On Dec. 14, 2012, the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Conn., caused the deaths of 20 children under the age of 7, six staff members, the shooter and his mother. Two school staff members survived severe injuries. Disastrously, firearm violence continues in our country unabated, and by most measures it is only getting worse.
That year, Norwich held its first vigil to commemorate the tragic loss of innocent lives at Sandy Hook; since then, our annual vigil has commemorated all those who have died by gun violence in our country — a number approaching 250,000, as well as the estimated half a million injured by gunfire.
This ongoing firearms violence is a unique American tragedy, and it is also a public health epidemic, which means that we can take sensible actions to curtail it and reduce the physical and mental anguish that now pervades whole communities. Mass shootings, suicides, domestic violence murders and intimidation, homicides, gang violence and accidents from improperly stored firearms — all demand strong, well-researched solutions.
Rather than holding our traditional candlelight vigil, which brought solace as we stood shoulder to shoulder, next weekend we will be setting out a display on the Norwich Green to commemorate lives lost and devastated by firearm violence. On Dec. 14, listen for the tolling of the church bells at the Norwich Congregational Church for the Sandy Hook victims.
We hope in 2021 we will be able to successfully address the causes of gun violence in our country and make real progress toward its end.
CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY
West Lebanon
PAUL MANGANIELLO
and KATHLEEN SHEPHERD
Norwich
As a Windsor resident for nine years now, I’m tremendously disappointed in the members of the Windsor Selectboard who voted in opposition to renaming Jacob Street (“Windsor street keeps slaveholder’s name,” Dec. 2).
To use the language used by Chairwoman Heather Prebish, upholding the name of Dinah’s captor is not “celebrating” or “honoring” her. In fact, it’s a perfect example of “both-sides-ing” the issue — to say that we can both revere her captor by leaving his name on a street and also somehow celebrate or honor her in a different way.
You can’t do both. You can’t leave the street name and say that you are still honoring or celebrating her. You can honor and celebrate her by choosing not to revere him with a street name, or you can choose to keep the street name. This is plainly and simply a refusal to do the right thing out of cowardice, out of fear of backlash in a predominantly white town (and state, for that matter).
Selectboard members Amanda Smith and Chris Goulet have my undying gratitude for serving Windsor with courage and conviction.
TAYLOR K. LONG
Windsor
This is in reference to Paul Waldman’s recent opinion column (“Biden will have to move fast and flood the zone,” Dec. 4). If you change the word “Biden” to “Trump” and “Republican” to “Democrat” in the first paragraph, I believe it is a precise summary of how the Democrats have operated since 2016.
It looks like Joe Biden got elected president. So, can’t The Washington Post and its media colleagues (and the Valley News) get beyond their endless reiterations of how put-upon they are by the opposition. I have not commented on similar previous pieces, but this one was too word-for-word to ignore.
The hate-filled, cringe-inducing cartoons by Tom Toles are no longer (I wish him a pleasant retirement), but the Valley News seems to have found a replacement that is near the same level.
MARGARET KOZUBAL
Hanover
President Donald Trump remains indignant because he lost. And he’s not speaking out to counter his past comments — “lock her up” and “punch him in the nose” and “stand back and stand by” and all the other things he’s said to incite violence.
In the coronavirus aid package negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is insisting on 100% tax deductions for business meals, but not a comparable benefit for food programs for those who need it?
At least the Valley News is starting to put Trump into the second section, off the front page. Thank you.
I hope the faith-based Black networks will better the white evangelicals in Georgia and we’ll have a Senate that will enable Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to make America great again.
ANNE PEYTON
South Strafford
Your front page photographs of the tree on the Dartmouth Green (Dec. 1), and the light display at La Salette Shrine in Enfield (Dec. 3) were both uplifting. We all need reminders of the beauty and traditions of the season.
There is another handsome tree in Hanover, just a short distance from the Green, on West Wheelock Street. St. Thomas Episcopal Church always has a beautifully decorated tree in the parish hall, to the special delight of our young families.
But this year, with all services virtual, property manager Tonya Gilman suggested the tree be placed outside in order to bring joy to the entire local community. Its installation was the joint effort of many parishioners. It is St. Thomas’ way of sending Christmas blessings to everyone.
JUDY McCARTHY
Lebanon