Glenn McCoy’s Dec. 26 cartoon of outgoing President Obama and an ISIS figure is, of course, crudely drawn; it is, though, even more obtuse than usual in its message, which is truly saying something!
So far from growing under Obama, ISIS has lost more and more territory and leadership. This is not to say that its remaining adherents and those so inclined won’t mount significant threats to the West, but as a military and political force they are on the cusp of disapparance. Indeed, during his tenure, inestimably more prominent radical jihadists have been destroyed than during that of his predecessor (on whose watch, lest we forget, the events of 9/11/2001 transpired), nor has Obama embroiled us, let alone lied us into, wider wars.
I mention all this simply because some critics, slightly more extreme than the odious McCoy but of similar instincts, have long alleged that the president is soft on Islamic fanaticism, and even that he is a secret Muslim extremist himself, a notion that would have struck the late Osama bin Laden as curious. Resolve and prudence have been Obama’s virtues in a hot world. A leader of the “birther” movement, scarcely known for either, is about to take the helm. Lord knows what is coming.
Sydney LeaNewbury, Vt.
It was a pleasure to see the Valley News’ recent story about a Habitat for Humanity family in Orange, Vt. moving into their new home in time for Christmas (“A Home for the Holidays,” Dec. 24.)
Some of your readers may not be aware that there is a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate that helps people in our own neighboring communities, in towns along the Connecticut River Valley in both New Hampshire and Vermont.
Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity has its primary office in White River Junction, in the Gates-Briggs Building on Main Street, and a satellite Northeast Kingdom office in St. Johnsbury.
Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity is midway through a milestone year — its 30th anniversary. Founded with the mission of building homes and hope in July 1986, UVHFH has since built 33 homes and repaired dozens more in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, offering affordable home ownership to local families needing a leg up.
At present, UVHFH has future opportunities for affordable home ownership for qualified families to live in Woodstock, White River Junction, Wilder and Lebanon, in houses the nonprofit organization plans to build over the next few years.
Additionally, there is an immediate opportunity for an eligible family to purchase an existing three-bedroom home in a quiet, convenient setting in Lebanon, built by UVHFH about 10 years ago.
In general, qualifying families have lived in the Upper Valley for at least a year and are currently living in substandard or inadequate housing. Normally, a UVHFH family earns approximately $30,000-$55,000 per year, adjusted for family size, and is willing to partner with UVHFH to build their own home.
Frequently, eligible families are now paying considerably more a month for the area’s high-cost rental units than they would be paying for their own Habitat home. Habitat offers an affordable, zero-percent mortgage, or by special arrangement, a very low-interest loan, and calculates affordability at no more than 30 percent of a family’s income to be spent on housing each year.
For more information — or if you or someone you know may qualify — please call our office at 802-295-1854 or email office@uppervalleyhabitat.org.
Heather SteligaExecutive DirectorUpper Valley Habitat for HumanityWhite River Junction