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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.)

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.

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.

By KATHY GREGG

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.

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).

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

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.

By SUZANNE STILLINGER

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.

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.

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.)

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

At 4:30 in the morning, my husband was drinking his first cup of coffee, yes, really that early. He heard a sound that wasn’t part of the normal din of an old house. So he went down to the basement to investigate. He found water spraying all over from the outside water service line. It had a hole ahead of the shutoff valve, so there was nothing he could do except seek help.

We were pleased to learn that Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has announced plans to run for reelection. We believe that Mayor Sciarra is a competent and compassionate leader, and we feel lucky and blessed to have her at the helm here in our unique and wonderful city.

There is important background information explaining Elon Musk’s Nazi salute at a Trump inauguration party. Musk’s grandfather was born in Canada of South African parents and emigrated back to South Africa in the 1950s. According to reporter Chris McGreal, writing in The Guardian Jan. 26, “that’s when apartheid had just started to kick in. South Africa had had discriminatory laws before, but you see the specific apartheid laws, which are much more aggressive, and in many ways reminiscent of the Nazi Nuremberg laws against Jews in the 1930s.”

I appreciated Rutherford J. Platt’s Feb. 24 column on evil as called out by Rep. Jim McGovern [“Applause for calling out ‘evil’”]. The evil cited was “America’s role as a responsible world power is being diminished: Foreign aid has been thrown into chaos, endangering lives worldwide.”