Letters To The Editor: Nov. 2, 2023

Letter Showed Lack Of Civility

Editor:

I was very disappointed that George Myers chose to call David Mott arrogant for voicing his opinion about a very serious matter, that being the debate about 1610 Main St.

Much is written and spoken about the lack of civility in this country, and Mr. Myers’ insult is a prime example of this problem. If a person cannot debate on the merits they all too often respond by name calling. And we wonder why there is a lack of civil discourse?

It’s very unfortunate that The Chronicle fed this problem by choosing to print this letter.

Stephen Jesus

West Chatham

Seen Around Town

Editor:

Apparently some of the angriness and rudeness that many drivers exhibited on the Cape roadways again this summer also surfaced in the grocery store where I shop.

When shopping in July, I noticed a lady's T-shirt that read "I like my boat and maybe three people." Yikes! Maybe she's the descendant of a pirate. "Arrr!"

On another trip, I got stuck in the checkout line behind a lady who took one item at a time out of her cart and looked at the monitor to check the scanned price. One, at, a, time. When I started to put my groceries on the belt, she snapped at me "I'm not done yet! Are you in a hurry or what?" I replied, "Not at all. Wasting time is my favorite thing to do. Please, take all day." No response.

On the bright side, I chuckled my way through grocery shopping the time I noticed a shopper's T-shirt worded "There's no crying during tax season." Wanna bet?

So, I'll be ready for driving around the Cape next summer given that I recently ordered this bumper sticker: "Hit Me — I Need The Money." And when grocery shopping next summer I'll be wearing my T-shirt that reads "I used to be a people person...but people ruined that for me."

Writing that took my mind off the sickening atrocities of war, and gun violence in this country.

"Peace on earth, good will toward men." If only.

Mike Rice

South Wellfleet

Speak Up And End The Madness

Editor:

I own a gun, justified, I submit, by confirmed death threats during my career as a District Attorney, organized crime prosecutor and federal judge. I am not anti-gun but I am anti-civilian owned assault type rifles and large capacity magazines usable in long guns and handguns.

As a farmer's son in rural New York, I was a skilled varmint and predator killer, made necessary to protect livestock and poultry. As a prosecutor I have seen first hand the effect of a bullet. As a retired Navy captain, I'm familiar with military weapons. Given my youthful and career experience, I claim some knowledge of deadly weapons.

There have been more than 500 mass shootings in this country in 2023 both in urban and rural localities, the most recent in Maine in which there were 18 fatalities resulting from use of an assault-type rifle. These tragic events have become so routine that they quickly recede in the press and in our memories as the next one takes center stage. Each is followed by indignation, by pious "thoughts and prayers" and by disbelief "that it could happen here" mouthed by political figures and area residents. No bullet has been stopped nor dead gunshot victim revived by indignation or by thoughts and prayers.

Predictably, the National Rifle Association immediately bleats that it's not the gun, it's the person holding it, or it's strictly a mental health issue, or the best defense to a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun, etc.,etc. It then writes checks to cash-obsessed political figures knowing they will obediently hew to the Second Amendment "all guns are sacred" line.

So what can we as citizens do? Expressing outrage accomplishes nothing. Letting our state and federal representatives hear it just might. While our Rep. Bill Keating in the U.S. House of Representatives is in the minority party, he still has a voice and should be urged to use it. Our senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, are in the majority party and should be urged to strongly support the current proposed ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines which foolishly was allowed to expire in 2004. Such a ban will not stop the madness, but it reduced mass shootings then and would likely do so again.

We can also urge family and friends in other states to contact their representatives. If we take these steps and speak up, it just might bring an end to this madness. Let's try.

Ralph W. Smith

Harwich Port

Dialogue For Peace

Editor,

A letter to the editor in “The Cape Cod Chronicle,” with its 250-word limit, is hardly the best place to present a proposal for peace in Gaza. Still, one might be commended for the attempt. Recently, Ms. Candace Perry wrote a letter that is both thoughtful, and, given the controversy it will likely stir up, perhaps even brave (“Blind Retaliation Not The Way,” Oct. 26, 2023).

Just about every sentence she wrote should be developed and expanded into, at least, a paragraph. Perhaps Ms. Perry will submit a “You Guest It” essay to The Chronicle on this topic? Her point of view, whether or not one initially agrees, deserves a full and respectful hearing.

Joseph Auciello

South Chatham

Yes Vote For Recreation

Editor:

Recreation is good for our health and wellbeing. A healthy recreation department is good for Orleans. The strong support at town meeting needs to be echoed at the polls on Nov. 7. Vote yes for Rec on Question 3.

Anne Sigsbee

Orleans

The author is a member of the Orleans Recreation Advisory Committee.

Thanks For Supporting Seniors

Editor:

In this season of giving thanks, the Friends of the Chatham Council on Aging want to express publicly our gratitude to the many generous Chatham residents and non-residents who have donated to our ongoing 2023-2024 Annual Appeal.

Your gifts support Chatham’s Center for Active Living’s (CFAL) many programs, activities, and special events, wherever they take place. The interactive, wellness and fitness programs that your generosity helps us fund include monthly birthday luncheons, cooking classes, book club discussions, movie events, and Coffee with a (local) Celeb, as well as Nordic Walking, Artful Living, Virtual Zumba Gold, lectures and Tai Chi, among others.

Your support enabled us to underwrite special events, like musician Matt York’s recent Johnny Cash Concert, a Rose Clancy performance, and sailing with Pleasant Bay Community Boating. A recent Open House showcased local artists’ work, including stunning photos from the “Let’s Do Shots” photography club we support, and the annual “Santa for Seniors” gift cards for holiday shopping and Thanksgiving dinner vouchers purchased from Chatham Village Market.

The programs that your donations — in any amount — make possible are much-appreciated and well-attended by our older citizens. While we, the undersigned, are members of Chatham’s Friends of the Council on Aging Board, everyone in this community who invests in opportunities for enhanced wellness, social interaction, intellectual engagement and pure enjoyment for our seniors is a true Friend of our many older residents. They work very hard every day to live their best lives and thrive in place with the comprehensive outreach services offered by the extraordinary COA staff; augmented by the programs and activities the Friends can fund with your generous support.

Thank you, if you have donated already, or if you are planning to make a gift.

Michael Barry, Judy Hanlon, Sue Foster, Liz Walker, Paula Carroll, Jan Fields, Jill James, Michelle Kleinkauf, David Oppenheim, Anthony Pacillo and Robin Zibrat, for the Friends of the Chatham Council on Aging