Legitimate cry for Justice Descends Into Vandalism
Dear Editor: The killing of George Floyd was a heartbreak, a tragedy, and an act of profound shame. Even those among us who support the police department, I have not heard one word that disputes the horror of what was done to that man. The punishing of the officers involved in that outrage is entirely fitting.
And yet, it has opened up a terrible reaction that is doing great harm to all of us. My father and uncles ran an Italian deli in Fort Hamilton for many years and, if they had still been open during the past months, that store might have been destroyed if the mobs have chosen to do so and the family would have been devastated. Would that have been a proper answer to what happened to George Floyd? Many store owners actually have faced such devastation. What about them?
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson did indeed own slaves and slavery — as Jefferson strongly suspected — was wrong at its very root. However, Jefferson also wrote the Declaration of Independence and was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase. George Washington stood bravely at Valley Forge, was president of the Constitutional Convention, and was our first president. Slavery was terribly wrong and obscene but does that cancel out the good they did? Should their statues be destroyed and defaced? Does that address itself in any way to the tragedy of George Floyd?
The destruction of their statues is not only wrong in itself but it opens a Pandora’s box that we will soon regret very much.
What began as a legitimate cry for justice for what was done to an innocent man has descended into vandalism, destruction of the images of albeit imperfect men who nevertheless risked their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” in creating a great and good nation.
This is not a worthy protest, this is an obscenity. The sooner we wake up to this, the better off all of us — every race, every color, every language, every sexual orientation, every age, everyone — will be.
Father Anthony F. Raso
Bensonhurst
Editor’s note: Father Raso is a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Bensonhurst
Baseball Will Remember Tom Seaver for all Time
Dear Editor: It was with most sadness to read that Tom Seaver has died at age 75 from dementia.
As a life long Mets fan, I remember the “Amazing Mets” winning the World Series in 1969 with Tom Seaver as their pitcher. I felt it was a most-proud moment for myself and others.
Tom Seaver truly gave Queens and New York a reason to believe in our miracle Mets. As was said by commissioner Rob Manfred, “Tom Seaver one of the greatest pitchers of all time.”
Baseball will remember Tom Seaver for all time. As such, my heartfelt prayers go out to Tom Seaver’s family, friends, and fans.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
Racial Injustice, a Blight On our Nation’s History
Dear Editor: As we watch across the country the lawlessness still occurring to address social injustice, we are reminded of what Rahm Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago said years ago: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”
Yes, racial injustice was a blight on our nation’s history but over the years we have strived to address it by passing legislation like the Voting Rights Act, affirmative action, and the Supreme Court decision on racial segregation in our schools.
But at the present, the tearing down of statues and the attacks of churches are simply anarchy and send a clear message that the real purpose is to destroy our nation and our national heritage.
We need true statesmen today more than ever.
Thomas and Constance Dowd
Oakland Gardens, NY
Is this the Right Way to Fight Against Injustice?
Dear Editor: Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors said that she and fellow organizer Alicia Garza are “trained Marxists” and that this is their movement’s “ideological foundation.”
Does it seek to right the wrongs of racial injustice or is their goal to violently transform America?
True, we don’t want any injustice to continue and the United States has a well-documented history of working towards this goal. However, some people seem to forget this.
How is labeling every police officer a racist based on the actions of one justice? How does defunding the police help poor communities? Look at the rise of crime and shootings now in New York. How does looting stores solve injustice? Are burning minority businesses and the destruction of private and public property a way to fight injustice?
Is bullying, beating, and threatening people into silence and conformity a way to correct injustice?
Please, do your own research. Do not accept the words of the media as gospel truth.
Patricia Gregorek
Greenpoint