Letters to the editor for May 3

An open letter to the Democratic Party

You have secured my vote for the last time. You had the potential to secure my vote in perpetuity. Bernie Sanders was my choice. Both the 2016 and 2020 election seasons brought anger and downright hatred to me for supporting such a candidate. That was your making. You told your people to oust us from your ranks. You cracked the electorate. You weakened the cause of progressivism. You had my vote, but never again.

Bernie has decided to leave the race. The person who made his campaign a fundraising effort for the COVID-19 pandemic. Why did he leave? Bernie decided to honor his commitment to defeating President Donald Trump. His influence is felt far and wide. He was consistent with his beliefs, and he was consistently on the right side of history. The ideas of Bernie Sanders are the future.

Donald Trump is dangerous. You will have my vote in 2020. Never again. There will always be boogeyman. You can’t manipulate me anymore. You have determined that our values don’t matter. We have deeply held beliefs. You forgot to acknowledge the humanity of the people to whom you pandered. When you chose to leave us behind, we chose to leave you. This election will go down in history for more than just the effects of the virus. This election will go down as the last time the Democratic Party was relevant.

Good luck winning without us.

Lift sanctions selectively — it’s who we are

During this moment in history, when the deadly wave of coronavirus ravages communities at home and abroad, we call on our congressional representatives to create legislation that would authorize a temporary and selective lifting of sanctions on countries that are presently in need of vital medical supplies. These countries include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.

This request is in line with the call by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the waiving of sanctions in order to ensure access to food, essential health supplies and medical support. UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet has noted rightly that “populations in [countries under sanctions] are in no way responsible for the policies being targeted by sanctions, and to varying degrees have already been living in a precarious situation for prolonged periods.”

Such an action on the part of the United States would potentially save the lives of thousands of innocent people. It might also create a helpful climate of good will.