Letters to the editor
In a recent commentary, a concerned citizen expresses alarm over what they perceive as a new low in political tactics employed by Democrats against President Trump. The author argues that unable to engage in traditional legislative negotiations regarding the deployment of the National Guard in major cities, Democratic leaders are now appealing directly to military personnel, urging them to disobey lawful orders from their superiors. This controversial tactic raises significant concerns about the potential implications for military discipline and the rule of law. The author warns that such appeals could lead to rank-and-file members of the National Guard misinterpreting these messages as permission to challenge their orders, potentially resulting in serious consequences such as court-martial and dishonorable discharge for those who refuse to comply.
The commentary also touches on broader issues regarding the responsibility of elected officials and the need for accountability in Congress. The author criticizes lawmakers for failing to address critical issues like the looming Social Security funding crisis, suggesting that if retired members of Congress were faced with similar cuts to their pensions, there would be an immediate outcry for action. This juxtaposition emphasizes the disparity between the treatment of lawmakers and ordinary citizens who rely on Social Security benefits after years of hard work. The author calls for voters, especially seniors, to take a stand against representatives who neglect their duties, urging them to push for change in a system that seems to prioritize the interests of politicians over the welfare of the public.
In a separate but equally pressing issue, another letter to the editor discusses the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, particularly in light of recent ceasefire agreements. The writer argues that while the Associated Press article suggests that Israel’s military actions are a test of the ceasefire, it overlooks the fact that Hamas has repeatedly violated the terms of the agreement, particularly by failing to return hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. The author asserts that Israel’s enforcement of the ceasefire terms is crucial for any hope of achieving lasting peace and disarming Hamas, emphasizing that without accountability, ceasefires will only lead to further conflict and suffering in Gaza. The commentary highlights the complex dynamics at play in the region, suggesting that Israel’s actions, while often criticized, may be the only path toward a more stable and peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Overall, these letters reflect deep concerns about political accountability, military integrity, and the pursuit of peace in a volatile geopolitical landscape, urging readers to consider the implications of current events and the responsibilities of both elected officials and military personnel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KahPH6oc12I
Refusing orders
This issue is without a doubt the lowest attack the Democrats have launched yet against President Trump’s policies. Because their party can’t engage and negotiate with President Trump through normal legislative channels regarding use of the National Guard in major cities, they have now stooped to appealing directly to members of our military to disobey orders of their superior officers.
So, how does this play out? One way is that rank and file members of the National Guard could perceive the video as permission to decide on their own what is, or isn’t, a lawful order from their commanders.
This scenario could very well result in gullible young men, or women, being court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from service for refusing to obey an order, because some cowardly senator or representative couldn’t find the wherewithal to do the job they were elected to do.
Lee Lessard
Dracut
Social Security
It would be interesting if retired members of Congress were told their pensions would be cut by 24% the same day Social Security was to be cut. Many of those folks are collecting large pensions that they qualify for at age 62 with only 5 years of service while most Social Security recipients work for years to receive a much lower payout.
I am sure they would be screaming and demand action so this won’t happen, yet Congress continues to kick the can down the road on the Social Security funding crisis. It is time for seniors to wake up and vote out the people in Congress that continue to sit on their hands as Social Security funding heads for the cliff.
Paul Quaglia
Billerica
Ceasefire
Re: the Associated Press article “Israel launches strikes in ceasefire’s latest test” (Boston Herald, Nov. 23): Israel’s strikes were indeed another test of the ceasefire with Hamas, but not quite in the way misleadingly implied by the AP.
Hamas has been constantly violating the terms of the ceasefire, with its failure, more than six weeks after the start of the ceasefire, to return all the hostages it kidnapped Oct. 7, 2023 despite the agreement that it would do so within 72 hours, being one of its smallest, albeit more dramatic, violations.
The only party making Hamas pay any price for its constant violations is Israel, whose enforcement of the terms provides the only hope that that ceasefire will endure and lead to the disarmament of Hamas and destruction of its terror infrastructure. Unless those provisions are enforced, this ceasefire will simply repeat the failures of all previous ceasefires, leading once again to the rearming and strengthening of Hamas and yet another destructive war with its attendant devastation in Gaza.
It’s ironic that Israel, whose citizens were the target of Hamas’
barbaric Oct. 7 slaughter, provides the best hope for the
self-induced misery of the people of Gaza being replaced by normal, peaceful and productive lives.
Alan Stein
Founder, PRIMER-Massachusetts (Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting) as well as PRIMER-Israel and president emeritus of PRIMER-Connecticut
Newton, MA and Netanya, Israel
