for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 • The queens CourieR 37 oped letters VISIT QueensCourier.com FOR MORE STORIES A LOO K BACK Cops should take a stand against the NRA Regarding your Sept. 3 editorial, “Courage needed for gun control”: It’s time for Congress and most state legislators to stop acting like chew toys for the NRA. Current studies by the University of Ilinois Public Health Center reveal that states with lax gun laws have the highest rates of civilian gun deaths and top death rates of police officers who become firearm fatalties. Recent cop killings in Texas, Louisiana and Illinois prove that the NRA is a cop killer’s best friend and public safety’s worst enemy. Why don’t all law enforcement officers oppose an organization that writes their death warrants? Would firefighters stay silent about a group enabling arsonists? Police departments can target the NRA’s primary funding source, gun manufacturers, by refusing to purchase firearms from any firm that makes assault rifles and rapid fire pistols available to the general public. The NYPD, our nation’s largest police department, can start the ball rolling to stop the bullets from flowing. Will Bill Bratton stand up to the NRA? Richard Reif, Kew Gardens Hills Fly Old Glory to honor the victims of 9/11 This, Friday Sept. 11, every American ought to fly an American flag outside their homes, apartments, offices, and stores throughout the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display the American flag on this fourteenth anniversary of our country’s worst tragedy. We do this to honor all those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends, love ones and co-workers who continue to endure the pain, and those who are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms. In the days, weeks, and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn’t take another attack to galvanized us into solidarity again. Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Glen Oaks Village How to help control feral cat population Many years ago, Sally Giles and I, with a friend marched into Cunningham Park for the purpose of spaying and neutering the colony which was living near the tennis house. The house was a perfect shelter for them. It also was a good place for pregnant cats to hide and protect their litters of which there were quite a few. The house was being torn down and we needed to make sure there were no cats remaining inside. It was then time to address the real problem of catching them and getting them to the vet for surgery. Ear tipping was not used back then so we had to take pictures to make sure the same cat did not go back. We were armed with traps, carriers and a few cans of tuna. The friendly cats were separated for future placement into permanent homes. There were about 25 adult cats and it took about a month to get it all done.There are feral cat colonys all over Queens and the rest of the boroughs. Believe me, I have been doing this work for almost 30 years. There is plenty of blame to share. Irresponsible cat owners let their cats outside not realizing the dangers of stray dogs, cars and viruses they can bring home. Many people move and leave their cats to fend for themselves. There are 3 possible solutions to the problem: 1) Spay and neuter your cats and don’t let them outside. 2) If you are feeding a colony, please try to get them to the vet and have them done 3) Trap all the stray cats and bring them in to your local municiple shelter where they will never see the light of day again. Personally I think it rather harsh to stick a needle in any animals vein just because it was unfortunate enough to be outside and without a home. It’s not their fault. David Jacobs, Queens A Lok Back Thousands of children returned to school this week to begin another year of learning. With that in mind, we present this 1953-54 photo of an eighth-grade class at Ridgewood’s St. Matthias School. Any class with more than 20 students these days is considered to be quite large, but as this picture shows, this class numbered at 39 pupils under the guidance of one of the many sisters that worked in parochial schools at the time. Have an historic photo of Queens that you’d like to share? Email it to us at editorial@ queenscourier.com. WISHES FOR THE YEAR 5776 BY ASHER J. MATAHI AS As we exchange traditional greetings for a healthy, and sweet New Year, we are mindful that all is not well with the world. With the advent of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, offerings are given to the Almighty in the form of poetic entreaties asking for mercy in His judgment, to exercise compassion and generosity with us, even if we are found wanting and not deserving. However, more than our relationship with the Master of the Universe, is the quality of the associations we maintain with our fellows on this earth; thus, we are implored to reach out to those we intentionally, or, more commonly, without forethought, have wronged, or otherwise have compromised their dignity and respect that is our due for the beauty of living to be realized. In this fashion, let me the first to ask forgiveness for inadvertent transgressions of arrogance, harshness of speech, scoffing; turning aside from our faith’s loving commandments and teachings, profiting me naught. Typically, importantly, convincingly, such expressions of contrition are not made in private; but as a public confession, in order to encourage admission and submission — resolving to start anew, just as we are released from all previous vows to G-d. May the New Year 5776 be a harbinger for good tidings to us all, in America, Israel, and the world entire; and may we be blessed with health, enhanced prosperity, and shalom, ever-grateful for the opportunities to be cheerful and optimistic. Asher J. Matahias is president of B’Nai B’rith International.
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