The irony of using your voice to silence others

Laurelton: After reading multiple articles about tirade by Gene Simmons toward any celebrity who has chosen to voice their opinion on our current political wrongdoings, I find it to be disturbing, to say the least.

Throughout history, celebrities have spoken out against the atrocities world leaders have inflicted on the weak and defenseless. Some have suffered blacklisting, poverty and even debilitating death, such as Billie Holiday, whose song “Strange Fruit” angered federal authorities. She was placed under arrest as she was suffering from her terminal illness, handcuffed to her bed and denied medical and nursing care that would have greatly eased her horrendous suffering.

Celebrities haven’t only spoken out against injustice and cruelty, they’ve even marched and stood with advocates and great leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. because they knew the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, including their own. Simmons migrated from Israel to the U.S. as a child with his mother, Flora Klein, who was a Holocaust survivor. He should know how fortunate he was to arrive here with almost nothing and embrace the opportunity to study music, simultaneously earning his bachelor’s degree in education. Prior to his music success, he was a teacher in Spanish Harlem, where I’m certain he witnessed the discrimination and adversity his sixth-grade students faced.

Just because you don’t take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you. Celestino P. Monclova

Going strong

Yaphank, L.I.: President Trump is doing a great job. Common sense, attention to the economy and the enforcement of law, which protects the country and doesn’t encourage those who break the law and ignore the rights of law-abiding citizens. Ignore the stupidity of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. We are not the dumping ground for liberal ideas. Trump again in 2028. Richard Angione

Cheated

Bronx: Once again, Trump didn’t win the Oscar for worst president in America’s history — because the Oscars were rigged! Robert Adams

National disgrace

Jamaica: You have a calling to serve your country with honor through diligence, a strong work ethic and a foundation of loyalty and defense of the Constitution. Over the years, your efforts are recognized. Your test scores for each rank excel you to the next level. Your unique quality of innovation and leadership is acknowledged and qualifies you to the promotion track of the highest levels of leadership as general or admiral. More than 20 years of hard work and dedicated service suddenly stopped, halted, frozen, invalidated, disqualified — because your skin is Black; because you are female. How am I expected to stand when “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of this nation when an ideology of blatant discrimination is allowed to prevail without challenge!? Carol Grant

How ’bout that time?

New Hyde Park, L.I.: To Voicer James Hyland: You took offense to ex-CIA boss John Brennan speaking out? Regarding the time-honored tradition of “politics stops at the waters edge,” how’d you feel when Trump stood at a podium in Helsinki next to Vladimir Putin and said he believed Putin over our own national security agencies that told him Putin interfered in our elections in 2018? Trump said, “I have no reason not to believe him,” for the whole world to see. He threw his own intelligence agencies under the bus. The hypocrisy of Trump and MAGA Republicans is embarrassing to this country. Matt Callanan

Freelance fight

Whiting, N.J.: Re “Demise of the homefront” (op-ed, March 29): Gil Troy tells us that many Americans are against this war because of hatred for all things Trump, but how about other factors? Considering that we haven’t really won any foreign wars since World War II, we may have some trepidation about putting our young men and women in harm’s way. How about the fact that there hasn’t been a clear reason for entering the fray, or “it will be over in two weeks”? People don’t want a protracted conflict where our kids die, children at a girls school get blown up and our tax dollars are used for what I can’t square as “America first.” But when I read the bio at the end and discovered that Troy is a full-on Zionist, I gained clarity on what this piece is really about: Everyone should support this war for the sake of Israel. Bill McConnell

Convenient conflict

Hamilton Square, N.J.: When this administration changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War, it signaled its violent intentions, and now it is acting on them. Congress needs to rein Trump and his warmongers in now. If he can continue world chaos, he’ll use it as a reason to try and stop our elections in November. President Bone Spurs wouldn’t serve, but he has no problem sacrificing our military. Eileen Johnson

Bled by bills

Brooklyn: Re “Energy fallout from Iran war signals a global wake-up call for renewable energy” (March 25): Why is Gov. Hochul seeking to weaken the climate law, prolonging our dependence on fossil fuels, just when the cost of fossil fuels is soaring? It seems like a big favor to her friends and donors in the oil, gas and Big Tech industries. Meanwhile, New York consumers are already footing the bill. Hochul claims the cheap, renewable energy mandate isn’t affordable, but that’s not true. We know renewables will save money — and lives. She claims to be concerned about reliability, but renewable energy is reliable. At a time when Washington has turned its back on clean energy and is pandering to fossil fuel interests, it’s up to Hochul to make sure the state stands in contrast and fulfills the promise of cheap, clean, renewable energy to power our state. Linda Nagel

Any oversight?

Woodside: Con Edison has hegemony. A year ago, my monthly bill was $55. My electric usage is limited to home lighting, the TV and the toaster. I just received a March bill amounting to $221.45. Is Con Edison accountable to any city agency? Edward J. Crimmins

Treasure tradition

Camden, N.J.: Ever since Washington, D.C., became the nation’s third capital, the Department of Treasury has always been considered the White House’s good neighbor. Many presidents have enjoyed that property line bond. Past presidents utilized it uniquely. This year, the United States Semiquincentennial will be officially celebrated on July 4. Established in 1789, the Treasury has managed solicited and unsolicited works of art. Trump’s projected John Hancock on U.S. currency as a gift to America seems nonsensical. How would Benjamin Franklin reply? “In God We Trust.” Wayne E. Williams

Puzzle preference

New Rochelle, N.Y.: Please take Ricky Cruz off the crossword puzzles. I have been doing them for years, and the ones he does are horrible. Please bring the lady back (Jacqueline Mathews). Sometimes you can’t even make out what Cruz is trying to say. Nancy Peterkin