Ukraine, NUMC and bird lovers

'Never again' must become a reality

Although I’ve yet to read or see anything in the media about it, it is ludicrous that accusing Russia of war crimes on Ukraine can be considered a remedy to somehow stopping the atrocities and ending the war.

I feel compelled to remind everyone about Adolf Hitler and his war crimes in World War II ["Keep on teaching the Holocaust," Opinion, April 6]. The world initially stood by and did nothing as millions of Jews started being annihilated. "Never again” was the phrase used by the world afterward, and yet here again we're facing a similar situation.

I realize war with Russia is not an option, but something must be done. We put men on the moon and made the bomb, the internet and many more things that were thought to be impossible. Somehow, the United States and its allies must gather the greatest minds and find a way that "never again" becomes a reality.

Arthur Mann Jr., Coram

It is important to at least listen to those pundits who espouse the pro-Russian narrative as it is always good to hear all sides of an issue ["Biden says Putin must face war crimes trial," News, April 5]. At a minimum, know thy enemy. Looking back at history, especially in the 1990s following the fall of the Soviet Union, I think that valid arguments can be made that Ukraine should have declared neutrality and rescinded the desire to join NATO. That being said, as soon as Russia targeted civilians almost to the exclusion of legitimate military targets, it forfeited any illusion of a moral high ground. The Russians revealed themselves as a barbaric regime. Beware of drinking Russian President Vladimir Putin's poisonous Kool-Aid as innocents are mercilessly destroyed.

Joel Reiter, Woodbury

Each year, Time magazine and other media name their Person or People of the Year. I believe they can end their search now. This year's clear winner should be Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He has led his people to fiercely defend their homeland from attacks by a despot. They have shown the rest of the world what courage and determination are. Everyone can learn a lesson from them -- here’s hoping we do and that they prevail.

Steve Boyce, Dix Hills

A bank robber wants money the easy way, without working, right? So he says, well, they’ll put me in jail if I take it from a bank, so that must be where the money is. Alas, despite the threat to his freedom, the bank robber (surprise!) robs the bank and walks out with lots of money. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants power and real estate. The free world says, if you take it, you’ll be called a war criminal, but being a war criminal is how you get power and real estate. What does Putin do? Ukraine. No surprise. Anyone who thinks calling Putin a war criminal guilty of genocide will stop him should look for the Easter Bunny to show up any day now. It’s not going to happen.

Chris Marzuk, Greenlawn

Cathy Young wrote in an op-ed "Right is wrong on Ukrainian 'biolabs'" [Opinion, March 17]: "What’s new today is that such rumors are produced on the fringes of American political discourse — and embraced primarily by right-wing media and conservative pundits." At least she finally said it. The right wing has changed from the supposedly pro-American "my country can do no wrong" group to an anti-America group -- while waving flags and screaming the national anthem.

Looking back, the far right and conservatives have consistently been on the wrong side of history: anti-Reconstruction and against women's rights, civil rights, labor, Social Security, Medicare, unions, environmental protection, and consumer safety. I could keep going -- there's no shortage of examples.

Russell Alexander, Brentwood
 

Time for a second opinion on NUMC's future

As a physician in Nassau County for more than 40 years, I have seen firsthand the evolution of healthcare delivery. One of the first things we are taught in our profession is to take care of the "sickest" patient first ["NUMC needs an intervention," Editorial, April 3]. Over the decades, the growth of Northwell Health, under the supervision of CEO Michael Dowling, has been nothing less than spectacular with the evolution and growth of a multitude of hospital campuses across New York State. One can even see in the past 10 years the influences of other medical systems such as NYU Langone Health, Mount Sinai and Summit Health in the successful growth of today's modern medical delivery system in Nassau County. Nassau University Medical Center's continual failure under multiple administrations has made it the "sickest" of them all, yet we know that this is a system that cannot close. With all the success stories we are witnessing, it is time for a second opinion to save this patient. If Nassau County leadership were truly sincere about the future of NUMC, they would bring in the talent that is making others successful.

Dr. Richard S. Taubman, Glen Head

It seems to me that with the election of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, we are going back to the days of former County Executive Edward Mangano and “pay for play” ["Hearing for NUMC pick gets heated," News, April 2]. Pushing for an appointment to the board of Nassau University Medical Center with Matthew Bruderman, who provides a “full of myself” appearance, is abhorrent.

Michael Lefkowitz, East Meadow

This is one for the birds

I am perplexed by the bird-watchers' objections to home building because of a bird ["Vote is delayed on retaining wall," Our Towns, March 31]. Why should that be the eagle's permanent home? Why is 650 feet too close? What makes the bird lovers think they have the right to tell property owners what they can do, just because they happen to adore birds? How many of these ornithologists reside in the neighborhood? How many in Centerport? In the Town of Huntington?

Anyway, people are more important than birds. Birds are eminently mobile, and it's a big country. What would the bird people say if the applicant, Rosewood Developers, decided it passionately hates carbon emissions and doesn't want any of the bird people to drive cars from now on? Would they stop driving? It's perplexing and odd.

Mark Ewald Nadjar, Commack