‘Aaronsohn’s Heroic Silence’

Re: “Sarah Aaronsohn’s Heroic Silence,” Seth Lipsky, Arts & Letters, June 1, 2005. Thank you so much for this book review. I grew up in Israel, 10 miles away from Zichron Ya’akov. As a teenager in the 1970s, helping my father in his business, I spent at least one afternoon a week in that town. I was also a Jewish history buff in high school, my interest mainly in the history of the renewing of Jewish settlement in Israel since the middle of the 19th century.

As a child, I read a book geared for young adults, about “Nili,” the underground group that helped the British take control over Israel. The book was called “Sarah, the Heroine of Nili.” I was mesmerized by the heroic figure of Sarah Aaronsohn. I have the book, and about a year ago, I read it to my 13-year-old daughter. The Hebrew was a little too complicated, so I had to tell her the story in my own words, using the book as a guide. At the end of the story, we both cried together while reading about the last days of Sarah, before she shot herself.

BAVA COHEN
Brooklyn

‘Weiner and the War’

Re: “Weiner and the War,” Editorial, June 1, 2005. As a candidate for New York City mayor, Anthony Weiner seems to believe that the security and safety of our great city is divorced from the war in Iraq. His comments that our GIs are dying in vain took on even more meaning as we proudly hosted “Fleet Week.” The city streets came alive with these very folks.

Mayor Bloomberg continues to focus on homeland security and every time he goes to Washington, he fights for the resources to keep New York City safe. Mr. Weiner, it seems, has a different set of priorities.

Although I might not agree with the mayor on every issue – Mike, let a guy have a smoke – he has earned my deepest respect on his ability to keep us safe. He understands what must be done as a city and as a country. Mr. Weiner, it seems, is all talk.

KEALY FORD
Manhattan

Instead of criticizing our military’s actions, Mr. Weiner should perhaps alter his rhetoric to respect those who serve our country and ask only for the acknowledgement of their sacrifice.

MICHAEL PERAZA
Manhattan

Exactly how can Weiner be averse to fighting battles that keep us safe at home while at the same time claim that he is the best man to fight for New York City in Albany and Washington?

OLIVER COOPER
Manhattan

‘Say Sayonara’

Re: “Say ‘Sayonara’ to Foreign Awnings,” Jill Gardiner, New York, May 25, 2005. Councilman Tony Avella is wasting his time. His proposal to require all businesses to translate their signs into English ignores basic market theory. Businesses that do not translate signs will lose valuable customers. Market pressure will eventually cause most businesses to change their signs, as 95% of businesses have already. Rather than passing another paperwork creating law, Mr. Avella and the Council would be better advised to allow the market to naturally regulate business.

ARLIN ROTH
Brooklyn

‘The Borking of Bolton, II’

Re: “The Borking of Bolton, II,” Editorial, May 27, 2005. Your editorial left out the real villain of the piece: Senator Lugar. One strong statement by Mr. Lugar simply praising Secretary Bolton about some of his past accomplishments (e.g., the “zionism versus racism” issue) would have pushed Mr. Bolton through on Thursday. But Mr. Lugar refused to do it. His by now obvious distaste for Mr. Bolton is what emboldens the likes of Senators Schumer, Clinton, and Lieberman to go along with Senator Boxer.

DAVID M. O’NEILL
Manhattan

‘The Nuclear Option’

Re: “The Upcoming Battle Royal,” R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., Opinion, May 26, 2005. Conservatives may indeed now call “the nuclear option” “the Constitutional Option,” but let’s not forget where the term “nuclear option” first appeared. On May 7, 2003, the Washington Times (not Post) reported: “Republican senators, specifically Trent Lott, started referring to the possible Senate rule change as the nuclear option.” A few days later, the Tennessean, Bill Frist’s hometown paper, reported: “Republicans have been discussing what they [my emphasis] have referred to as the ‘the nuclear option.’ “

I’m sure there will be retractions forthcoming, since you have pronounced that the liberals and the biased press coined the phrase first.

Outrageous what some journalists will do to slant the truth.

BILL LYONS
Manhattan

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