Letters to the Editor | May 2, 2024

It is a given that Donald Trump will continue to violate the gag order in his New York trial. Fines of $1,000 per violation are meaningless to him. Likewise, Judge Juan Merchan’s implied threat to incarcerate him will not happen; Trump is just itching to whine about victimhood and turn such an order into a fundraising circus. Same for potential house arrest. The judge must come up with a creative penalty that will meaningfully affect Trump’s lifestyle and cause him to think before he acts (if, indeed, that is possible). Solution: When Trump next violates the gag order, he should be prohibited from visiting any golf course for the duration of the trial. This will be an effective, and enforceable, deterrent.

Rich Hluchan, Cherry Hill

It is hard to read Bill McKinney’s recent op-ed and not share his frustration for his Kensington neighborhood. Unfortunately, generations of failed governmental intercessions apparently have come and gone without significant improvement in the quality of life there. However, the fact is that there are some social problems that defy governmental intervention. If there is a solution to these problems, it may be in the family and/or in houses of worship.

There is a formula for people to follow that gives them a decent chance to lead a productive and satisfying life. The formula depends upon teaching young children that they must go to school every day, they must do their homework every evening, and they must graduate. After high school, they can choose to continue their education (full or part time), or they can get a job and go to work, or they can join the armed services. In addition, the boys must understand they must not father a child until they are capable and willing to support that life they have created. If children follow this formula, those schools that appear to be failing today are likely to be successful schools tomorrow.

Bernard D. Shapiro, Voorhees

It is ironic that The Inquirer labels throngs amassing on area campuses and marching throughout the city as “pro-Palestinian.” There is not a sign or chant demanding that Palestinian-Arab leaders hold an election in Gaza (the last was in 2006). There is not a sign or chant demanding that Palestinian-Arab leaders stop stealing billions of dollars in international aid. There is not a sign or chant demanding that Palestinian-Arab leaders stop constructing terror tunnels or firing rockets among or near civilian areas. There is not a sign or chant opposing the encouragement by Palestinian-Arab leaders of Jew-hatred and violence against Jews among young Arabs.

By what honest measure are these mobs and those who constitute them pro-Palestinian? In the interest of accuracy, it is time that The Inquirer called them what they are based on their signs and their chants: anti-Jewish and anti-Israel. Meanwhile, there is barely any reporting about why it is necessary that Israel conduct military operations in Gaza: Because on Oct. 7, thousands of militants from Hamas and other groups poured into Israel, slaughtered more than 1,200 Israelis, and raped and injured thousands more. The Gazans did much more than take hostages. Context matters.

Steve Feldman, executive director, Greater Philadelphia Chapter Zionist Organization of America, office@zoaphilly.org

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