A day for empathy, Memorial Day
Memorial Day, a day to remember, respect, and bring empathy for the many who have died in their military service in wars that have been far reaching, and to remember the many more who have died at home from their physical and mental injuries received from war. I communicate as a Vietnam war veteran, one whose father was in an internment camp in the Philippines during WWII for three years, and whose uncles served in WWII. Each brought home their memories, wounds, and have passed on.
Memorial Day is our message to not have wars. The many days in the years are to “imagine peace, create peace through communication.” When entering military service the oath is a binding pledge to defend the U.S. Constitution, against all enemies (foreign and domestic), and maintain allegiance to the country. There is an understanding that death can occur in doing so. Many served because of the draft, because of a purpose and their voluntary enlistment. The causes of war can be attributed to ideologies, prejudices, and sociopathic thinking. War identifies human rights, and the degradation of humanity.
I believe Memorial Day is one of each day that we can say a prayer, become a stronger person in recognizing the sacrifices of many for a cause, and to wake up to being “We the people…”, who do not believe in violence and war, and we are ready to find the way to communicate through the United Nations, and governments to live in common safety on this Earth and for the universe.
Per research online: WWII deaths in service: U.S. over 400 thousand, United Kingdom over 380 thousand, France over 200 thousand, and more from other countries. The Soviet Union is said to be over 8 million, and China over 2 million. Civilian deaths WWII: over 40-50 million deaths.
We must be better and communicate more.
Louis Cohen (Koltun), Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 23, Naples
Corruption in plain sight
President Trump sued the IRS for $10 billion because one of their contractors, not a full-time government employee, leaked Trump’s tax records to the New York Times. The leaker is currently serving a five-year prison sentence, but Trump accuses the IRS of negligence. Most legal analysts thought Trump had a very weak case but, nevertheless, with Trump acting as both plaintiff and president overseeing the IRS, the agency is settling the case for $1.7 billion which will go into a slush fund to be used to compensate victims of the “weaponization” of government. These victims are most likely to be January 6 insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol, seeking to overturn the 2020 election. This mind-numbingly vile abuse of power should outrage every American. Our tax dollars are going to be used to provide financial windfalls for Jan. 6 traitors and other Trump loyalists.
Let me see if I have this right: prosecutions of insurrectionists who stormed our Capitol on January 6, 2021, attacked police officers who tried to stop them and ransacked the building, all in an effort to overturn the 2020 election result; prosecution of these cases amount to a “weaponization” of government against innocent citizens. But when Trump orders the DOJ to bring bogus indictments against his political enemies, such as James Comey and Latitia James, this is NOT considered to be weaponization of government. The hypocrisy is staggering.
Trump would rather spend taxpayer dollars on his Marie Antoinette-style ballroom than help American families pay for health care. By the way, after 16 years, where is the health care plan Trump promised us that would be more affordable and offer better options than Obamacare? Trump is focused on two things: First and most important is keeping Americans away from the Epstein files. He wants the appearance of following the law with respect to the release of the files without ever releasing the most shocking material, including photos and videos that would appall us all and make pariahs of lots of wealthy, powerful men. Secondly, Trump wants to enrich himself and his family. Insider trading, lavish gifts from foreign governments, the sale of Trump merchandise: nothing is too sleazy; the corruption is right there for us all to see.
Ray Clasen, North Fort Myers
Sickening
Tonight I was literally sick watching the news showing where Donald J. Trump is taking 1.7 billion of taxpayers’ dollars to pay off his rioting supporters from Jan 6. How can this happen in our democracy. When things like this can happen, I have no interest in his 250-year celebration, especially one with a desecration of the White House with a staged fight.
Benjamin Glick, Naples
Blatant absurdity
We all need help trying to keep track of the many outrageous Trump moves, but this most recent one really has me confused.
Let see if I understand the following:
Let’s stop & think about the blatant absurdity of this proposed corrupt conflict of interest at the taxpayers’ expense.
You really can’t make this stuff up because it’s playing out real time in front of us.
