How many patriotic Americans would the SAVE Act disenfranchise?
Editor: My dad died 10 years ago at the age of 98. Dad was a boy of the Great Depression, a man of World War II. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 3, helped liberate France and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He risked his life so others could enjoy the freedoms he took for granted as an American.
Returning from the war, Dad devoted his life to patriotic activities. He was a cubmaster, a member of the local VFW and occasionally its commander. Dad was president of the VFW’s honor guard, which provided military funeral honors for deceased veterans. Most importantly, he took his right to vote very seriously.
Here’s something else about my dad. If he were alive today and the SAVE Act were the law of the land, he would have a difficult time exercising his right to vote. According to the act, Dad would have to show a state-issued driver’s license or a U.S. passport to vote. In his waning years of life, he had neither. He gave up his driving license at 94 (rightfully so), and he never had a passport.
I wonder how many patriots like my father will be in a similar situation if the SAVE Act becomes law.
— Dan Schmitt, Windsor
The challenges of global climate change are real
Editor: An April 4 letter dismissing progressive “virtue signaling” mistakes cynicism for substance (“Unimpressed by liberal displays of ‘virtue signaling’ ”). Individual actions — whether conserving resources, supporting public health or making more sustainable choices — may be small, but they are how broader change begins. Collective progress depends on people choosing to act, however imperfectly.
Reducing complex issues like climate change to “hysteria” avoids engaging with the real challenges we face. Saying “the Earth isn’t dying” similarly misses the point. The question is not whether the planet will survive, but whether the conditions that support stable communities and economies are being put at risk.
Reasonable people can debate solutions, but dismissing concerns outright does little to move that conversation forward. The challenges are real — whether we choose to engage with them or not.
— Lisa Rice, Santa Rosa
Destroying years of community effort at Santa Rosa schools
Editor: After reading about the “heart-wrenching” decision to pave over a school garden for the new Santa Rosa school district offices, I was not only sad, but angry once again (“ ‘Heart-wrenching’: New school district office will uproot beloved garden,” April 6). The “unintended consequence” of district leaders’ plan is destroying years of community effort, time and money generously given for the benefit of students and the community.
It seems to become more difficult every day to have faith in our leaders when we, as citizens, are so often told of “plans for progress” without timely communication to those most affected by those plans. Bond money is still community money and to see it spent without consideration of those directly affected isn’t heart-wrenching, it’s inexcusable.
Having been a part of establishing the school garden at Biella Elementary years ago, I know the time, effort and money it takes and the benefit to students, so I truly hope this plan will be amended and this garden saved. If not, I don’t know why anyone would ever agree to establish another school garden in Santa Rosa City Schools.
— Linda Jacobs, Santa Rosa
Trump’s Iran pause gives a new meaning to TACO Tuesday
Editor: To the surprise of nobody, the “king of credibility” backed off his bloated and empty threat to obliterate Iran into the stone age, giving a new and less appetizing meaning to TACO Tuesday (“Trump agrees to suspend bombing,” April 8).
— Nanci Adams, Santa Rosa
In Trump’s world, unlike FDR’s, we have everything to fear
Editor: Donald Trump does seem to show how easy it all is: how easy it is to sow chaos, to get away with murder, here and abroad; to take away or disregard sacred principles upon which the country, our country, was founded; to jeopardize the well-being of our citizens. And how easy it is for him to gaze back— and with a shrug of the shoulders, a smirk, a wink or a nod— and turn away from the suffering inflicted by him upon many innocent men, women and children.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt brought hope and faith to the American people when he said “the only thing we have to fear isfear itself.” And the American people, upon hearing those words rose up, pulled together, overcame an economic depression, were victorious in a war and went on to prosper — accomplishments not based on fear, but grounded in the hope and faith instilled by that man—a man for his times. Unless we remember once again who we really are, our country and the world, have everything to fear.
— Gene Gross, Santa Rosa
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