Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 12-7-23

Three-point response to a letter 

I’d like to make three points in response to Lloyd Baroody’s letter last week about the local peace vigil.

1.  I wasn’t at the vigil and therefore hesitate to comment other than to say it is hard to believe these people of faith wouldn’t have been compassionate toward Palestinian civilians.

2. My Jewish friends reminded me of the anti-Semitism in our own community in the early ‘70s.

One example actually prohibited the sale of some properties to Jews or Blacks.

Twenty years ago I was part of a week-long treat to Auschwitz-Birkenau to ‘bear witness’ to the atrocities   done to Jews (and some other non-Aryans) committed there. The experienced seared the heart forever.

 The retreat had people of many different faiths, ethnicities and nationalities, including some Muslims.

We all internalized the message “Never Again!”. That ‘never again’ extended to any form of ethnic,  racial, or religious targeting. It was a message we hoped the whole world would grasp, but the world hasn’t listened so well. Indeed, the current rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim acts in our own country is appalling. Racism persists.

3.  But to the specific point that Mr. Baroody raises about Israel’s culpability in the horror being experienced by Palestinian civilians right now:  I am no supporter of the Israeli leaders’ right-wing actions, particularly the incursions into the West Bank by Israeli settlers and the harsh restrictions on Palestinians in general, but the current horror is not Israel’s sole responsibility.

Mr. Baroody makes no mention of the fact that Hamas, who has governed Gaza for the  last 18 years, is a terrorist organization whose sole mission is to eradicate Israel and Jews.

 Certainly Hamas knew the degree to which the Israeli government would retaliate after Oct. 7’s  brutal attack on Israeli civilians.  It certainly knew that Palestinian civilians would suffer the most while Hamas could hide in its tunnels. In other words, it did nothing to protect its own population and  is sacrificing them for its own narrow ideology.  Moreover, most of the financial support that flowed to Gaza in the last 18 years — intended to build and expand its economy, to help its citizens, was instead used by Hamas to build those tunnels and its military might. 

Of course, there is some culpability on both sides for the extent of the horror and devastation. Of course, the history of this whole area from the birth of Israel on is a tangled skein, full of political and military machinations, including from outside countries intent on their own interests. Nothing is simple.

What can we ordinary citizens do to help?  It feels like very little.  What I hope is that we stop targeting specific (and innocent) groups of people here who are not responsible for the actions of their governments, much less their genetic inheritances. If we can do that, if we can stand up against prejudice in all its forms, we can become better people, a better community, a better nation.

Barbara Maltby

Lakeville

Saddened by letter writer’s mischaracterizations about Israel

I am saddened by the mischaracterizations made by Lloyd Baroody in his letter to the editor published in the Nov. 30 Lakeville Journal. To label Israel’s actions as genocidal, racist and apartheid is inflammatory and simply untrue.  Mr. Baroody fails to condemn the killing of innocent Israelis — Jews, Christians and Muslims.  He fails to condemn the Hamas charter which calls for the destruction of Israel.

I am sorry that Mr. Baroody did not see the Interfaith Vigil at the Salisbury Congregation Church for what it was — a gathering of friends to support the Jewish community.  I commend the organizers (I was not one) for their efforts.  I agree that we should always strive to be inclusive, and wish Mr. Baroody had been in attendance.

I abhor the killing of all innocent people — in Gaza, Israel or elsewhere.  I condemn the terrorist actions of Hamas.  I do not support the extreme policies of the Netanyahu government. 

I believe the path to achieve peace is a two state solution — one that accepts the existence of a Jewish state in Israel and Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank.  Without that fundamental acceptance, there will be no progress.  There needs to be leadership in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel to negotiate such a solution. Those leaders need to be supported by governments around the world, especially those of the others in the region including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

Rather than criticizing from our respective corners, if we begin a constructive dialog, maybe we can achieve change.

Peter Takiff

Sharon

Christmas story

You may enjoy one of my favorite Christmas stories.

One year I sent a gift box with fruit and assorted goodies to my daughter and her family.  Her  teenage son, Jon, was the first one home and found the box on the porch.  He saw all of the goodies, but ate only the four pears.  The rest of the family wasn’t too happy.  He’s been teased about it since.

