Jan. 6 hearings, Regents exams, and protecting birds

Trump deserves chance at defense

I am not defending or condoning former President Donald Trump's actions on Jan. 6, but I find it despicable that we find him guilty without hearing opposing arguments ["First Jan. 6 hearing was conclusive," Letters, June 13]. I hope the reader never has to stand trial and not be allowed a defense. Aside from being unfair, it is disgusting that Trump's constitutional rights have been so violated. I was under the impression that this congressional committee was formed to make sure nothing like this happens again, which I can agree with, not to place blame on Trump to make sure he cannot or does not want to run again. That is up to him and the Republican Party, not a Newsday reader. We are just looking for fairness.

Myra Sherr, Hewlett

One purpose of the Jan. 6 hearings is to decide whether there’s evidence to indict former President Donald Trump. An indictment leads to a trial, where we would hear from both sides.

Andrew Ross, Kings Park

With the Jan. 6 hearings being televised, the whole country -- especially those who weren’t paying attention or just didn’t care -- will have the opportunity to know what happened, who was behind it, and why our democracy needs to be protected ["Panelists: Enough to indict," News, Jan. 13].
Not surprisingly, Fox News was the only major TV network not to televise the first hearing (before airing Monday's), possibly because some of its personalities are part of the story. Don’t these people care about this country they live in? It’s ironic because these are the same people constantly preaching to their audience about liberties and freedom. Especially regarding guns.
Doesn’t the freedom to install a president that most of the country voted for come under their definition of freedom?
These hearings -- good or bad -- are part of our history, just like the Watergate hearings nearly 50 years ago. Today, sadly, certain politicians who don’t like what they read, simply ban books.
Ann Leahy, Wantagh

DOJ needs to act on GOP's big names

It certainly looks as if our Department of Justice is hard at it again going after the low-hanging fruit with their charging the Proud Boys in the Jan. 6 riot ["Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy," News, June 7]. What about all the other notables who were equally guilty of this charge: Republicans Mark Meadows, Sen. Josh Hawley, Rudolph Giuliani, etc.? Not to mention former President Donald Trump himself? They’ll all get away with it because they are so much higher on the fruit tree. President Joe Biden would do us all a favor by replacing the attorney general with someone who will take action.
Michael J. Moonitz, Massapequa

Sad to say, do it: Abolish Regents exams

The state Education Departmentwants to reduce minimum "passing" grades on Regents exams ["Regents exam relief," June 1, News]. All I can say is that having been chairman of a New York City high school English department for more than 20 years, I have seen similar efforts made many times. To put it succinctly, their philosophy seems to be, “If the patient can't afford the operation, just ‘touch–up’ the X-rays!”

It saddens me to recall the myriad youngsters I dealt with over the years who were denied a timely graduation because of a failure to muster a passing grade on a Regents examination.

Perhaps it is time finally to abolish these exams once and for all since it seems they no longer have any relevance and are no longer taken seriously by hardly anyone -- not even by those who promulgate them.

Dennis Branscum, Massapequa

Kudos for helping birds feather nests

"Making space for the birds" [Our Towns, June 6] illustrates a heartening and laudable effort by government to better protect iconic shorebirds, such as piping plovers and American  oystercatchers.

Another effort to safeguard coastal birds is happening about 75 miles to the east of Hempstead Town, just off the tip of the North Fork, at Plum Island, which is owned by the federal government. The Preserve Plum Island Coalition has been working for more than a decade to ensure Plum Island’s future as a safe place, in perpetuity, for significant populations of shorebirds, seals and other wildlife by having it become a protected public space, as a national monument or wildlife refuge.

About one-quarter of the more than 800 types of birds in North America north of Mexico have been documented on Plum Island. Birds would benefit from a quiet, car-free environment, with dark night skies. The interactions of beach-nesting shorebirds with people likely would be through binoculars. Careful management would ensue, without competition from barbecues and such.

Permanent protected status would bring ecological and historical preservation, including attention to the Plum Island Lighthouse and components of Fort Terry, a former Army base on the National Register of Historic Places, and aid in the celebration of indigenous people’s cultural heritage.

Louise Harrison, Peconic

The writer is the New York natural areas coordinator for Save the Sound.