MENU
SECTIONS
OTHER
CLASSIFIEDS
CONTACT US / FAQ
Advertisement
In this May 30, 2018 photo, President Donald Trump arrives for a bill signing ceremony in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus.
1
MORE

To the editor: Trump’s pardons are self-serving

ASSOCIATED PRESS

To the editor: Trump’s pardons are self-serving

I disagree with The Blade’s praise of President Trump and his pardoning power which “helped bring attention to a serious issue in the criminal justice system” (June 10, “A unique presidential power”).

The editorial claims that “he now identifies with victims of overly zealous prosecutions.” He does not. The pardonings are just more publicity, bringing more attention to himself. Mr. Trump doesn’t give a hoot about righting wrongs, except where they involve himself and the things he does. It’s all about Trump. Stop giving him so much credit.

BOB FOTOPLES
Oregon

Advertisement

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

ICE raid did not solve the problem

I have read with great interest The Blade’s articles regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Sandusky. Obviously this is part of President Trump’s promise to make America, or at least Sandusky, great again.

Mr. Trump has warned America that ICE must conduct these raids to rid our country of “drug dealers, dangerous criminals, and rapists,” along with the “animals.”

Advertisement

It is possible that The Blade can update us regarding this raid on the people working at the business in Sandusky? How many MS-13 gang members were apprehended? How many rapists, drug dealers, and other dangerous criminals were taken in during the raid?

I ask myself one question: Do I now feel safer after the raid, or am I left to wonder what purpose these actions really serve and at what cost to the families involved?

CHUCK SALMON
Perrysburg

Ashes to ashes

Over 60 years ago, my father would drive me from the Old West End to the south end to visit my grandparents, Collingwood to Nebraska to Hawley to Western. As we turned onto Nebraska, I saw St. Anthony’s spire.

As a recently retired architect, I have been involved with many buildings from birth into their use and existence. Some no longer exist. A building has a birth, lifespan and death, just like a human. Some humans have a long lifespan, 90 to over 100 years. Some buildings will have very long lifespans, too, like the Capital, White House, Supreme Court Building, Lincoln and Washington Memorials, and others.

But some day, they too will be replaced. Even the Temple of Solomon, so magnificent and spacious, was not spared the ravages of barbarous force. The Pyramids of Giza are being worn by the sands of time. For the last 12 years, water — the universal solvent — has been at work on St Anthony’s just as it works on everything else.

The church needs to be demolished. The same people who wish to save it would probably be the first to be outraged if part of the spire or church falls and kills someone.

I do not want to see it go. With it will go some of my early, youthful memories. But the church is the people, not the buildings. Pope Francis is about people, not buildings. Where were the officials 12 years ago? I think the stop work order issued for a temporary protective fence is a waste of city funds. The city of Toledo has more pressing issues on urban violence and drug addiction than saving St. Anthony’s from demolition. Effort and resources would be better spent in these areas than here.

The building will cost millions of dollars to restore and bring up to code. It does not lend itself to adaptive reuse. I do not want to see St. Anthony’s leave our skyline, but it’s time.

Every Ash Wednesday, the clergy presses ashes to my forehead and says, “Remember, thou art dust and unto dust you shall return at the grave.” Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We are all only the dust of God’s creation.

REED N. KNOWLES
Sylvania

Helping immigrant children affected by ICE raid

My local community is reacting, as it should, to the needs of the immigrants and their children affected by the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Sandusky. Actions such as providing toys and diapers, protesting, and sending money help us feel like we have power to fight the damage done by laws that are implemented aggressively to hurt others. (June 8, “Corso’s: We were unaware employees might have been illegal immigrants”). But do we have the power as individuals to bring about thoughtful policy about our nation’s most pressing problems, one of which is immigration?

The Blade article quoted U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Urbana), who said that voters sent a clear message when they elected our current President: “They want the border security wall done, they want to end chain migration, they want the visa lottery, they want to deal with sanctuary cities.”

Not so. Some voters, not the majority, voted for Donald Trump, and not every Trump voter supports the aggressive, authoritarian atmosphere that Mr. Trump both tacitly and outwardly encourages. We are becoming a divisive country, stirring up animosity with people who are different from us, and being antagonistic both personally and politically.

Let’s not give in to this. We have to take a proactive stance to push against this anti-democratic attitude rampant among our politicians, but clearly not a majority view among our citizens.

According to the Associated Press, three-quarters of Americans agree that people like themselves have too little influence in Washington, a rare consensus across political, economic, racial and geographical lines. This unanimity includes both those who approve and disapprove of the president. We are represented poorly by those who have been elected through the influence of foreign money, dark money, fake news, and opposition research. Many think they have license to obstruct governing or push their corporate-sponsored agendas. Most do not speak out about the way that laws are being implemented cruelly, like in Sandusky.

We will have power as citizens and members of all political parties if we work together toward the overarching problems that are diminishing democracy: voting restrictions, gerrymandering, and money in politics. We must elect legislators in November who will represent our needs and who will work across the aisle to enact fair and evidence-based policy that represents our country’s mission: liberty and justice for all.

ELLEN GREENE BUSH
Port Clinton

First Published June 16, 2018, 8:45 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS  
Join the Conversation
We value your comments and civil discourse. Click here to review our Commenting Guidelines.
Must Read
Partners
Advertisement
In this May 30, 2018 photo, President Donald Trump arrives for a bill signing ceremony in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
Pittsburgh skyline silhouette
TOP
Email a Story