Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 7-16-20

‘If I’m racist in your eyes so you are in mine’

A response to Andrew Stayman of Pine Plains, who wrote a recent letter to the editor…

I read your letter in The Millerton News in reference to my letter, dated June 11, 2020. You took excerpts from a social media post and added your words to them. When people say “Black Lives Matter” it DOES NOT ENCOMPASS ALL RACES AND COLORS! 

All lives matter no matter what “color” you are. 

You talk about me being a racist by my comments but you do not consider yourself a racist by telling me about rights and white entitlement! I am white but I was raised to work for what I needed for myself and my family. I raised four children the same way. I was never entitled to anything. I was never told that because of my race or color that I could get free college tuition, that I was entitled to get welfare to take care of my children. I’ve never been fired from a job, nor needed welfare or unemployment. You know why? I worked and did what the boss said to do. I worked 38 years for New York state and part time for 30 years on top of that so I could afford the things I needed: housing, transportation, food and utilities — but no one ever handed me anything. 

I saw plenty of times in my career with NYS that people of color were given jobs, even though their test results were less than a white man or woman taking the same test. Why is it that he/she was given a job over their white counterpart?

You know why.

If I’m racist in your eyes so you are in mine. You hold onto the Black vs. white agenda but you won’t admit it and you won’t let it go. I stand by my statements because they are mine, not someone else’s thoughts taken from social media.

Ron Murphy

Millerton

 

Disagrees on cartoon

I did see the cartoon and I had a chance to read the article entitled, “Cartoon was funny and accurate,” written by Andrew Stayman. I found his remarks, however, damaging to your community and a place I like to visit.   

In a time when people are so divisive, making insulting remarks, as to an entire group of American citizens runs counter to seeing the country come together. Hillary Clinton did this when she called all the Trump supporters “deplorable.” Did it help her campaign or did it drive people away?

As do many liberal Democrats, Mr. Stayman would like for people to come together, but sadly on his terms alone. During the last three and half years, the Democrats holding office found no compromise worthwhile if it was going advance the president’s agenda. 

The border wall is a good example. Clinton, Bush and Obama all saw the need for it, and called for to be done, but never did it. Trump built it despite the hypocritical resistance. Same thing with the Dreamers and again the Democrats resisted what they claim they wanted. Why? To stop the wall that Trump promised. 

Given the cartoon called an entire group of Americans — Trump supporters — stupid, Mr. Valentine was correct to write, “[you] would think that the local papers would be smart enough not to label American citizens as stupid.” Then to compound it by printing Andrew’s vitriol and ad hominin attack of President Trump that lacked any meaningful substance but only advanced division. This was not good.

Contrary to Andrew’s thoughtless and misguided claims, the Trump administration has done more smart things than the last three administrations. Trump supporters get it.  They understand Mr. Trump’s nationalistic (not isolationistic) view of putting America first is a good thing. They recognize that fighting globalism and the abuse that our prior leaders allowed China to get away with is smart. That using tariffs to achieve fair trade deals is smart. Bringing businesses back to America is smart. Making our Asian and European allies pay their fair share of the defense costs that America has been expending to defend their interests since 1945 is smart. Building the wall to prevent drug and slave traders from coming into the country is smart. Insisting immigrants come into the country legally is smart. Being for law and order, not defunding police forces and not allowing people to destroy our monuments that reflect our history is smart. 

Then, as to Andrew’s misguided claim about masks, the Trump administration protected Americans when the COVID-19 thing started by stopping the flood of infected Chinese from coming into the country. Mr. Trump brought hospital ships to NYC and elsewhere, built hospitals and ventilators to save Americans. This list of things goes on and the Trump supporters get it — because they are smart.  

Peter Antell

Boston

Latest News

Donald Terance Martin

NORTH CANAAN — Dr.f Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish. Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.

Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Washington, he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the US Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.

Keep ReadingShow less
Wassaic names Citizen of the Year for 2024

Busy as he is these days, Santa took a bit of time to join in congratulating Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, following a presentation ceremony at the Wassaic Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 14, all in conjunction with the 2024 Wassaic Parade of Lights.

Photo by Leila Hawken

WASSAIC — Wassaic residents turned out to celebrate the 2024 Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 14, enjoying the traditional parade and festivities with refreshments at the firehouse.

One of the highlights was the naming of Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, honoring her many contributions to the improvement of community life.

Keep ReadingShow less
Charity is a holiday season legacy at The Fountains

Mary Albasi, resident of The Fountains at Millbrook, knitting for one of the community’s donations.

Photo provided

MILLBROOK — A long-established tradition of giving to deserving community organizations is continuing throughout the holiday season at The Fountains at Millbrook.

Three area charities were selected for this year’s charitable giving. The Center for Compassion in Dover Plains has received 26 bags of food and several boxes of clothing collected by Fountains residents since the Thanksgiving season and continuing through the holidays. The extensive history of giving was described on Wednesday, Dec. 11, by Lisa Rieckermann, community life director at The Fountains.

Keep ReadingShow less
Welcoming the Macagnones
Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago and Town of North East Councilwoman Meg Winkler help welcome Habitat for Humanity homeowners Anthony and Vanessa Macagnone (center) to their new home on Rudd Pond Road in Millerton, Wednesday, Dec. 18.