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Letters to the Editor
OCTOBER 2006
Dear Editor Regarding her essay, “Close to the Brink of Destruction,” published in the September issue, Marilyn Aligata displays commendable intent but a misunderstanding of the nature of those who have been at war with Israel since its reestablishment in 1948 and have also repeatedly attacked America, both before and since September 11, 2001.
At one point, Aligata acknowledges “we are experiencing a fundamentalist sect of Islam, people who believe it is an honor to die as a suicide bomber has become strong and active.” This is the core of the problem we need to deal with, yet except for that brief mention Aligata ignores it.
From a Western perspective, it would seem if some people hate us so much they are willing to sacrifice their own lives to kill us, we must have done something to earn that hatred. Hence her assertion “we need to ask ourselves, both Israel and the United States if ‘we’ have contributed to this fundamentalism.” The Holocaust, referred to by Ms. Aligata, should provide sufficient evidence that one can be hated without being guilty of anything but existing.
Unfortunately, we are not dealing with people who think the way we do. The reality is that the only thing we have done to “contribute to this fundamentalism” is to exist and to live with values, such as freedom, multiculturalism and tolerance, that are anathema to the Islamic fundamentalists.
Ms. Aligata is quite right when she says “These people cannot be reasoned with at this time. The fundamentalist wing of Islam is trying to take over; these are the people to fear.” We haven’t yet figured out how to deal with the conflict between fundamentalist Islam and Western civilization, which is likely to go down in history as World War IV, the Cold War being World War III.
Aligata spends considerable space dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict. She incorrectly implies that at least some of the hatred of America is a result of our support of Israel. The reality is almost the opposite.
Six Arab states invaded Israel the moment that democracy was reestablished in 1948, before Israel could possibly have done anything to merit opposition. The basic reason was that, to the surrounding Arab nations, Israel represented an unwelcome bastion of Western civilization in the Arab world. In effect, the Arabs feared “apres Israel, le deluge.”
Israel has tried to overcome the fear and hatred of its neighbors and much of the Western world has tried to appease that hatred, all with little success. Israeli concessions are always followed by Arab attacks. This cycle of Israeli concessions and Arab violence is difficult for Westerners to understand.
For decades, Israel has faced the hatred of its neighbors relatively alone, with even its best friend, America, putting far more pressure on Israel than on its intransigent enemies. More recently, that hatred has come closer to us as the shrinking of the world has made it easier to attack not only the “little Satan,” but the “big Satan” as well.
Aligata is correct that the United States, Israel, the Palestinian Arabs, Syria, Iran and others must do the work to find a way to help these nations live together in peace. The problem is the Arab and Muslim world; America and Israel alone cannot bring about peace.
There is no magic bullet; until the Arab and Muslim worlds join us in the pursuit of peace, we have no choice but to defend ourselves. Our government hasn’t been totally successful, but Aligata’s naive prescription is no improvement.
Sincerely, Alan Stein President, PRIMER-Connecticut Waterbury, CT
PRIMER is an acronym for “Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting.” PRIMER-Connecticut is a media monitoring organization doing just what its name implies. Information about PRIMER may be found at www.primerct.org. Correspondence for Dr. Stein may be sent to alanstein@primerct.org.
Dear Editor When Tom Swan (U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont’s campaign chairman) labeled Waterbury the crossroads of “slime” and “evil” we were right to be upset that Waterbury was characterized in such a negative light. The comment was made in a broader discussion of state politics where former Brass City mayor and child molester Philip A. Giordano and former Governor John Rowland represented slime and evil. As bad as that was it was more upsetting that the “old boy’s network” and their supporters used Mr. Swan’s remarks for partisan advantage to back the candidacy of Senator Lieberman. They rallied behind the outrage felt by Waterbury’s citizens and used it to beat up on Mr. Lamont.
