When some rights infringe upon rights of others
Manhattan: Our U.S. Constitution protects both the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly. Both were fully evident in the Republican rally in Madison Square Garden. They have those rights just like a labor union has a right to assemble and organize.
What was not fully evident was the freedom of religion (worship) on that same day at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi (photo). I am the pastor of this iconic parish one half-block from the Garden. We have entrances on W. 31st and W. 32nd Sts. between Sixth and Seventh Aves. We were not told in advance that Sixth Ave. would have metal barriers that impeded senior citizens who wanted to attend any of our five morning Masses. Their Access-A-Ride or Uber vehicles were not allowed to go beyond Sixth Ave. down W. 31st St. Since when are senior citizens and disabled people a threat to national security?
All are welcome in our parish. A small number of people who were attending the rally also participated in our morning Masses. They were polite and respectful. Other rally attendees asked permission to go to the bathroom but did not attend any Masses. We extended public courtesy to them as well. Our Franciscan parish promotes hospitality over hostility. Our parishioners learned the next day of some of the remarks espoused at the rally. We were saddened to hear those careless statements. As a result, we especially invite Puerto Ricans, women of color and others who were attacked to come and worship. We draw on the resources of our faith as we use the opportunities of our democracy to shape a society more respectful of life, dignity and human rights. Fr. Brian Jordan
History echoes
Brooklyn: If you are currently planning on skipping the election, I urge you not to do that. If you compare former President Donald Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden last week, I urge you to view the pro-Hitler rally at MSG in 1939. They both had the same complaints and plans. If you’re undecided at this point, this should solidify your choice. Vote as if your freedom depends on it. Greg Ahl
Used, yet abused
Rosedale: I agree with Voicer Ralph Palladino. Why are people so against the influx of immigrants when we citizens hire them to do the jobs Americans don’t want to do? Enjoy your wine, but guess who picked the grapes? Enjoy your salad; guess who picked the veggies and cut them up in the back of the restaurant? And guess who washed your dishes? Stop the hate or don’t hire. MaryBeth Pepe
Don’t throw it around
Manhattan: Voicer Natalie Johnson has the right idea in urging Americans not to vote for Trump. He is a selfish, ignorant slob who has cheated, exploited and demeaned his way through life to achieve this nation’s highest office. He cares only for himself, and he has disparaged true patriots and military heroes, such as the late John McCain, while he is a shameless coward and draft-dodger. He has committed so many crimes in his life that he could be his own racketeering enterprise. And he is certainly unfit for the presidency. But Johnson and many others, including prominent Democratic politicians, are dead wrong in comparing him to Hitler. It trivializes the 6 million martyrs of Hitler’s campaign to exterminate the Jewish people and other disfavored populations. Trump may admire Hitler, but his insensitivity and stupidity should not give license to critics who have no sense of history and no understanding of what Hitler was or what genocide means. Ephraim Savitt
Undiscerning
Bronx: If we were choosing between two restaurants and the Daily News reported that one restaurant had hundreds of health code violations, dozens of wait staff investigated for credit card skimming, and weekly KKK meetings held there, the undecided voter would say, “OK, but how’s the food?” Glenn O’Sullivan
Money in the bank
Queens Village: I don’t know about you, but during the present administration, I got an increase in my monthly Social Security check not once but twice, and it was more than $100 at that! Maybe it’s just me, but I think I’m sticking with the Democrats come Election Day! Joan Silaco
Egomaniac
Nyack, N.Y.: How can any right-minded American cast their vote for Donald Trump after what he caused on Jan. 6, 2021? Maybe, because of the passage of time, they’ve forgotten how he summoned his supporters to D.C. and predicted that “it will be wild.” Maybe they’ve forgotten how he exhorted the crowd to “fight like hell” and to march to the Capitol to stop the certification of the Electoral College votes for President Biden. Maybe they’ve forgotten how, for more than three hours, he did absolutely nothing to quell the rioters as he sat watching those terrible events occur on TV. And maybe they’ve forgotten him telling the marauders to “go home, we love you, you’re very special.” Why would anyone still support him when what happened was due solely to his bruised ego? He couldn’t stomach that he lost the election by more than 7 million votes to someone he called “Sleepy.” Stanley Cracovia
Theirs to lose
Saddle Brook, N.J.: As a lifelong Yankees fan, I was naturally disappointed by their brutal World Series loss. Their undisciplined style of baseball, lack of fundamentals and questionable managerial decisions gifted the Dodgers two games. Hopefully, they learn from the experience and get back to playing sound baseball in the future. Joseph M. Savoia
Indefensible
Kearny, N.J.: The Yankees should take their World Series loss to the L.A. Dodgers to the Supreme Court — and plead the Fifth. Kevin Dale
Basic play
Fairfield, Conn.: On occasion, we get to see the picture of Gerrit Cole as a kid in the stands at Yankee Stadium. That kid back then knew a pitcher has to run and cover first base on every play to the right side that the first baseman has to field. It should be ingrained in every pitcher to do this. What a disgrace. Bob Bodo
Fan interference
Yonkers: Back in 1996, during an American League playoff game at Yankee Stadium, a young fan interfered with a long ball hit by Derek Jeter that led to a controversial victory for the Yankees. After the game, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner invited the youngster to the stadium as his personal guest. So, why should we be surprised about two grown men, dressed in Little League Yankees jerseys, attempting to wrestle a ball from opposing player Mookie Betts? It is dreadful to think what could have happened had they yanked (no pun intended) the injured shoulder of Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani. Both men were ejected from the game, but they should have been arrested considering Betts could have been seriously injured. This is one time all baseball fans can agree with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s call for both airheads to be banned from the stadium indefinitely. Yankees fans are the game’s most obnoxious rooters. That’s why so many hate the Yankees. Nicholas Maffei
Joy riot
Bronx: L.A. celebrated the Dodgers win by burning a bus and looting. Maybe it’s time for the Dodgers to come back to Brooklyn. Mary Caggiano
Quick pickup
Brooklyn: Thursday was our scheduled pickup of trash, recycling and compost materials, so I wasn’t happy when the normal trash was placed in a single-bin truck instead of a split-bin truck, leaving the brown compost bin and four bags of leaves at the curb. On Friday morning, I called the Sanitation Department district office and was told the matter would be passed along to a supervisor. I am delighted to say that the compost and leaves were picked up within an hour! Thank you, District 14! You are not only NYC’s strongest, but also NYC’s most responsive. Alice H.O. Garelick
Protein math
Clark, N.J.: To Voicer John D. Blank: I am not sure where you get your numbers from. First of all, 100 grams of steak has a lot more than six grams of protein. Second, you are comparing the calories of broccoli to the grams of steak. Either way, I am hungry now. Kevin Mallardi