Carolyn McDonough

North Canaan

Thanking everyone who attended vigil for Israel at Salisbury church

On behalf of my fellow members of the planning committee, I want to thank everyone who attended the recent Interfaith Vigil For Israel, The Hostages, and Peace.  Over 80 people attended this event at the Salisbury Congregational Church (aka “The Meeting House”) and we thank the Church for allowing us to hold the vigil there.  Aside from the attendees, over 90 people allowed us to use their name in a list of supporters of the event.

In a recent letter to this paper (Nov. 30), an angry resident  claimed that the vigil was not “representative” of the views of Salisbury residents, citing an informal poll taken among his fellow protesters and passersby at the weekly demonstration in front of the White Hart.  I cannot say whether or not the vigil represents the views of a majority of Salisbury residents.  But I do know that it represents the residents of Salisbury at their best: showing the community’s support for our Jewish friends who are under attack in this country and elsewhere in a manner frighteningly reminiscent of 1930’s Europe.

The writer of the angry letter was, however, correct about one thing: we did indeed limit the publicity about the event for security reasons.  Anyone not living under a rock can see what is happening across the country today, not just on college campuses but in most of our major cities. New York City just experienced attempts by anti-Israel and antisemitic protesters to shut down the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center.  And closer to home, as the only non-Jewish member of the Planning Committee I was stunned to learn that the Amenia Synagogue that many members of the Salisbury Jewish community attend has found it necessary to have armed security for all of its services for the past five years.  

As Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor of the Senate this week:  “Jewish Americans feel alone to face all of this — abandoned by too many of our friends and allies in our greatest time of need, as antisemitic hate crimes skyrocket.”  I am proud to have been involved in the planning and execution of this vigil.  And I thank everyone who attended and/or supported the vigil.  It truly represents the Salisbury community at its best.

Tom Morrison

Lakeville

Solar plan support

I am writing to applaud the town’s innovative plan to install solar panels behind the Sharon Center School. The project would save the town hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction and energy costs, while also offering children a dramatic demonstration of how we are addressing the global climate warming crisis on a local level with action, not just words.

The panels would occupy just 25 percent of a long-neglected plot overrun with invasive plant species. If we were to install the panels and replace those invasives with native plantings beneficial to birds and insects, that 2.8-acre parcel could pack a mighty punch for the environment. Please make this happen by supporting the project at the January 5th referendum.

Edmund Mander

Sharon

Keleman Nature Trail/Preserve Referendum

Before voting on the Jan. 5 referendum regarding the Keleman Nature Trail/Preserve, I ask the Sharon voters to consider the following : (i) the importance of green energy and the existential threat of climate change: (ii) the advertised $20+/- annual savings attributable to each Sharon property taxpayer (which savings (a) would not be evenly applied to all property taxpayers on account of varying property values; (b) may, or may not, be passed along to the taxpayers at all; and (c) may or may not be used to benefit the school budget); (iii) the impact that future undetermined higher or lower electricity rates would have on the relevance of this proposal; (iv) if the town to should break its contract with the third party solar provider and find a way to utilize the school roof for the solar array, even if doing so causes the town to spend money; (v) the memory of the people whose time and money made the land preserve a reality and the memory of the people to whom trees within the preserve were dedicated and whether those memories would be dishonored by the proposed solar array; (vi) is it realistic that the preserve, after 20 years of use for solar energy production, would ever be converted to another use; and (vii) because the preserve is the last undeveloped parcel of land adjacent to the school campus and available for school use, it is entirely possible that it will be needed by the school either for a playing field(s) or a new building(s). Discussion of the last point has been noticeably absent in the public discourse.

Aside from the preserve, the school campus is essentially fully built out and has almost no room for new buildings and/or playing fields. While the solar array will not take up the preserve’s full 2.83+/- acres, it will, aside from a yet to be developed nature/solar panel observation trail (complete with a 7 -foot high chain link fence), render its land unusable for any other purpose.

