Letters to the editor
In a recent commentary, the author expresses concern over what they perceive as a troubling tactic employed by some Democrats, who are allegedly encouraging members of the National Guard to disobey orders from their superiors regarding the deployment of troops in major cities. This approach, the author argues, reflects a desperate inability to engage with President Trump’s administration through conventional legislative means. By appealing directly to military personnel, these politicians risk creating a dangerous precedent where service members might feel empowered to question the legality of their orders. This could lead to serious consequences, including court-martials and dishonorable discharges for those who refuse to follow commands based on this misguided encouragement. The author emphasizes that it is the responsibility of elected officials to fulfill their duties through proper channels rather than inciting insubordination among the ranks of the military.
The discussion then shifts to the broader implications of political actions on social issues, particularly concerning Social Security. A separate letter highlights the disparity between the pensions received by retired members of Congress and the benefits provided to Social Security recipients. The author suggests that if Congress members faced similar cuts to their pensions as those proposed for Social Security, they would be more proactive in addressing the funding crisis that threatens the program. This situation underscores a growing frustration among seniors who feel neglected by lawmakers who seem unwilling to tackle the looming financial challenges facing Social Security. The call to action is clear: voters should hold their representatives accountable for inaction and demand solutions to ensure the sustainability of this vital program for future generations.
Lastly, the commentary touches on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, criticizing a recent Associated Press report that downplayed Hamas’s violations of the ceasefire. The author argues that while Israel is actively enforcing the ceasefire terms, Hamas has repeatedly failed to uphold its commitments, particularly regarding the release of hostages taken during the conflict. The author posits that Israel’s actions are crucial for maintaining the ceasefire and preventing further escalation of violence. They assert that without strict enforcement of the ceasefire terms, history is likely to repeat itself, leading to renewed conflict and suffering in Gaza. Ultimately, the author argues that Israel’s efforts could provide a pathway for the people of Gaza to transition from a cycle of violence to a more peaceful existence, challenging the narrative that often portrays Israel solely as an aggressor in the conflict.
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
