Gun reform overdue
A sign held by a protester at a memorial held for schoolchildren killed in an armed assault on their school read: “Thoughts & prayers don’t save lives. Gun reform will.” I am so done with people, including the president of the United States and other ranking politicos, offering their thoughts and prayers after another tragic, senseless murder. It’s long past time for Congress to enact sensible gun reform that makes gun purchasing more rigorous and difficult, and prevents those with recognized mental illness from being able to buy a lethal weapon. But this “do-nothing” Congress doesn’t even attempt to do anything without the blessing and advocacy of President Donald Trump. The president must do the right thing, the moral thing, and the courageous thing that will result in saving innocent lives and send a substantive and tough gun regulation bill to Congress.
Mr. Trump, you said you prayed that the two members of the National Guard who were recently shot in Washington would survive. But how about you do something that might prevent the next tragedy from happening and help to keep firearms out of the hands of people who should not have them?
Ken Derow, Swarthmore
Unworkable geography
The first time I looked at a map of Israel and its surrounding neighbors, it was clear to me that a “two-state solution” has always been geographically unworkable.
No sovereign nation the size of New Jersey would willingly place itself in a position where it could be squeezed between two hostile territories on its east and west. The security risk is simply too great.
Since 1948, Israel has faced both declared and undeclared wars on multiple fronts. That pattern began when the Arab world rejected United Nations Resolution 181, which proposed dividing the British Mandate into two states — one Arab and one Jewish. It continues to this day.
Israel actually did withdraw from Gaza in 2005. Hamas seized power two years later and raised a generation taught to view Jews as enemies. The world saw the tragic consequences of that indoctrination on Oct. 7, 2023.
Given this history, it is unrealistic to expect Israel to return to a territorial arrangement that once again leaves it exposed to the very threats it has faced since the moment of its birth. Any lasting agreement for the Palestinian people must begin with a structure that ensures security for both sides, not a map that repeats past mistakes.
Lawrence Goldman, York, Pa.
Still thankful
As we approach the holiday season, a time of reflection and gratitude, I feel compelled as a proud American Muslim to address a persistent misconception: that Islam stands in opposition to the American way of life. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, I would argue that the values enshrined in the American ideal, such as freedom of belief, opportunity through hard work, and equal access to education, are deeply aligned with the principles of my faith. In America, I am free to practice Islam without fear or coercion. I am encouraged to strive, to contribute, and to build a meaningful life through honest effort. My daughter has been granted the invaluable gift of education, empowering her to dream and to achieve in a way that many across the world cannot.
Ironically, it is here in the United States, and not in some so-called Muslim countries, where I find the truest manifestation of justice, dignity, and liberty that Islam upholds. This nation, with all its imperfections, remains a place where faith and democracy coexist, where diversity is not merely tolerated but celebrated.
For that, I am profoundly grateful. I am proud of my faith, and I am equally proud to call America my home.
Madeel Abdullah, Garnet Valley
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