Readers sound off on diversity in school, Labor Day and Jimmy Buffet

Brooklyn: I’m a 1976 graduate of Stuyvesant High School. My best friends were eight other African-American women who, like me, traveled from the outer boroughs to the outdated Stuyvesant building on E. 15th St. We didn’t have a pool, computer room or modern labs in a modern building overlooking the Hudson River. The girls’ gym was a converted shop room.

But we were educated and happy, and all graduated on time and went on to successful careers in law, medicine, education, etc. I have degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh Law School and Brooklyn College. If you check out the yearbook from 1976, you will see a diverse class with Brown faces throughout who have as many degrees as they can list.

Unfortunately, since I returned to my hometown in 1994, every year the headlines speak about the lack of diversity at my alma mater. What is wrong with this picture? This year, only seven Black students were offered admission? I believe there are many reasons for such a paucity of Brown faces but none are based on the lack of smart, motivated Brown-skinned middle schoolers. Those in charge must find solutions and fix the problem. The student populations of schools like Stuyvesant do not reflect the real world and it is a disservice to their graduating classes. I learned how to appreciate those who are different, and I share a common goal of getting a great education. I believe it helped me to adapt to my surroundings personally and professionally throughout my life. Justine Chambers

Bethesda, Md.: This Labor Day, when we honor workers, let’s consider laborers who are often unseen: Farm workers, many of whom are immigrants and refugees, laboring in fields in the hot sun picking our fruits and vegetables, others work in slaughterhouses, gutting hogs, cows and chickens — carving up carcasses, they make thousands of repetitive motions at high speeds and are at imminent risk for injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. They often develop post-traumatic stress disorder from killing and dismembering sentient creatures. Injured workers are often fired when they can’t keep up the fast pace. So, this Labor Day, let’s also not forget those workers in grocery stores, restaurants, dry cleaners, police departments and government offices who provide important products and services that help us every day in so many ways. Jane DeMarines

Hallandale Beach, Fla.: This Labor Day, let’s give special recognition to the labor of women, in our current time and throughout our history, in all its forms. Far too undervalued and taken for granted. Vital for life and the continuation of all we hold dear. Paul Bacon

West Islip, L.I.: Thank you, Jimmy Buffett, for the music and taking me and many others to this place you call Margaritaville. As I write this on a Saturday afternoon with a margarita, I toast you and say, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.” Sean Burns

Ozone Park: That lost shaker of salt can be found, but Jimmy Buffet will never have a replacement. He was the epitome of relaxation, with a music style that made you think of palm trees and gritty sand between your toes. Ray Hackinson

Manhattan: A politician and a diplomat / A man committed to freedom and liberty / A salute to Bill Richardson, congressman, governor, UN ambassador, presidential candidate / secretary of energy, hostage negotiator, Nobel Peace Prize nominee / His legacy will be his years of service / and belief in justice for all / tireless in freeing political prisoners and hostages / Richardson answered the call / We thank him for his years in government / We are grateful for his dedication / His loss is just so heartbreaking and sad / We will always remember his devotion to our nation / His name will be enshrined / in the history books as a great politician / He did his best to promote peace and harmony / a true patriot who dutifully accepted every mission. Phoebe Celentano

Terre Haute, Ind.: The Marxist legacy media is going after Mitch McConnell given his mental freezing experiences stemming from the brain concussion he sustained during a fall in Washington’s Waldorf Astoria in March. But these mainstream media types never go after President Biden as he stumbles and falls up the stairs to Air Force One, falls down during an Army ceremony, mumbles and slurs words with that droning speech pattern of his, with those obnoxious clicking sounds he makes as he picks his right eyebrow with a feeble thumb and index finger while licentiously hugging little girls. Biden shuffles about, unaware of where he is half the time, gets lost with no sense of direction or plunges through a door as he enjoys endless weekends in Delaware and vacations throughout the U.S. as he did for most of August. As painful as this is to state, it’s time for Kamala Harris. Earl Beal

Riverhead, L.I.: Like many others, I am concerned about President Biden’s advanced age and current mental prowess. But I am confident I will know when he is no longer mentally fit to be president, and that will be when he suggests that it might be a good idea to ingest bleach to get rid of a virus, or that it might be a good idea to nuke a hurricane, or for the U.S. to buy Greenland or that windmills cause cancer. Of course, anybody of such a deteriorated mental state would have the humility and love for this country to never run for any public office, wouldn’t they? Colin Grattan

Staten Island: To Voicer Mike Greaney, Jan. 6 will mark three years since the white wing tried to overthrow the government of the U.S.A. Do you intend to fret over the ‘Murican morons who tried to bring us in line with Russia, China and North Korea as you do the terrorists who came before them? A terrorist is a terrorist no matter what they look like, and as far as I know, no Central or South American has ever tried to destroy us or take down democracy, as the GOP is doing every day. So why conflate the two? You compare apples and lettuce, Mike, just to make yourself feel better about backing terrorists and the real threat to the U.S.A.: the GOP and its wackos. No, Mike, it’s not your dad’s GOP. Please pay attention. And remember, these folks you vilify are fleeing the results of “Repugnicon” presidents’ often illegal actions in their home countries, and aren’t at fault for what our government did to them in our name. Did you root for Timothy McVeigh, too? Tom McGuire

Woodstock, N.Y.: As an add-on to Voicer Judith Clarke’s astute letter, we all pay a small fortune every month just to watch TV — while we’re hammered with billions of dollars worth of advertising! You can’t tell us consumers that we’re not getting hosed. And then Spectrum has the audacity to refuse to provide ordinary channels like ESPN, saying it’s costing them too much! We should all expect to be able to watch sports, for heaven’s sake! And, like Clarke pointed out, ABC is supposed to be a network channel. Hello! This is a giant scam. Perhaps we should all cancel TV altogether and go to the library and then to the movie theater! Suzanne Hayes Kelly

Brooklyn: NYCLU, please find something else to complain about. I have no problem with the NYPD using drones to keep me safe during J’Ouvert. There are many young punks who come with bad intentions. If the drones help weed them out, I am good with that. June Lowe

Chicago: This is the first time I have noticed Bill Madden’s writing. I enjoyed the clear thinking. Reminds me of Mike Lupica. I enjoyed Madden’s thoughts on Jerry Reinsdorf but I have to disagree. He doesn’t deserve another year. It will just be time wasted, mark my words, Mr. Madden. I will now look for your byline. Thank you. Frank Abromitis