JD Vance Offers Better Outlook for Vets
Bellerose: JD Vance is the Republican nominee for Vice President under Donald Trump. Vance is a post-9/11 veteran who served in the Marine Corps in Iraq. He supports homeless veterans who are suffering from depression. I am proud of Vance and I see him doing great things for our veterans.
I am a Vietnam War veteran who served in the United States Navy. I found myself homeless after completing my military service in 1975. It was February and I was cold, depressed, living on the streets and begging strangers for change. I received help from a stranger named Cyril from Nigeria who offered me a room in his house. I also received help from social services. Yet today, there are people who need help.
I feel their pain. At 75, I am a grand knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911, a member of American Legion Post #103, a member of Catholic Veterans Post #1979, and a member of the Queens Village Republican Club. I have come a long way since I was homeless, but through my faith in God, He preserves me to do better things for those in need.
I am glad that we have a vice presidential candidate in Senator Vance from Ohio who truly cares about our veterans. Finally, God bless our veterans who have given so much to our country, the United States! Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Fresh Blood
Valhalla, NY: With JD Vance being nominated for the Republican Party’s Vice Presidential nomination, it’s like washing your face! It’s good to have new blood with fresh ideas in the political world. The country needs to get younger and more dynamic! Hopefully this is the start of a new trend. Michael Grisanti
Serious firepower
Fort Worth, Texas: I don’t think Republicans know that their favorite AR-15 assault rifle, like the one used in the attempted assassination of Trump, is the exact same military-grade assault rifle that President Biden has been trying to ban for over a year. Now that the Surgeon General has declared gun violence a public health crisis, I pray that Republican lawmakers will start strengthening gun safety laws instead of weakening them, and finally admit that our forefathers never intended the Second Amendment to give every citizen, regardless of age, mental capacity, or criminal history, the right to purchase a semi-automatic rifle capable of firing 46 rounds per minute. Now that the Trump-loving Supreme Court has lifted the ban on bump stocks, that same rifle is now capable of firing 400 to 800 rounds per minute. Thankfully, there was no bump stock on the shooter’s AR-15. Otherwise, we would probably have mourned many deaths at this gathering. Sharon Austry
Roofing experience
Brooklyn: If the Secret Service couldn’t get someone on the roof where Trump’s shooter was because it was tilted, maybe they should change their hiring practices. They should start hiring people from the roofing industry – these guys work on tilted roofs all the time. Josh Greenberger
Instability agent
Brooklyn: I am 75 years old and have been following the American election for as long as I can remember. I have always been comforted by the fact that we have a stable and secure political system, unlike many third world countries. That is no longer the case. Since Trump came to power, he has fanned the flames of violence and made accusations of election fraud. I cannot remember a time when politicians, election officials, judges and prosecutors – and their families – had to endure death threats until recently. Trump launched a violent coup at the Capitol that resulted in the deaths of several police officers and a Trump supporter, not to mention the endangerment of his vice president’s life. He has mocked the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband and much more. I wonder if his supporters wonder what this man has done to America. Irwin Cantos
Reverse Accusation
East Greenbush, NY: Voices reporter Michael Pravica’s claim that Democrats encouraged their supporters to use violence against Trump is a lie. He conveniently ignores that Trump has been advocating violence for years, including, of course, during the January 6 insurrection. Oh, and by the way, the shooter was a Republican. Phil Kellerman
I can’t keep it straight
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: In the many speeches at the Republican National Convention, you will hear no mention of former President Donald Trump’s fundamental dishonesty. Remember, Trump accused Texas Sen. Ted Cruz of fraud in the Iowa caucuses, would not accept the results of the 2016 election unless he won, never accepted that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, and said months before the 2020 election that the only way he could lose was if the election was rigged. Today, many Trump supporters say they will not accept a President Biden victory in 2024. Consider the words of Russian chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov: “Many parties can independently arrive at the same truth, but not at the same lie.” Terry Hansen
Be wary
Rockaway Point: Are there any honest politicians? I don’t think so. Remember that when you vote. And don’t forget the moles that are already in our government and the ones that are trying to get in and bring us down. Regina Mangan
Lost base
Jamaica: If President Biden loses hands down, it is because the Democrats did not support him. We can only blame them if we lose our freedom and democracy. This is really sad! We the people must go out and vote! We do not need a dictator or an authoritarian country. God bless America! Charlene Black
Celebrity Regrets
Atlantic Highlands, NJ: What a joke – movie star George Clooney calling on Biden to resign. Hollywood must be wetting their pants because their beloved liberal clown they elected president is fed up. The so-called elites have had their way for too long. They’ve welcomed criminals at our borders, made sure no one knows who’s in the bathroom, tried to destroy women’s sports, taught our children that sexual orientation is a free-for-all, turned bad into good, destroyed our economy, allowed the murder of babies with their immoral abortion policies, and made America a shadow of its former self. I can’t wait to get these arrogant, sanctimonious morons out of power. Brenda Hodgkiss
A sweeter treat
Manhattan: Remember when ice cream came from cows, with all the bad hormones, antibiotics, pus cells, and saturated fats? When you could only eat one and not get sick? When lactose-intolerant people weren’t allowed to eat it? Well, this Sunday, July 21, is National Ice Cream Day, a great opportunity to sample the colorful array of delicious, healthy, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free ice creams made from grains and nuts. They’re available in the frozen food section of your favorite supermarket. Nelson Yancy
Two birds, one stone
Jackson Heights: With the introduction of the metal detector program in the subway, we all know that people caught with weapons will be arrested and released within hours. If these detectors could also accept OMNY and MetroCards, those not carrying weapons would have to pay the fare, and there would be no more fraud! Or does this make too much sense for the MTA? Glenn B. Jacobi
Density gluttons
Fresh Meadow: In response to your editorial praising our progressive legislators’ plans to increase housing availability by eliminating single- and two-family homes in every borough (“Spreading the risk,” July 14): The new zoning is supposed to create affordable housing, but there is no requirement for affordable housing. These new apartments will consist primarily of market-rate rentals and will do little to solve the city’s housing shortage. No one will benefit except developers. There is no plan for cars, driveways, parking lots or green space. Our beautiful neighborhoods will become an asphalt jungle! Homeownership has always been the American dream. What plans are there for infrastructure—increasing gas and electric usage, sewers, sanitation, fire departments and overcrowded schools? Why should we move? Many of your subscribers are among those who live in single- or two-family homes. Before your editors support an issue that will change the structure of our neighborhoods, look at the facts. Stella Grillo
