Each day the national news is more alarming. I have recently read Alexander Hamilton’s original statements regarding the reasons for the existence of the Electoral College. The Founding Fathers created it as an extreme “emergency brake” to prevent a dangerously unqualified and unfit president-elect from taking over the executive branch of the United States.
Of special concern, said Hamilton, are intrusive activities of “foreign powers” in American elections. If, in the judgment of the electors such dire a situation were to exist, it would be the duty of those electors to cast their votes for a different and more qualified candidate for the office of president. This would be an awesome responsibility, and one that has never before been exercised. To avoid this responsibility would present far greater consequences.
The conditions exist now. Let us urge the members of the Electoral College to accept this awesome responsibility to protect our democracy.
Christopher Harris Weathersfield
Wilder School Staff Is Awesome
In response to the article published about the Wilder School (“Old School Seeks a New Life: Wilder School Helps Alternative Students as Building Decays,” Dec. 11), I would like to say that I felt the same way that Stephanie Barnard felt when she walked into the school.
My grandson attends Wilder School. At first glance, the school is no match for other local schools that have all the bells and whistles of traditional schools; however, what is important is to realize that it’s not the building that has benefited my grandson, it’s the awesome staff. (It would be nice to see improvement in the building though.) They are so skilled and gracious about how they handle behaviors that traditional schools just don’t have the capacity to deal with.
The kids who attend the Wilder School need this alternative school. The town of Hartford should be proud to have in its midst such a trained and dedicated group of people who are compassionate about assisting kids at risk of falling through the cracks in traditional schools. Thank you to all the hardworking staff at Wilder School.
Teresa Wilson Windsor
False Claims of Anti-Semitism
Thanks to the Valley News for publishing an excellent Washington Post editorial opposing the so-called Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (“Silencing Anti-Zionism: Bill Threatens Academic Freedom,” Dec. 12).
As the editorial correctly pointed out, it would be unconstitutional to deny funds to colleges whose students and faculty advocate BDS — boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Boycotts and divestment are nonviolent, private actions of political protest and are the right of every American citizen, according to his or her conscience. Sanctions are legitimate actions for the government, and we all have the right to lobby for those we think appropriate.
The current campaign against BDS proponents has only one purpose: to intimidate and silence those who are trying to change U.S. policy toward Israel’s extremist right-wing government. Despite the best efforts of Israel’s advocates in this country and Europe, citizens of the Western democracies are increasingly aware of the war crimes and human rights abuses committed against the occupied Palestinian population. Having no argument to offer in support of Israeli actions, its advocates fall back on the cry of “anti-Semitism.”
Israel’s continual violations of international law can continue only because of the uncritical support of the U.S. for Israel, both in the U.N. and in the form of $4 billion a year of our taxpayers’ money. Gen. David Petraeus has stated that U.S. soldiers pay a military price every day for our support of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.
BDS supporters are trying to make that support conditional on behavior appropriate to a modern democracy. When BDS opponents object that we are not complaining about Egypt or Russia, they put Israel in exactly the company it belongs in: authoritarian and racist states. Please keep up your coverage of this issue. And readers, please do not let yourselves be silenced by fake accusations of anti-Semitism.
Mary WilsonOrford