James Keough, Cape Coral
Objective of Operation Epic Fury
President Trump recently clarified that the true objective of Operation Epic Fury has been to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons — an objective which in his opinion justifies economic sacrifice by the American public. To put this assertion in perspective it is important to recall that from 2016-2018 The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed to by Iran, the U.S., the European Union, Russia, China, France, and Germany was already achieving that very objective by requiring random access by international teams of inspectors including Americans of all Iranian nuclear facilities to assure that uranium enrichment remained well below weapons grade levels. Yet in 2018 Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement while putting nothing in its place. Hence with considerable luck Epic Fury may, after all the suffering it has caused, restore the degree of nuclear safety of 2018.
Oh yes and as recently as February 2026 the Strait of Hormuz was open. Maybe with luck Epic Fury can restore those happy days.
Let’s also remember that President Trump once tried to limit North Korean nuclear weapons. We know how well that worked out!
Alan Keller, Naples
The Trump mecca
It is ironic that while so many in MAGA world castigate Muslims and their religion, Mr. Trump has seen fit to have his own mecca-like structure built at his Doral golf club in Miami, a 22-foot, 3.1-ton bronze statue of himself, coated in gold leaf (as expected, Mr. Trump sells it as being all gold). MAGA Evangelicals and others who have cast aside all Christian teachings to support Mr. Trump and who continue to make excuses for the daily non-Christian behavior of a man Tucker Carlson now dubs the anti-Christ, finally have a visible symbol of their own MAGA faith they can point to. MAGA world can now face toward Trump mecca (east from Naples for anyone directionally challenged) daily as a symbol of unity in their belief in Mr. Trump, perhaps while they pump five-dollar-a-gallon gas or place a small bag of groceries in their car once costing 25 dollars and now costing over 50, or feel the effects of a million dollars of their taxpayer money go every day to DeSantis cronies at Alligator Alcatraz while teachers are fired and school programs cut back. As a bonus, given the short traveling distance from this part of Florida, the annual pilgrimage to Trump mecca should not pose a burden for most folks in this area. No worries either, folks, non-MAGA world, as we always do, will respect this show of religious freedom and not interfere for one moment. Do not expect us to participate in it, however, as one has to choose carefully who and what one worships. Please, just carry on.
Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs
The bucks stop here
Remember old Harry Truman? Whether they liked him or hated him, Americans knew exactly where he stood. He was a stubborn cuss and a blunt spoken son of a gun. And it was said back in the day that he had a sign on his desk that was very much in character: The buck stops here. Our current chief executive and his family have been leveraging the presidency to enrich themselves from their first days in power. Whether this troubles you or not, it is an empirically verifiable fact. And I’ve been thinking that Trump could adopt Truman’s little sign almost verbatim. Well, to be as out front and plain spoken as old Harry, he might have to make a minor adjustment: The bucks stop here.
Geremy Spampinato, Naples
Blood test to detect Alzheimer’s
A simple blood test can detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear that could change yours and others lives. Thankfully, Congressman Byron Donalds can play an important role, ensuring people in Florida and across the country can benefit from early Alzheimer’s detection. The bipartisan ASAP act paves the way for Medicare coverage of FDA‑approved blood tests that detect Alzheimer’s biomarkers, offering a much simpler approach than previous diagnostic pathways. Under current law, Medicare cannot cover Alzheimer’s screening tests for people without symptoms, a legal barrier only Congress can fix. This is a “mammogram moment” for Alzheimer’s! Just as Congress passed coverage of routine mammograms providing earlier detection and declining breast cancer deaths. Congress can deliver the same breakthrough for Alzheimer’s. More than 9 in 10 Americans say they would want a simple test for Alzheimer’s.
I have Alzheimer’s. Passing the ASAP act is deeply personal. Had the blood test been available sooner, I’d have had the test before symptoms and my life would have been much easier. Please support the ASAP act. If passed, everyone even without symptoms can know if Alzheimer’s is present. If it is, medications and lifestyle changes are available now. Please join the Alzheimer’s Association and me in encouraging Congressman Byron Donalds to support the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act. To learn more about this disease and how you can join the fight to end Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org.