The old boy’s network, a long enduring clique made of certain members in both the Republican Party and Democratic party, acted in an immature & inhospitable manner by their refusal to accept an apology by Mr. Swan or Mr. Lamont. While the media took those remarks out of context, they were used for partisan advantage by Mayor Jarjura and others who endorsed Lieberman. They hid behind Waterbury’s outrage for their own political agendas. Not exactly taking the moral high ground.
The 3 indicted mayors, two having served or currently serving prison time, and a Governor from Waterbury who served prison time has been many, many times more harmful then Mr. Swan’s remarks. Yet where was the “old boys network” when these elected officials were indicted, sentenced and jailed? Their expression of concern was mild at best, and the silence has been deafening ever since. In each case Waterbury suffered great financial consequences, such as the extra $2 million in tipping fees we have paid so far to CCRA since 2003 for the Rowland-Enron loan debacle, or the $20 million cut in casino slot funds to Waterbury by Mr. Rowland during his tenure as Governor.
Where are the letters of outrage regarding the records of Mr. Giordano, Mr. Santopietro, or Mr. Bergin from the same people concerned about Mr. Swans’ statements? During the terms of our aforementioned Mayors the pension fund experienced a gradual build-up of over $400 million in shortfalls, while the positions of retiring city workers were rarely filled leaving most of our departments short staffed by 30% to 70%. So now we have to pay an extra 11 mills in taxes to cover the annual pension shortfall payments while we struggle with inadequate services whether it is for parks, streets, or zoning enforcement.
We should be concerned that our Mayor, and aldermen, and Board of Ed collectively have done very little to get under funded mandates and revenue streams fulfilled. It is costing us tens of millions of dollars every year. The current under funded mandates and revenue streams include the following: $11 million from federal special education, $1 million in No Child Left Behind, $4 million in casino slot funds, 1.8 million in PILOT revenue, and millions in other state and federal revenue assistance programs.
Senator Lieberman has not helped Waterbury in this regard and backs the Iraq War that has been very costly in lives and finances. Iraq has cost our treasury the last 3 years a total of approximately $350 billion, or over $12,000 per Iraqi Citizen. If we in Waterbury received that much in aid per person it would come out to 1.2 billion dollars for the whole city.
Another result of our investment in Iraq is over 2800 Americans dead, 8400 permanently wounded, and 12,000 injured. Along with these casualties we have a civil war that most experts saw as a likely possibility of our invasion. Another result of the Lieberman supported war is a stronger Iran, and an Iranian friendly government in Iraq to boot.
So the mayor and other officials support Senator Lieberman who has a poor voting record on the most important issues facing Waterbury. Does this make any sense? We have parts of Waterbury that look like Baghdad, yet where are the investments we need?
When I was at the Cape in August I read in the Cape Cod Times a short article on Mayor Giordano’s bid for city benefits which also mentioned the history of indicted and jailed mayors. An internet search of the Cape Cod Times revealed no articles mentioning Mr. Swans’ remarks. Mr. Swans’ remarks will not hurt or help Waterbury financially in any substantial way, but the lack of concern and action by the Mayor and Senator Lieberman continues to harm us financially in a tangible way.
We, the citizens of Waterbury need to spend at least 4 hours per week in our democracy. Otherwise, as Plato stated - “One of the penalities for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
This investment of 4 hours in time and energy will lead Waterbury in a direction that will revitalize our neighborhoods, our downtown, and our local economy. It is up to us to move Waterbury forward.
Joshua Angelus Hillside Avenue Waterbury, CT
Dear Editor, Sam Caligiuri is a man who needs no introduction to the citizens of Waterbury. When the City was at one of its lowest ebbs in recent history, it was Sam who stepped in to take the helm and right the ship. It was not a role he sought, and it probably couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time in his life, yet he put his personal agenda aside and did what he needed to do for the City and its people. His tenure was brief, but when it ended, Waterbury and its citizens were in a much better place as a result of his dedication, his resolve, and his leadership.
