Author Archives: Jonathan B. Wilder

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: If Political Campaign Banners are OK in Old Lyme, National Flags Should be OK Too

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To The Editor:

I read Betsy Groth’s recent letter regarding her being nettled by a Old Lyme church on Shore Road flying Israel’s national flag. If I knew no better I would accept her word that one side is blameless and the other side completely at fault for the chaos taking place in that sea of tranquility known to all as the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian cause is usually presented as the world’s worst genocide past or present, ignoring the anti-social terrorist leaning behavior of this group for many decades, as well as the reality on the ground in areas of Palestinian self-governance. Honor killings, the murder of gay and lesbian occupants, Sharia Law, never mind allowing in Iranian “advisors” to help operate the missiles and rockets purchased from Iran. Missiles and rockets regularly launched into Israeli sovereign territory.The United States would never tolerate such behavior from a neighboring land nor should anyone else.

A keen observer of world events, though not always one friendly to Israeli or we Jews in general, is the United Nations. A recent UN report states that the worst genocide happening on the planet is happening to the Rohingya people from Myanmar. Ever heard of them? Not likely. What goes on in that corner of the world rarely rates a mention never mind a headline.They have fled Myanmar and now neither Bangladesh nor India has any idea what to do with them nor money to feed them.

There are plenty of places around SE Connecticut flying Palestinian flags and I have not objected. A flag, by the way, which was designed by a British civil servant during the course of World War One in his London office. As were most national flags currently flown by Arab nations right now. If you feel that political campaign banners are free to be flown in town then national flags should be alright as well.

Sincerely,

Jonathan B. Wilder,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Starting “Public Outcry” About Certain Books Will Not “Squelch Teenagers/Tweens Interest” in Them, Will Likely Do Opposite

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To the Editor:

Discounting the 400+ signatures on the pro-library petition by saying it is a mere fraction of Old Lyme’s population is merely social conservatives taking a swipe at those who did sign it and trying to say that the majority of townsfolk wish to have the library censored. This is a continuation of what the right wing group Moms for Liberty is doing and also sounds like the parents in the late 1960s, who opposed school desegregation. I hear echoes of Gov. George Wallace in the words of those seeking to ban certain books.

A town library should be a place where every book should be available to everyone. If you do not like a certain book or magazine, simply do not read it! Instead of ranting about the book selection, perhaps consider that if your child is seeking knowledge at the [OL-]PGN Library, perhaps you have not provided the information your son or daughter needs to move along in life.

One supporter of book banning mentions sexual positions which may be harmful. Really? If that does not sound like a Puritan dog whistle, I don’t know what does. Does anyone really think that starting a public outcry about this will squelch a teenagers/tweens interest in trying something new?

The library has these books partly because they provide a clearer explanation of behaviors, which one can easily see on the internet. This allows better choices. All you have done is attracted greater interest towards reading said books and enthusiasm for attempting the acts, which might be illustrated. Conservatives never learn.

The staff at the [OL-]PGN library are a group of amazing women. The two, who are directly involved in the lives of children and teens, Julie and Nikki, are brilliant, kind and have the best intentions towards their young patrons. What they deserve from all of us is respect and from those protesting about certain books, an apology. The actions of those advocating censorship are the reason why many of us are repelled by conservatives.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Wilder,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Democratic Candidates, Who Are Members of MOMS Club, Deeply Trouble This Voter

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To the Editor:

I was all set to vote this Tuesday for the Democratic Party slate of candidates in Old Lyme, but now do not intend to vote at all. A number of the candidates belong to the national  MOMS Club, which is deeply troubling. This is an organization which promotes conservative values and encourages its members to look to say, 1957, as the ideal for the role of women and men in the American family. This, along with their embrace of religion, makes me runaway as fast as possible. Who among the leadership of the town Democratic Party approved this direction?

Sincerely,

Jonathan B. Wilder,
Old Lyme.