Regarding the Sept. 19 Washington Post editorial, “Closed Doors: Trump May Further Reduce Refugees,” the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reports that some 17 million people (not counting Palestinians) have been forcibly displaced from their homes — by war, religious and political persecution, criminal violence and famine — and sought safety across international borders. This is the largest number since at least World War II.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced in March that the richest nation on Earth, the United States, has cut the number of refugees it will take in each year by half, to 50,000, a drop in the bucket. And Trump’s contested immigration order entirely excludes refugees from Syria, Sudan and four other states where the problem is most acute.
Compassionate people of every political persuasion should be appalled. How can we turn a blind eye to such suffering? How can we ignore the fact that, but for a happy accident of birth, each of us might find ourselves among those helpless millions who have fled from their homes and communities to escape starvation or violent death? How can we look ourselves in the mirror and not feel the urgency to help?
Stephen Dycus
Strafford
Today’s fun fact: When President Donald Trump was inaugurated, there were 24 female U.S. attorneys. Upon taking office, he fired 48 Obama appointees. So far, he has nominated 42 people to replace them. Of those 42, one is a woman. Forty are white men.
Charlie Buttrey
Thetford
I was disturbed to see the Associated Press photograph on Sept. 18 titled “Mountains in the Mist.” As per White Mountain National Forest guidelines, camping is not permitted above treeline, where trees are less than 8 feet tall.
Although it is not 100 percent clear from the photo, it is fairly obvious to most New Hampshire Appalachian Trail hikers that the location in the photograph is above treeline and therefore an illegal campsite. Many hikers love being above treeline as much as possible, as you can probably understand from the photo, but most of us are aware of the fragile plants in the alpine zone and we know that camping on top of them will kill these plants that work extremely hard to survive in an unforgiving environment. Although we would love to spend a night in the alpine zone, we know better than to camp up there. I’m ashamed that these fellow Massachusetts citizens didn’t know that as well.
Elisabeth Westner
North Andover, Mass.
The West Fairlee Planning Commission will hold a community meeting Sunday afternoon at 3:30 at Westshire School. The purpose is to briefly discuss the community survey that was mailed to each West Fairlee voter and property owner in June.
The Planning Commission will also welcome suggestions about the direction West Fairlee should be headed over the next eight years.
This will be an interesting and lively interactive event in which your voice can be heard. Your input at this meeting will be taken into consideration as the Planning Commission drafts the 2018 Town Plan.
The whole family is invited to participate. There will be a special session designed for young members of our community.
We look forward to seeing you and your family there,
John Benjamin
West Fairlee Planning Commission
Last weekend we learned that the Trump administration is illegally pushing to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They will stop at nothing to get into the Arctic Refuge. The House Budget Committee and President Donald Trump’s released budget included revenue from drilling in the refuge.
Some places in our nation are simply too special, too sacred to drill — the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of them. The refuge has sustained the Gwich’in people for thousands of years. Its coastal plain provides birthing grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, which use the unique ecosystem to bear and rear their young. The Gwich’in people call the coastal plain “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.” It is also the nesting ground for millions of migrating birds every summer. Protecting these wild lands and the Gwich’in way of life is a matter of basic human rights.
The leadership in Congress and Donald Trump care more about filling the pockets of the oil industry than the interests of the American people, who strongly support the refuge being protected. In the past 30 years, Congress has voted close to 50 times on whether or not to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge should not be included in any must-pass legislation moving forward. It is time to end this exhausted debate. It is also time to designate the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge a wilderness forever, so that its development will never again be considered.
In 2005, The Gwich’in Steering Committee announced the release of a report outlining the implications of drilling in the refuge as a violation of Gwich’in human rights under international law.
Drilling there would jeopardize the sustainable culture of the Gwich’in people and the coastal plain of Alaska. Drilling in this pristine region must never be considered and it must be permanently removed from the federal budget before any budget negotiations.
Carol Perera Weingeist
Hanover
Kudos to Dena Romero for her recent letter (“A Missed Opportunity,” Sept. 15) urging us to consider the background experiences of young people who model white supremacy. Children do act out the culture, and this is an opportunity to change their direction.
My only additional suggestion is to remember Richard Nixon and always “follow the money.”
Who profits from white supremacy? Obviously communities like Ferguson, Mo., where meeting the budget depended on a racist system of recurring and multiplying court fines targeting non-white citizens.
But what about real estate agents? Last year when the house across the street from us was for sale, an agent parked there to prepare for a showing. On our quiet street, it is easy to notice visitors, and I recall seeing this agent look over at our Black Lives Matter lawn sign. She then pulled her car over in front of our house — parking now on the wrong side of the street — where her car effectively blocked anyone’s view of our sign.
To her credit, she seemed to reflect on how she was behaving and reparked her car back by the house for sale. I am happy to say that we ended up with splendid new neighbors, including their kids. Additionally, our neighborhood has been blessed with biracial families. We like to think our sign, good real estate agents and annual neighborhood picnics help make everyone feel welcome.
Robert Spottswood
Norwich
It is unbelievable to me that defenders of Donald Trump characterize the ugly barroom invective of his speech before the United Nations as a return to realpolitik. I do not consider the threat to “totally destroy North Korea” — to kill millions of people — an expression of realpolitik. I consider it raving mad. Words matter.
Arthur Gardiner
Hanover