Letter: Fighting antisemitism must not be a pretext to rollback fundamental rights

The government’s detention and threatened deportation of Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil is a five-alarm fire for freedom of speech in the U.S. Instead of claiming that Mr. Khalil engaged in criminality, the government says it wants to deport him because it doesn’t like what he said.

David Arbeitman: It’s time to imagine the unimaginable

Most Americans, including many Republicans, do not support the onslaught of executive orders that President Donald Trump has enacted since returning to the Oval Office. Many are appalled by the indiscriminate, chaotic, and precipitous firing of tens of thousands of federal workers, many of them veterans.

Mike and Miriam Kurland: Congress must stop Trump’s destruction of Dept. of Education

Congress must reject President Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and undermine the foundation of public education in this country.

Jennifer Bryan: Who are the real antisemites?

When antisemites like the Trump administration conduct a witch hunt for “antisemites,” lines blur and confusion rises, as the term antisemite becomes a tool of suppression. Read Timothy Snyder’s article [”‘Antisemitism’ and Antisemitism”] on the misuse and abuse of the word “antisemitism” for clarity as he reveals that “The American government’s war on higher education and freedom of expression is proceeding according to the same antisemitic rules of engagement as Russia’s war against Ukraine.” (The Russian foreign minister claims Hitler was Jewish.)

Patricia Crosby: The bad boss

We are now all working under the bad boss. You know him. He’s the one who comes in thinking he knows everything, and instead of taking the time to watch, listen, and ask questions, just smashes everything up. It takes years for people to clean up after him.

Paul DiLeo: Support for leader who pardons cop-beating thugs perplexing

I did not vote for Donald Trump, but I can understand why many of my friends and neighbors did. I also oppose most of the policies he had pursued since his inauguration but I can understand why many people, frustrated by our politics, think our institutions need a jolt. And I understand why people may feel that Jan. 6 protesters who acted peacefully deserve pardons.

Guest columnist Kathy Gregg: Anti-antisemitism: Trump’s double-cross on college funding

By KATHY GREGG

Paul DiLeo: Support for leader who pardons thugs perplexing

I did not vote for Donald Trump, but I can understand why many of my friends and neighbors did. I also oppose most of the policies he had pursued since his inauguration but I can understand why many people, frustrated by our politics, think our institutions need a jolt. And I understand why people may feel that Jan. 6 protesters who acted peacefully deserve pardons.

Judith Davidov: How could this happen?

In 1975-76, I was a Fulbright scholar in Germany, teaching for a year at a German university. It was close enough in time to the Holocaust to stir feelings of fear (some professors still dressed up in SS uniforms on weekends).

David Gilbert Keith: Non-playable Characters?

To my Republican friends — congratulations, you have owned us libs. Eventually though, you may come to notice that you are also owned.

As I See It: How Putin won the long game, with Trump

By JON HUER

Most Americans understand what the Cold War was about — a non-shooting war of ideology that began as soon as World War II had ended between liberal-capitalist America and communist-socialist Russia. The two camps, once allies against Nazis, competed for the hearts and minds of the world everywhere, arguing at the U.N., competing in the Olympics and brainwashing the young in classrooms.

Guest columnist Suzanne Stillinger: ‘Homeland’ will stay on my classroom bookshelf

By SUZANNE STILLINGER

Anne Teschner: City should re-examine Picture Main Street

I have real concerns about Northampton moving forward with Picture Main Street. As currently configured, it is strange, bloated, disruptive and fails to address any real safety issues.

Mary Jo Maffei: Support the Amherst Regional Schools

My children graduated from the Amherst Regional Schools in 2010 and 2013 with an excellent education that prepared them well for college and the future. They learned how to evaluate the validity of information and how to be thoughtful citizens. Current students deserve the same quality education.

Jennifer Bryan: Who are the real antisemites?

When antisemites like the Trump administration conduct a witch hunt for “antisemites,” lines blur and confusion rises, as the term antisemite becomes a tool of suppression. Read Timothy Snyder’s article [”‘Antisemitism’ and Antisemitism”] on the misuse and abuse of the word “antisemitism” for clarity as he reveals that “The American government’s war on higher education and freedom of expression is proceeding according to the same antisemitic rules of engagement as Russia’s war against Ukraine.” (The Russian foreign minister claims Hitler was Jewish.)

Catherine Hodes: Children’s book is not antisemitic

I am Jewish and feel dismayed to read that some Jewish parents see antisemitism in Hannah Moushabeck’s sweet children’s book, “Homeland, My Father Dreams of Palestine.”

John Sinton: Understanding history of a place important

I’m responding to Claudia Lefko’s March 13 column on the gloriously rich topic of placemaking [“Placemaking or unmaking place?”]. I applaud her appeal to imagine what Northampton will look like and contest her dour vision of the future.

Michael Di Pasquale: Main Street project will build community

A recent guest column about Northampton’s Main Street project raises several concerns including the idea that without starting a new and “better process” residents will become less willing to engage and participate in the community [“Main Street: Place-making or unmaking place?” March 12]. As a resident who has been actively involved for several years in the Picture Main Street process, I strongly disagree.

Columnist Russ Vernon-Jones: Us vs. billionaires is a unifying call

By RUSS VERNON-JONES

There are many ways to describe and to analyze what is happening in the federal government since Donald Trump was inaugurated. But the clearest and most consistent pattern is that the billionaires have taken over and have started to destroy anything that interferes with them becoming richer and richer. Their greed appears to know no bounds. I find this truly frightening.

Mark Paglia: Time for senators to act

I was glad to see Sen. Ed Markey visit Northampton, while many of his Republican peers avoid contentious town halls. While both Sens. Markey and Elizabeth Warren have been vocal in opposing the lawlessness of the Trump administration, there is more that can be done.