OPINION: Talk of the Town

Lawmaker shouldn’t criticize New Mexicans

I read John Block’s, R-Alamogordo, comments in the article about the No Kings protest in the Oct. 19 Sunday Journal. “Be safe out there, patriots, as Hamas radicals with their ‘intifada’ and Antifa are set to hit the streets with their violent riots today.” Aside from being completely absurd, characterizing normal, everyday New Mexico citizens, families, kids, grandparents, as being “Hamas radicals” is not only shameful, it is un-American in the extreme. The tradition of peaceful protest is a treasured American tradition that goes back to our founding. And the No Kings marches across this country and beyond were just that — peaceful expressions of our First Amendment rights. There was no violence. There was nothing to be afraid of. The police were treated with respect and returned that respect to the thousands peacefully marching. I don’t expect an ultra-MAGA politician like Rep. Block to agree with the views of the thousands who protested, but making them out to be less than patriotic or scary members of some sinister groups is despicable.

Paul Akmajian

Los Ranchos

Protesters stand up to authoritarianism

See if these declarations seem familiar. He has refused to assent to laws. He has obstructed the administration of justice. He has kept armies amongst us. He has excited insurrections. Many prominent Republicans, most notably House Speaker Mike Johnson, have described the No Kings March of last Saturday as a hate march perpetrated by the likes of ANTIFA, Marxists, and other entities. However, the above declarations came from the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. And here we are nearly 250 years later sustaining the same injustices that victimized Americans of that time at the hands of King George III, only this time by a man who would be king.

Richard Mann

Albuquerque

Dems should vote to open the government

The folks bemoaning the negative effects of the current shutdown of the federal government should examine the voting records of Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján. Both have consistently voted to keep the shutdown in effect and refuse to do the right thing by voting for the House-passed continuing resolution. It is not the Republicans who are preventing military members, cops, health care workers and others from being paid. It is Chuck Schumer and his Democrat cohorts in the Senate who are keeping the doors closed. Call/write to Heinrich and Luján and demand that they cease the game-playing, do their jobs and vote to reopen the government.

Jack Gilbert

Rio Rancho

Universal health care makes sense for US

Many Republicans in Congress often say they are all about people working. Well, high quality dependable health care equals a healthy working population. Healthy people can work, unhealthy people cannot. Maintaining good health is essential to any working population. Universal comprehensive health care for everyone is not a cost, it is a wise investment, perhaps the best investment any society can make. We can throw away $8 trillion dollars on horrible Middle East wars that do great harm to America, but we cannot have basic universal health care coverage for all Americans.

Steve Ponton

Tijeras

Concerns remain after Gaza ceasefire

The cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the resumption of humanitarian relief and the liberation of 20 people from living graves are all causes for celebration. There are “day after” concerns that are troubling. Not surprisingly after two years of bombardment, that exceeded the damage Allied bombers did to German cities, the remains of many deceased hostages may never be recovered. It is a distinct possibility — or will form the bases of conspiracy theories — that some captives of Hamas remain alive in some underground chambers, or that their bodies will reveal evidence of torture and execution. Credible reports describe Hamas terrorists executing Palestinian collaborators since the ceasefire. And predictably, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is restricting the flow of aid to the malnourished and vulnerable population in response. The demilitarization of Hamas is a sine qua non for an enduring peace, as is the replacement of Netanyahu as the leader of Israel. The only credible force capable of disarming Hamas and enforcing order would consist of peacekeepers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations. U.S. boots on the ground would be an extraordinary mistake — one that might undermine the fragile peace. As wars are fought; peace must be made — not by grand gestures alone, but by assiduous attention paid to the details. In resolving Gaza, the West Bank must be resolved — and only the establishment and universal recognition of the state of Palestine will accomplish that. The people of Israel and Palestine have work to do within their own communities; let us pray that President Trump’s 20-point plan does nothing to undercut the majority who long for peace.

Eric Radack

Santa Fe