Now Sam is running for State Senator for the 16th district, and he has a clear vision of what he wants to accomplish as our representative in Hartford. He knows that economic and job growth is vital to our area and it must involve long-term planning, not just quick fixes. He believes in the need for a strong public education system to go hand in hand with that goal, so that our children will want to stay here in Connecticut and use their skills and talents to improve our region and make it a place where businesses and families want to be. He understands that businesses and working families alike benefit in an economic climate of good job opportunities, greater job security and stable incomes.
Over the next several months you’ll hear a lot of candidates making campaign promises about what they will do as your elected representatives. Anyone can make promises, but it takes leadership to deliver on those promises and to turn vision into reality. And leadership is what Sam Caligiuri is all about. Archibald Wavell, British writer and military leader during the Second World War, said it best when he wrote, “No amount of study or learning will make a man a leader unless he has the natural qualities of one.” Talk to anyone who knows Sam and they’ll tell you he has what it takes to be a leader. Better yet, talk to Sam yourself and see if you don’t agree.
Sincerely, John Corcoran
Dear Editor, The Grace Baptist Church Memorial Scholarship Committee invites you to attend its 20th anniversary benefit concert on Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 4:00 p.m., 65 Kingsbury St., Waterbury. Returning by popular demand, Mr. Cleo Demont White Sr., accompanied by pianist Tracee G. White, will perform for the concert this year. With his rich base,baritone voice, Cleo White brings to the genre of Gospel music a unique style, sound and message that is sure to uplift the spirit and encourage the soul. His versatile talent lends itself also to Ballads and Classical music. Mr. White has been singing and performing Gospel music since the age of five. The Fort Worth Texas native has performed with noted artists such as Kirk Franklin, V. Michael McKay a d Carnell Murrell.
To experience Cleo White minister through song is to have an unforgettable opportunity of experiencing a performance of heritage, honor and healing combined in one afternoon.
Please help us make this 20th anniversary concert a success by joining us for this special afternoon. There will be a free will offering. All tax deductible donations benefit the scholarship fund which assists the Grace Baptist Church youth in their educational pursuits. A reception will follow the performance in our church fellowship hall.
Sincerely, Deacon Deborah Wyrick, Ph.D. Grace Baptist Church Memorial Scholarship Committee
Dear Editor, Many Puerto Ricans on the main land as well as the island of Puerto Rico for years wondered when will they be free, not only from the political hype, but as a people. As politicians play musical chairs and sell dreams to the people on how and when elected they would better the island. The very same thing is occurring here in the United States. Hispanics of Spanish speaking decent, which for the most part are Latino, and make up a very large percent of the population here in the U.S. Although the U.S. census counts us is true, but there are many that are not happy with the category in which they are placed. Hispanics are for the most part labeled.
Something seldom thought of when reading books in print in schools here in the U.S. Maybe that’s what America wants to tell us in a hypocritical way. A democracy is what politicians preach and a democracy is the way the United States is run. A constitution that is to be free from communists and free from corruption. The United States is made up of a constitution that allows each of the states of its nation to make up there own laws. So why books printed and distributed in schools here in the U.S. tells us Puerto Ricans little about our ancestry, and nothing about our culture and heritage. Only to confuse us an state that the island of Puerto Rico was rich in goods. So that was the reason the United States decided to bully its way into the island by destroying the Inta, Pinta and Santa Maria ships at the port and running the Spaniards out. In 1493 Christopher Columbus the explorer claimed the island of Puerto Rico for Spain, and Uncle Sam snatched it away in 1898 with the peace with the peace treaty of France.
Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens. Discrimination still exists between the U.S. and many of the Puerto Ricans both on the island and on the mainland. Due to the way the people of the island were treated after the war. The three ships that were destroyed on the day of the Spanish American War still haunts us till this day. It was no religious war but a political war. Yet Puerto Ricans are left to believe that the U.S. are our friends and that there will be a true and trusting democracy for winning the war. To say the least the island had its own constitution would be a myth. Mention the word Taino Indian to a politician of the U.S. and the response may be quite amazing.
Sincerely, Erick Cruz
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