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Make college
dreams affordable
Re: “See how much student loan debt President Biden has canceled” (March 7).
As a junior in high school, going to college invokes more stress than it does hope. The word “college” doesn’t spark the same grandiose images that others might have. It drowns me in the thoughts of sky-high tuition prices, dorm costs and loans. Universities kill more dreams than they fulfill.
The poor affordability of attending college makes it nearly impossible for low- to middle-class households to even think about sending their children to competitive universities. Without scholarships or loans, many students pull the shorter end of the stick, attending a more affordable college instead of a higher-end university.
When will universities encourage chasing our dreams? When will we have the right to pursue our dreams? I’ve seen my friends and family make great sacrifices to attend their desired universities all too many times. With effective debt relief, the livelihood of our passions might finally be revived.
Johan Desiderio
San Jose
Women, consider
carefully your vote
Re: “Continued support for Trump is confounding” (Page A6, March 7).
I agree with Pauline Chand’s comments on why anyone would vote for Donald Trump. But why would women, specifically, vote for him? Do they see him as a “real man”? Can’t they see that he is not anywhere close?
Real men don’t brag about sexual assault (grabbing women by their genitals); cheat on their wives, one of whom has just given birth to his child; allegedly steal classified documents, endangering our national security; spout Hitler and Mussolini or poke fun at people with disabilities; pretend to care about abortion to get right-wing votes; endanger a woman’s control over her own body; or pretend to be a Christian to get the evangelical vote.
Real men lift women up rather than bring them down. Women out there: Stop and think before casting a vote for Trump, who will destroy our country if given a chance.
Katie Dent
Sunnyvale
Oct. 7 shows two-state
plan is unworkable
Re: “Israel becoming much like the empires it historically reviled” (Page A6, March 7).
I have lived in Israel, and was there during one of their major wars (1967). I understand what it is like to live surrounded by those who want to destroy you.
Israel ended up with the West Bank and Gaza in a war of self-defense. Israeli governments have tried to negotiate a Palestinian state in return for recognition of Israel’s right to exist, but no Palestinian leader has been willing to truly agree to that. As the intifada murdered many Israelis, the population became more skeptical of a two-state solution. In 2005, Gaza was turned over to the Palestinian Authority to be the beginnings of a Palestinian state, but Hamas took over. The blockade was to prevent bringing in deadly weapons to attack Israel.
Oct. 7 showed what a two-state solution would really be like.
Larry Stone
San Jose
Truth about Gaza
war inspires gratitude
Re: “Israel becoming much like the empires it historically reviles” (Page A6, March 7).
A heartfelt thank you to Steve Koppman for speaking the truth and to the Mercury News for printing it.
Only a knowledgeable, devout Jewish person could represent so eloquently historic Judaism and the present situation between Israel and Gaza: “a scenario entirely inconceivable from the perspective of the Judaism I grew up with.” “A Judaism that treasures Jewish lives and devalues Arab lives is no longer Judaism.” “Israel’s apologists highlight the horrific Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis as justification, depending on listeners to forget decades-long military occupation of the West Bank and corresponding blockade of Gaza, unequivocal acts of war to which most of us would support resistance anywhere else.”
Having been to Israel and the occupied West Bank many times, as well as Gaza, I couldn’t have said it better myself, but, sadly, my words would have been called antisemitic. Bless you, my brother. Your words honor your faith.
Rev. Ernest Cockrell
San Jose
Efforts toward peace
in Gaza are admirable
The Board of Peace Action of San Mateo County fully supports the efforts of Supervisor Noelia Corzo in her attempt to sponsor a resolution stating that the situation in Gaza calls for an immediate cease-fire.
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No one is recommending immunity for Hamas’ war crimes, but to continue the stoppage of water, food, medicine and shelter to the population of Gaza constitutes an even greater war crime with our complicity. Government entities can and should take this matter under consideration. We citizens and funding taxpayers bear some responsibility for it as a moral matter. All crimes against humanity committed anywhere need to be called out; especially the ones supported by our tax dollars.
To see the enforced starvation and murder of the population now under Israeli control in Gaza attests to the idea that Israel’s efforts speak to a darker purpose than the pretense of hostage rescue.
Thank you, Noelia.
Mike Caggiano
San Mateo
