Article published June 24, 2009
Arabs: Accept Israel to fix your image
In his June 15 column Amjad Hussain stated that President Obama “has a great challenge to restore America’s tarnished image in the Muslim/Arab world.”
Without contesting that statement, my question is whether Dr. Hussain admits that the Muslim/Arab world has a great challenge to restore its tarnished image in the Western world.
With its history of dictatorships and totalitarian regimes; with its innumerable internecine wars, tribal conflicts, and religious sectarian violence; with its subjugation of women and minorities; with its institutionalized teachings of hate in schools and mosques, and having glorified murder, suicide, and terror, what is the Muslim/Arab world’s challenge today?
Dr. Hussain’s misleading and naive suggestion that problems in the Arab world would all go away if Israel would just surrender to the terrorists flies in the face of history, reality, and common sense.
The Palestinian issue had absolutely nothing to do with the Iran/Iraq war, which killed over a million people. It had nothing to do with Iraq’s use of chemical warfare against the Kurds, or Egypt’s suppression of The Islamic Brotherhood (a group founded, incidentally, in the 1920s, decades before the rebirth of Israel in 1948 and before there was a “Palestinian problem”). Trying to blame the problems of the Arab/Muslim world on the Jews is classic anti-Semitism, which must be stopped.
My suggestion is that Dr. Hussain take a leadership role by making the following statement, which, if adopted by their leaders, may help the Muslim/Arab world restore its tarnished image: The United States of America and Israel are not evil and we must acknowledge the reality that Israel exists, support the humanitarian ideal that Israel has a right to exist, and recognize that Israel is, in fact, the historical Jewish homeland.
NEIL LIGHT
Ottawa HillsTroubling issues: liquor, parking
Two articles in The Blade caught my attention. One was about the new arena, and how more liquor licenses may be approved for the downtown area. Why, with such a great push against drinking and driving, would the city want more people leaving the downtown area driving impaired? Would it be the increased revenue from the DUI arrests?
The next issue was about writing tickets to homeowners parking in their own stone-covered driveway. There are stone drives all over the city and have been for all time. The city is clearly just feeling the waters for a new source of revenue. Do we keep getting tickets every day till the drive is paved?
Or is this the way the administration is going to create new jobs for the area? Certainly the asphalt and concrete companies will be needing additional people when the city mandates that everyone pave their drives.
LOUIS STEFANONI
306th StreetOh, Canada geese despoil garden
In a recent article a Blade writer referred to The Toledo Botanical Garden as one of the “Jewels” Of Toledo. I wholeheartedly agree.
But, be advised to watch every step you take!
I visited last week with two friends and I was appalled at the number of Canada geese. These geese are a menace to our gardens, our waterways, and our health. Even the beautiful swan looked sad and bewildered by the condition of his pond.
We also saw hard-working volunteers and very pleasant summer help. But these people cannot be expected to cope with these geese.
We need a plan — dogs, loud noises — whatever it takes to get rid of these geese. So, as we stroll, we can view the gardens.
NANCY RICKER RUESS
PerrysburgColumnist’s take on issue berated
I was disappointed, but not surprised, to read columnist Marilou Johanek’s take on the comments David Letterman made about Sarah Palin’s daughter. She correctly called Mr. Letterman’s comment “a wisecrack” and a “crude joke.” But then, she referred to Ms. Palin’s older daughter as “the one who did get knocked up” — just as crude and inappropriate. Shouldn’t somebody in the business of words have a better way to describe that situation?
Then, Ms. Johanek suggests that Ms. Palin milked the situation for all it was worth, ignoring how much mileage Mr. Letterman got out of it. Can the columnist seriously believe that Mr. Letterman didn’t benefit from what she called a “political sideshow to boost individual fortunes?” There’s the real joke!
By the way, you don’t have to be a “Palin devotee waging your own war against the comedian like it’s the last straw” to think that Mr. Letterman’s comments were crass, boorish, and inappropriate. They were inappropriate and tacky, and would have been just as disgusting (and worthy of criticism) directed against any woman of any age.
Christine A. Holliday
Claudia DriveWe want a real deal on health care
James Carville in his recent book indicates that America needs the “Real Deal” with accountability from our elected representatives.
But when it comes to the issue of health care for all Americans, accountability quickly becomes lost in stonewalling and double talk.
That is not a surprise since most of our congressional representatives along with the great majority of the physicians in this country belong to the “15 percent of Americans who own 85 percent of the wealth” club.
The rest of us, “Club 85,” are the ones who elect these so-called public servants.
The Real Deal that needs to be communicated to the Congress from “Club 85” is simple.
Congress should give every American the same health insurance that they currently enjoy or Congress should receive exactly the same benefits that the average American now has until they solve the health-care crisis.
These guys are public servants, aren’t they?
MEL POMMERANZ
Lakeside, OhioThird Frontier should be No. 1
I read with interest the June 17 article by Gary Pakulski, “Study on effects of recession finds great pain in area.”
It correctly points out that our region has relied for too long on a single industry for the majority of job creation, and that by creating a more diverse economic base we can hopefully avoid such dramatic downturns in the future.
The writer also mentions that the Regional Growth Partnership has led and supported the creation of more than 50 new technology-based companies in the past year.
It is important the community is aware that this job creation would not have been possible without our partnership with the State of Ohio’s “Third Frontier” program.
This $1.6 billion initiative was created in 2002 to expand the state’s high-tech research capabilities, which are designed to accelerate the pace of commercialization in Ohio.
Third Frontier has made high-wage, high-tech job creation viable in northwest Ohio.
This program will be put before Ohio voters in the near future for possible renewal. If our region wants to see the ongoing creation of new high-wage, sustainable jobs, we need to support the continuation of Third Frontier.
Steve Weathers
President and CEO
Regional Growth PartnershipMayor, you’re welcome here
It’s either people like Carty stepping in, or it’s kids like the ones at the park taking over.
Carty, you are welcome in my neighborhood any day.
JANET MOHAMED
North Haven Avenue
Permanent Link
|
|
 |
|
Search
advertisement
