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Bill of ‘yikes’
Former Secretary of State John Kerry recently made headlines for his remarks portraying the First Amendment as a threat (“Elites stoking war on speech,” Jonathan Turley, Oct. 3).
It’s also fitting that the comments were made at the World Economic Forum, which is run by Klaus Schwab.
He once declared the role model for governing to be China — a communist dictatorship — during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated there.
Free speech is not a threat to the public good.
Would-be tyrants like Kerry — who want to control everything we do and never face criticism— are.
These are the very people the founders gave us the First Amendment to protect us from.
Gary Mottola, Brooklyn
Port strike lessons
President Biden could have blocked the port strike by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, to give a 90-day cooling off period (“Dock of the pay,” Oct. 2).
But he doesn’t want to upset the unions, so it is unlikely that he will get involved in the negotiations.
Another administration would have used the full weight of the government to stop the strike.
Not Joe.
He wants to appease the unions at the expense of the rest of us.
If the strike resumes in January, prices could rise and shelves might empty.
Everyone would suffer.
Yet it seems the workers themselves don’t support Biden.
Once again, Biden fiddles as America burns.
Mindy Rader,
New City
RIP, John Amos
John Amos was a wonderful actor and true professional (“TV ‘Good Times’ star dead,” Oct. 2).
One of his most memorable roles was that of Gordy, the news weatherman, on the classic comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” but there were many other roles that he shone in as well.
Amos leaves behind a long legacy of fans — including this writer — who will always remember him for these iconic roles in movies and TV.
Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry. Hollywood has lost yet another star, but he will never be forgotten.
John Amato,
Queens
Soupy sunflowers
The recent article about civil disobedience and climate protest demonstrates the importance of having climate conversations and the need for climate news coverage (“Climate protesters vandalize van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers,’ ” Sept. 27).
These actions by climate protests are not done to destroy art, rather, they are done to create conversation and bring light to climate change.
The media often prefers to cover radical demonstrations and the negative short-term economic costs of climate policy, rather than covering how climate is impacting people across the world and what strengthening climate policy can do for us in the long term.
Climate change is a nonpartisan issue.
Worsening climate disasters along with air and water pollution will impact everyone in some shape or form.
Lily Maenza, Brooklyn
Adams Rex
Until recently, I did not support those calling for Mayor Adams to resign (“Indicted NYC Mayor Adams turns to church as he vows to ‘reign’ instead of resign,” Sept. 29).
However, after reading Adams’ monarchial declaration about not quitting and promising to “reign,” I think the governor should start the process for his removal.
“Reigning” is something I associate with kings and queens. We are a democracy.
Gene Roman,
The Bronx
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