Israel-Hamas war, Rockville Centre Diocese teacher firing, overdose deaths, Blydenburgh Park

Israel must end Iran targeting its people

Proportionate responses from Israel are all we seem to ever hear from the current administration, not to mention the myriad media pundits and feckless leaders from around the world who have little skin in the game “Memorial for Oct. 7 victims of Hamas,” News, Oct. 7].

After Oct. 7, 2023, should Israel have invaded Gaza purposely but proportionately also murdered, raped, burned, decapitated and captured innocents in their homes?

Iran twice has recently launched two massive but ineffectual attacks on the sovereign state of Israel. Should Israel respond in kind? No. Iran has made it abundantly clear that its goal is to eradicate the Jewish state, and when and if Iran possesses nuclear weapons, is there any doubt they will be used to kill all Jews and others in the Holy Land.

Israel must use all means necessary to destroy the totality of the nuclear capabilities of Iran now and forever and, if necessary, rinse and repeat in perpetuity.

While Iran’s petroleum industry must be preserved to protect the interests of the entire world, a nuclear-capable Iran is an existential threat to America, Israel and all humanity.

This source of depravity must be forever defanged.

— Joel Reiter, Woodbury

It is argued by some that the pro-Palestinian protests are not antisemitic actions. I would contend that the Sept. 15 arrest of Xavier Roa at a pro-Palestine protest at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst synagogue disproves that axiom [“Activist wearing keffiyeh arraigned,” Our Towns, Oct. 3].

What do the members of this synagogue have to do with the actions of the state of Israel other than being Jewish?

In reality, these are protests against the Jewish religion at a site of worship.

— Barnett Behrenfeld, Plainview

Diocese persecution of teacher is wrong

My question to the Diocese of Rockville Centre is why weren’t the priests who committed pedophilia fired instead of being transferred to other parishes where they could commit the same heinous acts? Yet Michael Califano, praised to the hilt by the parents of his third-graders, was fired because of Facebook photos of him kissing his significant other “Gay teacher’s suit vs. diocese to go on,” News, Oct. 5]. The Lord said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

I do not condone nor do I condemn. I feel Califano is being wrongly persecuted.

— Rose Syms, Oceanside

Education, treatment can reduce OD deaths

The reduction of overdose deaths is good news for all Long Islanders and especially those of us working in the addiction and treatment field “Drug deaths see decline on LI and in U.S.,” News, Oct. 6].

While we are thankful for the availability of Narcan to treat victims, saving so many lives, other critical work must be done.

Investment in education and treatment programs will stem addiction and prevent children and adults from getting close to the point of overdose. Only programs that treat addiction will help those with mental health issues and lead to reducing reliance on opioids and save lives.

— Krista Whitman, Hampton Bays

The writer is chief operating officer of Outreach Development Corp., which addresses substance use and behavioral health treatment on Long Island.

Instead, build a bridge over Stump Pond

I don’t pretend to be a geologist or a water engineer, but I’m a longtime lover of Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown. So, I would love to see nature take her course at Stump Pond [“Romaine: Re- build key dam,” Long Island & NYC, Oct. 7].

In the two months since the dam’s breach, wildflowers have started to grow where there used to be water.

Next spring, I can imagine a beautiful, huge meadow covering the area. In five, 10 or 20 years, who knows what we’d see? Water and nature do their own thing. I can imagine kayaking from the one end of the park to the other.

Regarding continuation of the Greenbelt Trail, a bridge could be built where the dam broke for a lot less money. Perhaps the remaining funds could help repair the grist mill as a historical site.

There is precedence for letting nature take its course. After Superstorm Sandy, the dam at Sunken Meadow Creek in Sunken Meadow State Park gave way, and a bridge was built in its place in 2013. There is little doubt that the area is nicer and healthier because of it.

Stump Pond was built some 200 years ago to operate a grist mill. The days of grist mills are long gone. Let’s see what can replace it.

— Bruce Schoenberg, Smithtown