The preserve may very well be needed in future generations for school buildings and/or playing fields (which use would not be inconsistent with the donors’ intent that the land be used for educational purposes). I recognize that the proposed solar array was discussed in Lakeville Journal articles over the course of the last, approximate, twenty months, but none of these articles disclosed the scope of its impact on the preserve.

I ask the Sharon voters to not consider the following points put forward for the solar array proponents: (i) the current condition of the preserve and the possibility that invasive plants may be growing in it and (ii) the current use of the preserve by the school’s students. These arguments point unfair blame at the school and its students. If there are invasive plants; if the students are not using the preserve; and/or if the preserve has not been successfully integrated into the school’s campus, then the fault for that falls squarely on the town for not providing funds for the preserve’s proper upkeep and maintenance.

I ask, also, the Sharon voters to not consider the solar panel proponent’s argument that because the school currently offers each student 1,800 square feet of “play space” (their term, not mine—the term belies the school’s middle school students who need athletic facilities and not “play space”), excluding the preserve, the school does not need the preserve because: (i) in the decades to come, the school population may grow and (ii) it is simply patronizing to dictate such a quota when we live in a town with so much wealth and open space.

I am not a neighbor to the preserve (I live many miles away on Sharon Mountain). I was not a signatory to the petition calling for a referendum and I have nothing to do with the people who asked for the referendum (I do not think that I know them). However, my young daughter uses the school playground on weekends and enjoys the preserve.

Also, I was a part of the Sharon Center class of 1984, although I was only with them for grades 2, 3, 4 and 5. Sharon Center was where I learned all the important stuff, such as math, reading, writing, etc.... Those years were some of the happiest of my life and I truly wish for the school to succeed not just now, but in the decades to come. As I sat in the school gym for the Nov.  29 informational meeting, it brought me right back to my gym classes with Mr. Comporesi 45 years ago (which really seems much, much less than 45 years ago). Few of the people who attended the Nov. 29 meeting will be around in 45 years. However, the school will still be here in 45 years, and it may very well then (if not sooner) need the preserve for recreational, athletic and educational reasons.

Michael Lynch

Sharon

Biden’s lack of charisma — issue for young voters

Here’s my take on recent political polls showing young voters deserting Biden in his re-election attempt. What concerns them isn’t really his age, I think; it’s his lack of charisma.

Biden does the task of a President well, with stability and thoughtfulness. He runs the political machine like the operator he’s been for decades; he’s a technocrat as much as a Democrat. He’s mediating in the Mideast with subtlety and skill. But who’s he inspiring? To whom does he represent the hopes of a generation? 

He doesn’t look and sound dynamic and visionary, at a time when looming crises seem to cry out for someone who combines the oratory skills of Martin Luther King with the New Frontier optics of Jack Kennedy. 

Biden is not so much old as he’s boring. By threatening to re-elect Trump, America’s youth are sending a loud and clear message to a seemingly deaf Democratic National Committee: give them a leader they can ‘love on,’ in their words. 

When Lyndon Johnson’s popularity in polls nose-dived in 1968, he sensibly withdrew from the re-election race (at the ripe ‘old’ age of 60). Sadly, the harrumphing Hubert Humphrey was the best the Democrats could scrape together as a replacement, and America elected the soon-to-be felon Nixon instead. 

Can’t Biden look at the polls, read the writing, and pass on the torch while there’s still time? And (by the way), is there any Democrat out there today who actually is charismatic?

Robert Buccino

Salisbury

Salisbury sidewalk safety concern raised

I am writing because I’m concerned about the area of the new sidewalk coming down the hill from the Salisbury Central School where the tarmac bleeds right into the highway. 

I can envision kids bicycling fast down that hill and just going right into the westbound traffic. 

Perhaps the town has plans to protect pedestrians and bikers in that area. Perhaps there’s a guard rail being planned?  I can understand trying to preserve the trees, but not if it means losing a life of a sidewalk user.  I would imagine the town has a good degree of liability for the design of the sidewalk. Does anyone else see a potential problem? 

Kerry Noble

Salisbury

sidewalk noble3.jpg