Lee Belanger, Fort Myers
Contrasting presidential teams
I have just finished watching Vice President JD Vance handling a press conference and answering questions from the media. He had no book of answers as CJP had and he had no teleprompter. He handled it with a smile on his face and answered all questions with clear, concise responses.
With the left pushing Kamala Harris and Ocasio-Cortez as a presidential team, I could not stop imagining the word salads and misstatements that would have been the norm if these two were ever placed in such a circumstance.
They are far from Vance and Rubio in more than just communication skills. They are far from either of the leading Republican options in terms of knowledge of world and U.S. affairs and they would be out matched, even more, on the world stage.
Forget that Democrats and the far left wing abhor everything about our president. They are allowing their hatred of Trump to cancel their ability to grow and help the United States.
Michael Zubrow, Naples
Trump insulated by loyalists
Even the staunchest MAGAt couldn’t have foreseen today’s happenings caused by their orange standard bearer. The Iran war, the ballroom, the slush fund created by the IRS capitulation and the stock manipulation allowing his purchase of shares and consequently bloviating upon these companies which increased their value. Normally, such actions would result in legal ramifications but not in these times because the system and IRS are led by loyalists of the Grand Cheeto. With inflation running rampant led by fuel prices, you would think the weak-kneed members of Congress would finally grow a pair and rail against these travesties but, with one or two exceptions, they STILL remain silent fearful of the wrath of their leader. Even the most faithful constituents are suffering today’s consequences and their representatives should be punished for allowing these travesties to transpire. Finally, voter remorse should occur this time around. What else could happen to exacerbate these feelings?
Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral
Promises made, promises failed
Let’s review a few statements!
“We will never have a war” Well the world’s greatest military can’t control even the Strait of Hormuz with hundreds injured and 13 dead! “Prices will be much lower” Inflation core up 3.8 % and expected to continue to get higher! “Gas will be $2.00” Maybe he was talking about a pint! “The worst criminals will be removed” Over 100,000 children have been separated from parents. Congress stopped from personal visits of detention centers. American citizens killed by ICE agents. With zero immigration remember 27% of our doctors and surgeons foreign born affecting health care long term.
Space is limited so remember “I’ll be too busy to golf” and “I’m not concerned about people paying more but we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon” and “I’ll open all the Epstein files.”
The national debt exploding as his two terms will add more to the debt than all the other presidents combined! We spend over a trillion a year in interest!
Only a man in an assisted living home, getting food prepared and watching Fox News can think MAGA is winning − living in a bubble.
Glenn Mueller, Naples
Attacking police officers
How did our society get to the point where it seems to be okay to attack law enforcement officers? Did it all start in the so-called summer of love where it seemed acceptable to attack police officers and burn down buildings? This was also when the movement to defund police entirely was seemingly popular. Then we had January 6 and the mob attacking police officers and storming the Capitol. Now we have multiple attacks, verbally and physically against ICE officers. This is not acceptable. Certainly, there are a few law enforcement officers who abuse their power but attacking them all is not acceptable. If we object to a policy that the law enforcement officers are charged with enforcing, then we should work with the proper authorities to change the policy, not attack the individuals enforcing the policy.
Ron Wobbeking, Naples
America’s 250th deserves celebration
As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, I find it remarkable — and troubling — how little public attention this milestone has received.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence launched an experiment in liberty that changed the world. Yet today, with only weeks to go before this historic date, there is no major national celebration, no unified message, and very little media coverage. The official commission, America250, has struggled for years with leadership changes and funding delays, leaving the anniversary fragmented and largely invisible.
This should have been a moment of reflection and renewal — a chance to honor our founding ideals and recommit to the responsibilities of self government. Instead, the silence speaks volumes about our divided times.
I hope communities, schools, and citizens will take it upon themselves to mark this occasion meaningfully. America’s 250th deserves more than a whisper. It deserves our voices, our gratitude, and our participation.
