Letters

Posted

Derisive words serve no purpose

To the Editor:

I have enjoyed many of Randi Kreiss’s columns, which have provided a light-hearted distraction from the serious issues and often tragic events of the day.

However, I was troubled by a certain aspect of her column “Full disclosure: I am no Hillary Clinton” (Sept. 22-28). The right to her opinion to support the candidacy of Hillary Clinton, and her disdain for Donald Trump, must be respected. After all, in these United States we pride ourselves on the right to express our views and our right to agree or disagree with them.

What was disturbing was the labeling of the issue of Clinton’s health and her possible consequent fitness to serve as president as “sexism” and “sexist.” The health of a candidate for the presidency has been and continues to be a legitimate concern. In the rough- and-tumble game of politics, there is nothing new about comments directed at the appearance and even the weight of a candidate. Although trivial and unpleasant, they have existed in what is too often a low-down and dirty game.

Much must have been derisively said about the girth and corpulent physique of William Howard Taft when he pursued our nation’s highest office. Clinton has been heard to say that she is a big girl, and has to her credit demonstrated that she is no shrinking violet in what was once almost exclusively a big boy’s game.

However, the overuse of the isms, ists and phobics suffixes contained in the politically correct lexicon serves, intentionally, by design, emotion or otherwise, to inhibit free speech.

Jerome Levenberg

Cedarhurst

. . .

Kremer was right about post-Depression programs

To the Editor:

I thought Jerry Kremer’s column “Looking toward the future, we should learn from the past” (Sept. 29-Oct. 5) was a very enlightened piece. I hope our leaders get Kremer’s message, because I believe that reviving programs like the Works Progress Administration could, as he writes, “result in a brighter future for many Americans,” and at the same time help unify us in a common goal rather than all the finger-pointing and separating us from our fellow countrymen and women.

Thanks, Jerry, for your thoughtful writings.

Jerry Chesterton

Wantagh