

I would have told her, “She’s right. When a baby is born, we can only see what’s on the outside, not what’s on the inside. And sometimes children who look like boys feel and act like girls, and children who look like girls feel and act like boys. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s just different, like a kid’s hair and eyes and skin. Sometimes these children are treated badly, and that’s wrong. Your teacher was saying that everyone should be treated with the same kindness, courtesy and consideration.”

My granddaughter, who attended Foster elementary school, the school he wrote about, is excelling in high school thanks to the love of learning Foster’s teachers gave her. Foster also hosts the best Veterans Day celebration in the world where I have had the honor of speaking.

After one talk about being a combat soldier in Vietnam, I closed with this: “I’m proud of you and the gift of yourselves you have given to us today. I’m proud of your teachers and parents because they are teaching you more than math, science, history, English, art and music — they are teaching you values.

Today you have shown us that you understand those values — honor, respect, kindness, compassion, giving back, and community. Those are the values that America was built on. They are ideals worthy of the sacrifices made by veterans.”

DOLPH JOHN ARMSTRONG Mt. Lebanon

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