The Irish Were Egyptians
It was only when President Mubarak stepped down that I thought of the Easter Rising of 1916 in Dublin, a week-long uprising that brought about the end of the British Empire as such, and led directly to an Irish Free State, triggering freeing countries in many parts of Africa and the Far East.
As I looked at, listened to, and hoped for a happier future for these brave men and women of Egypt, I heard myself whisper a single line by William Butler Yeats, poet, playwright, founder of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. This line he believed: “The Irish were Egyptians long ago!”
Vincent Dowling
Lifetime Associate Director, Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
Huntington
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The Hungry Valley
I recently heard about a single working mother who never before sought food assistance. Her young daughter was just diagnosed with a serious medical condition and her wages weren’t enough to cover the medical bills and all the other household expenses. There simply wasn’t enough money left for food. The bag of food she now gets from a local food pantry is an essential support during a difficult emotional and economic time for her family.
This story, and thousands more like it across Western Massachusetts, illustrate that demand for food assistance remains historically high as a result of continued widespread under- and unemployment. In fact, the number of people seeking assistance from our region’s emergency food network in Western Massachusetts has risen by 22 percent since 2006 (Hunger Study 2010). More and more people continue to rely on this network, as well as on federal nutrition and other safety net programs.
The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering devastating cuts to federal safety net programs that support struggling families for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 (through September). The President’s budget request extends similar cuts for the next fiscal year 2012. Cuts to any safety net programs—even those that are not nutrition programs—will increase the number of people seeking food assistance, adding to the already burgeoning numbers of hungry and food insecure in our communities.
Our nation’s leaders must make tough choices this year regarding spending cuts and tax increases to address the budget deficit. Ensuring our country’s long-term economic stability and prosperity is in all of our interests, but we cannot balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable Americans. Meeting basic needs, when the economy cannot provide millions of people with employment to sustain their families, is a question of national security.
We urge the President and Congress to keep the needs of struggling households in mind as decisions are made about our national priorities. Programs that make up the safety net, such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), including nutrition programs, must be off the table as part of deficit reduction.
Our nation’s leaders should work together to address the budget deficit while safeguarding programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens.
Andrew Morehouse
Executive Director
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
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Guns Kill People
I agree, guns do help quite a bit in the killing process [“Yes, Guns Kill,” February 10, 2011], but I’m not sure tougher gun laws will really stop people from acquiring guns one way or another. I feel that the way guns are handled is quite similar (not the same) to alcohol and drugs: those who want them still find ways of acquiring them. Not as many people particularly want guns as much as those that want drugs; but the similarity is in the attitude towards those things, the “Don’t get near them or else!” laws with the “Screw you, I’ll do what I want!” response.
As far as I can see, gun reform will take a lot more than revamped laws. It will take a completely new approach to the culture of guns and the way we solve our problems.
Manish Garg
UMass student
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Of, by and for—Corporations?
One wonders whether, if corporations are considered people under the laws of the land [“Vermont: Corporations Aren’t People,” February 10, 2011], should not then people be considered corporations as well?
Being that such would be completely absurd, of course, neither should corporations be considered people, who are afforded all the rights that ought to be reserved to actual persons alone, not corporate interests.
Ours is supposed to be government of the people, by the people, for the people, not government of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations.
Among the problems with corporations being granted the rights of persons is that they only want those rights and none of the responsibilities, obligations and duties that also go along with being persons, or at least only those they decide to pick and choose from—something which people do not have a choice about, since one comes with the others.
Morgan Brown
via Web
The First Amendment protects the right of groups to speak. Whether corporations are to be treated like human beings is only relevant to the 14th amendment [through its Equal Protection Clause], not the First Amendment. As long ago as 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the New York Times, a corporation, had free speech rights. See New York Times v Sullivan.
Richard Winger
via Web
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Food Security?
It’s great to see the Northampton area preparing for the effects of peak oil [“Learning to Eat, Again,” February 17, 2011]. Obviously, a lot of thought and research went into this. Great job!
Unfortunately, what worries me is, when the Oil Apocalypse hits, other towns won’t be as prepared. We’ll need armed guards to protect our community gardens. We may be able to grow enough to feed our community but when there are riots and looting going on, we’ll be overwhelmed by those less prepared from other communities.
Michael Leahan
via Web