Linda Lindquist, North Fort Myers
Treatment of detainees
The government is looking at detention centers in the wrong way. The new warehouses the government wants to set-up should be for temporary holding. Get the people in and determine if they are illegal or picked up by mistake. The warehouse should have rooms for the people to meet with lawyers. Get the details worked out and schedule a trial. We don’t need to keep these people for very long. If they are determined to be illegal move them back to their home country. We can’t continue to pay for their lodging and food for years. Don’t look at bringing in more people than you can handle. Move them in and move them out. Why do you want us to continue to pay? The money the government is spending on the purchases of warehouses is crazy. Don’t do it! We shouldn’t treat people the way we are treating our detainees.
Joyce Broglin, Naples
Trump vs. Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was a traitor to some of Donald Trump’s most strongly held beliefs and policies. Through a devastating Civil War and the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Lincoln ended slavery in the United States, with the former slaves who were born here becoming citizens with the passing of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Lincoln therefore violated Trump’s DEI mandates, and strengthened diversity in America with the inclusion of four million African-Americans. In keeping with his policy of punishing anyone who disagrees with his policies, especially an egregious disagreement such as Lincoln’s, is Trump considering removing Lincoln’s facial image from Mount Rushmore and replacing it with his own? A joke? Maybe not?
Robert Hilliard, Fort Myers
America should celebrate diversity
As our nation gets ready to celebrate our 250th Birthday celebration, I have a few thoughts I would like to share.
Unless you are Native American, we are all descendants from immigrants who came here from another country. Our ancestors came for better opportunities, or they were forced out of their home countries because of their ethnicity or religion, or were brought here to be bought and sold for labor against their will.
Over the years we, as a country, we came up with laws that incorporated “others” to become part of the fabric which has allowed this country to grow and to be more inclusive. It has not been easy, but over time we have made laws that have make this country more available to those that have chosen to come here.
I believe that all of the hard work we have done is now being eroded. Why is it that people from all over the world want to be part of the freedom we have tried to build here? Their home countries do not allow them the choice to speak freely and have a better life for their families. We need to have established ways to come here and welcome those who want what those of us who were born here have. We are not a white only, Christian society. It is diversity and inclusion that has given us ways to understand others.
I find it offensive that “others” can tell their neighbors who to love, what religions have more value, what we can read or listen to. We are all different, and I would like to believe that as we look to celebrate this 250th year in our history, it can be a moment when we can all can accept and embrace diversity, inclusion and all those who live here. We all deserve that. How can we celebrate when all that work is going backwards?
Barbara Herstig, Naples
Trump’s war is a loser
Trump’s war against Iran, ill conceived, ill planned and criminally executed, is bringing us losses. Losers bring losses. Gas and oil shortages are causing prices to rise dramatically. Fertilizer shortages will cause consequent food shortages. Military stockpiles are being depleted. Innocent children and military are being killed and injured. And now, in addition to unknowingly dealing Iran the Strait of Hormuz card, Trump has unknowingly dealt Iran an internet card. Iranian lawmakers will now begin charging tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft annual fees for fiber-optic cables that run beneath the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state-affiliated media. The vast majority of the world’s internet communications use undersea cables, and the Strait is a critical corridor, connecting India and Southeast Asia with Europe.
How much longer will the American people accept a loser as their leader? A loser who started a war to distract from his Epstein exposure.
Joe Haack, Naples
Failed promises
One thing Republicans respect is living up to your promises: “No more foreign wars;” “Tariff refund checks ( to taxpayers);” “Lower grocery prices;” “Mexico will pay for the wall;” “I will present my healthcare plan in two weeks;” “I will release my taxes ( 2016);” “Your gold Trump phones will be made in America;” “I’ll protect free speech;” “Our tariffs are paid by foreign countries;” “Inflation is gone;” “I will be too busy to play golf;” “I will cut the price of electricity by 50%;” “Doge checks;” “I will protect free speech;” “The ballroom will be paid for by donors.”
William Linehan, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Veteran’s Memorial Day message against violence, war | Opinion letters
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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