2023 began with all-too-familiar political dysfunction at home and turmoil abroad, with Republicans in Washington without a House speaker and massive protests in Israel grabbing headlines. Some were sounding the alarm about democracy’s erosion as others declared it was just democracy in action. As we report the news each day, you tell us what you think about it all in letters you send to us electronically as well as the old-fashioned way. Today, we look at the past year through your words on the Voice of the People page.
Mitchell Kessler of Copiague, L.I., reacted to the widespread protests in Israel against proposed changes to the country’s judicial system. “With the rise of the Likud coalition under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, with its religious, free market and settler movement partners, much has changed, probably forever,” he said.
Brooklyn’s Nick Smith also assessed the Jewish state’s predicament. “Israel has been doing basically the same thing to Palestine that Vladimir Putin’s Russia has been doing to Ukraine for the last 10 months,” he said. “The difference is that Israel has been doing it for 75 years.”
Fellow Brooklynite Alan Podhaizer lamented the GOP fracas over the unoccupied House speakership. “The inability of the Republicans to pick a speaker is making us a laughingstock of the world.”
Once Rep. Kevin McCarthy clinched the gavel, Oren Spiegler in Peters Township, Pa., wondered if he’d “be able to continue courting the insurrection caucus if and when, let us say, a vote to increase the debt limit” came along.
From Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., Steven Goldfinger hoped for some consensus regarding one of McCarthy’s prominent colleagues. “With the public outcry over George Santos and his refusal to resign, I hope that the other representatives will strongly consider ostracizing him in a meaningful way.”
After a somewhat-identified flying object captured America’s attention and imagination, Anthony Gigantiello from Astoria posed a simple question: “Why didn’t we shoot down that Chinese spy balloon over our air base?”
Staten Island’s Tony Rose saw a missed opportunity. “Everyone should have gone outdoors and given Chinese President Xi the finger when it was overhead. This was something that could have finally united Americans.”
In February, the city had to say goodbye to a beloved Brooklyn slice spot when Lenny’s Pizza ended its seven-decade run. From Margate, Fla., Richard Sherman looked for a silver lining. “We will always have the memory of John Travolta strutting down 86th St. enjoying those two Lenny’s slices in ‘Saturday Night Fever.’ ”
And when the first of Donald Trump’s indictments was announced, Bronxite Virgilio Carballo issued his verdict: “Not guilty! Reason: Incompetent to stand trial.” From Hammonton, N.J., William Cook took a more sober view. “President Gerald Ford clearly recognized the harm such political actions would do to our nation on the world stage.”
In April, we paid tribute to the long life of a New Yorker who gave much to the world during his 103 years. “Ben Ferencz accomplished this in many ways, from his military service in World War II to being a Nuremberg prosecutor to the creation of the International Criminal Court,” said Warren Gross in New Rochelle, N.Y. “He was a giant standing 5 foot 3 or so, but beyond our ability to measure him in spirit.”
Staten Island’s Anthony Biancoviso celebrated the unceremonious sendoffs of Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson. “On the same day, Don gets squeezed and Carlson gets tucked away, and suddenly everything is so much better in my world.”
After a subway encounter ended in tragedy, Herb Paserman of Manalapan, N.J., was among those who empathized with the killer. “Anyone who has ridden the subways can relate to the fear of being trapped in a car with a ranting, dangerous character.”
But Manhattan’s Saba Rouhani urged understanding for Jordan Neely and the plight of others whose suffering drives them into downward spirals of erratic behavior. “As Neely reminded us, they are usually just hungry, thirsty and fed up,” she wrote. “If you want to see less pain and misery on your daily commute, direct your outrage at those who can invest upstream in housing, food and mental health services but choose not to. They are the violent offenders among us.”
As the weather warmed, a cloud settled over the city that left Atul M. Karnik smelling something burning during his evening walk in Woodside. He was alarmed to see the sky getting hazier, finally hearing that it was Canada’s wildfire smoke. “What remains scary is the ongoing debate about the existence of global warming despite the fact that what’s unfolding in the world is sufficient proof of its dangers, such as we now see in NYC,” he mused.
Then came Oct. 7, a day that sent the kind of shockwave that reserves its date to convey its magnitude. In Swarthmore, Pa., Ken Derow considered the implications. “The psychological impact on Israelis has been compared to the shock of 9/11 in America,” he said. “So, after the Israeli military repels the initial Palestinian attack, the question of what to do next will loom large.”
Peter J. Peirano in Ridgewood, N.J., put it in context: “Since the 1973 war, Israelis have been allowed to carry weapons and shoot a Palestinian without retribution. At the same time, Palestinians have not been allowed to defend themselves and have been besieged in the Gaza Strip… The resentment of the inhuman conditions boiled over and this war is the result.”
As a human toll mounted, Frank Sterle Jr. of White Rock, British Columbia, criticized Western media’s coverage. “This includes their reporting on the current and past violence but especially their non-reporting on the consequential anti-Palestinian social injustices that continue in between every military flare-up over decades of Israeli occupation. Palestinian suffering and deaths in their entirety need to matter to us as much as those of Israelis,” Sterle said. “Apparently they haven’t.”
In Manhattan, Lee Levin articulated a dilemma. “As a Jew, I am horrified by both the Hamas attack and the Israeli response… 6 million Jews did not die so Israel can justify its commitment of war crimes.”
As the city decked itself out for Christmas, Michael Grisanti of Valhalla, N.Y., found a higher meaning in the throngs of visitors slowing his uptown Manhattan trek: “Isn’t it amazing that with all these different people of all races and religions crushed together for numerous blocks, there’s no wars breaking out? The world should take note.”
In spite of the persisting horrors, Larry Penner of Great Neck, L.I., ended the year on a positive note.
“I continue to be grateful that the Daily News affords both me and my fellow Voicers the opportunity to express our views, as well as differing opinions on issues of the day,” he said.
And we’re grateful to you for being part of it all, Larry, and to all of you. Keep those letters coming.
