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Trump is not one to talk about 9/11 and justice
Freehold, N.J.: Donald Trump’s 9/11 message was off-key in several ways. First, he and his family have accepted millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a country accused of being complicit in the attacks. In 2017, the Washington Post reported that Trump’s business empire had received at least $2 billion from Saudi investors since 2000. Trump has been criticized for his close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been accused of human rights abuses.
Second, Trump has been a vocal opponent of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), a law that allows the families of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government for its alleged role in the attacks. Trump has argued that JASTA would damage U.S.-Saudi relations and could lead to retaliation against Americans living in Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s 9/11 message is also off-key in light of his own false and misleading statements about the attacks. He has repeatedly claimed he saw “thousands and thousands” of Muslims cheering in New Jersey on 9/11, a claim that has been widely debunked. He also made false claims about the number of people who died in the attacks and the cost of rebuilding the World Trade Center.
Overall, Trump’s message was out of touch with the reality of the attacks and the ongoing suffering of the victims and their families. His financial ties to Saudi Arabia and his opposition to JASTA raise serious questions about his commitment to justice for the victims. Tom Costello
Awkward encounter averted
Carmel, N.Y.: Perhaps President Biden didn’t show up on 9/11 at the World Trade Center ceremony because he wanted to avoid Mayor Adams telling him “show me the money” to deal with the overwhelming amount of border-crossers invading NYC. Susan McCormack
Nothing to celebrate
Manhattan: Re “9/11 must be a national holiday” (op-ed, Sept. 11): A day of prayer and remembrance, yes. A national holiday, no. As a retired NYC police officer and a 9/11 victim, I observe the anniversary by attending memorial services for all the victims of that terrible ordeal. As a U.S. Navy veteran, I observe Dec. 7 with a respectful reflection on all the souls who were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, another day that should not be a national holiday but a day of remembrance. Holidays are to celebrate something, such as Labor Day, Christmas, Chanukah, Independence Day or the birthday of a person held in high esteem related to accomplishments that benefited society. One can almost guarantee that 9/11, with its close proximity on the calendar to Labor Day, would just morph into another continuance of hot dogs, beer and plenty of retail sales. Can you imagine Japan celebrating Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Bruce Robertson
Codified remembrance
Brooklyn: Sept. 11 should be a holiday when all schools and shops are closed. A day of reflection. A day to really spread the word of where we were that day, each of us telling the story of who we lost that day. A constant reminder. Every school needs to tell the story of 9/11. Every religious group should open their houses of worship and invite all to attend to hear the stories of the 9/11 families. I know exactly how the events of that day went for my family. We will never forget. This letter is for every soul murdered that day. Mariann Tepedino
Goaded again
San Mateo, Calif.: I’m of the generation that was told if we didn’t stop communism there, we’d have to fight them here. Remember those dominos? Well, they’re here now, looking to open an EV factory in North Carolina. It’s the very same government then as it is now. Maybe we were lied to. The Pentagon Papers said so. Fast forward to the Iraq invasion, which we were told had to happen or a mushroom cloud was in our future. Lied to again. In 2014, we saw and heard Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland passing out candy, bags of cash and demands for influence in Ukraine. She was about the same distance to the Russian border as Cuba is to ours. Any chance we’d have a problem with similar behavior in Mexico or Canada by a foreign power? Get serious, it would be an unacceptable provocation. So now that Russia has blundered into an invasion in response, we’re told the domino tale again. Thinking we’re being taken for yet another ride? Mike Caggiano
No fair
Brooklyn: Am I to understand that we NYC taxpayers and U.S. citizens are to endure heavy cuts to services like police, firefighters, EMS, sanitation, etc. so we can pay for the influx of migrants and their taxpayer-funded handouts? Is this a Robin Hood type of budget? Are there any grown-ups occupying the governor’s and mayor’s administrations who can point out how unfair and unjust this is? Lydia DiBello
Immigrant immunity?
Manhattan: I hear on the news that the COVID virus is on the rise. Could it have anything to do with the thousands of migrants coming to New York? Were they given COVID vaccines like we were forced to take? Linda Guidice
Not without a push
Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.: If disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo had one ethical bone in his body, he would have given over the $5 million he took for his farcical book of lies. Instead, he waited for a judge to overrule the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (an oxymoron unto itself) that was rightfully seeking to claw back his ill-begotten gains. Michael P. Devine
Source identified
Bronx: To Voicer Robin Mazzi: President Biden is handing the country to the Republicans? Yes, by all means, every problem this country is facing you shortsighted Dim-ocrats own, from losing our energy independence, the drugs flowing into the country at an alarming rate and open borders to millions of dollars and military equipment left in Afghanistan (which will eventually be turned against us), the downward spiral of our economy, bail reform, more wars and rampant crime — all the direct result of your idiotic policies. Who has benefitted from these decisions? You own it all, baby! Ross de Marco
Triple bind
Dartmouth, Mass.: If the convicted MAGA insurrectionists are not minimally disappointed that Trump did not subsidize their attorney expenses, perhaps his resources to forestall his own trial will awaken them to his narcissistic and disingenuous character. Then again, Trump’s ability to maximize every situation to his advantage has emboldened so many of them to double down on their loyalty. They are convinced he will pardon them when he regains the presidency. For those who have come to realize they were duped and exploited, the incarceration becomes a threefold penalty: loss of freedom, a criminal record and the knowledge that they allowed themselves to be deceived, manipulated and humiliated. For those who have publicly declared themselves warriors in a righteous effort to defy the deep state and to restore America’s greatness, they will probably never realize nor admit that they were pawns in a futile attempt to provide Trump with an imperial presidency. Betty Ussach
Store security
Utica, N.Y.: With all these smash-and-grab thieves out there hitting the stores, why can’t the store owners have a built-in cage that would automatically come down when anything is smashed and cages these thieves within the store, locked up until the police arrive? The employees could all go to a safe room and lock themselves in. Thieves would think twice before they tried that again, I guarantee you. Francisco Matos
Student protest
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: I am a sophomore drama and English double major at Vassar College. Several female professors at Vassar have come out and claimed that there is a gender pay gap among professor salaries at the college. Vassar has attempted to cover up this information rather than work to better the system and pay workers fairly. Vassar students are holding a protest today at 3 p.m. on Vassar’s Library Lawn in support of the women suing Vassar. There will be hundreds of students present, wearing red and protesting classes as a way to gain media coverage in support of equal pay. Vassar prides itself on diversity, equity and gender acceptance and fairness. As a well-known liberal arts college, students are working to ensure that this school practices everything that it preaches. Solstice Lauren
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