FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 7, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 47
BATTLING RATS NEAR OAKLAND LAKE
TRUMP DOESN’T
HAVE ‘DIVINE RIGHT’
IN AMERICA
On June 4, the president proclaimed
the right to pardon himself. Th is declaration
resembles a king asserting his “divine
right” to rule over the people.
Th at so many in Congress agree with
the president’s position speaks to how
far off the rails our representative government
fi nds itself. It’s not a game the
president is playing. It’s a sinister act by a
political fi gure systematically undermining
our democratic institutions and the
rule of law — a man who rose to power
with the sophisticated assistance of an
authoritarian government no less.
Th ere will come a day when our children
and grandchildren ask what each of
us did in this dark moment of our history.
Th ere is nothing more patriotic than dissent
in the name of liberty.
We have to keep on resisting this alien
national sickness affl icting our nation.
Ethan Felder, Member of Queens
Community Board 6
TAKING ISSUE WITH
THE EDITOR’S NOTE
In the Letters and Comments Section
an editor, at the end of a letter, may correct
a writer’s misstatement, or claim that
the issue was indeed covered in the newspaper,
or whatever. In the last issue (May
31), the editor used space in which three
or more letters could have been printed to
write a rebuttal to the reader’s bemoaning
the fact that some professional football
players do not stand during the national
anthem. Th e editor’s opinion belonged
on the editorial page.
Any American can think of a serious
issue that needs correcting in our society.
Th e whole team could kneel, but it doesn’t.
Sporting events are not the place for protests.
When the anthem is sung and the
fl ag is fl ying, Americans stand with respect
and gratitude to live in the United States of
America — with all its faults.
Carl Schurz, statesman and Union general,
said it best: “My country right or
wrong, if right, to be kept right; and if
wrong, to be set right.”
Karl Wilhelm, Ridgewood
Editor’s note: Th e editor’s note that followed
the letter in question sought to dispel
a common misconception among the
public: Th at the NFL players, in kneeling
during the national anthem, were disrespecting
the fl ag and the nation’s military.
In fact, the protesting players themselves
have gone on record to state the opposite.
It would have been a disservice to the
readers to have published the letter without
mentioning that fact, and without
mentioning NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell’s similar remarks.
In an age when opinion is oft en confused
as fact, care must be taken to ensure the
accuracy of every published item, including
letters sent to the editor.
All letters from readers of every persuasion,
of course, are welcome. Letter-writing
is a lost art — and, in all honesty, we could
use more of them.
Robert Pozarycki, editor-in-chief
A WISH THAT MORE
PEOPLE WOULD
FLY THE FLAG
Th is past Memorial Day, I was saddened
to see that on my block the only
American Flag fl ying was my own — and
on the next block again only one.
June 14 is Flag Day, and I hope many
more fl ags will be fl ying then.
Th e American fl ag was originally adopted
by a resolution by the Continental
Congress on June 14, 1777. Flag Day wasn’t
offi cially recognized until proposed by
Congress and signed into law by President
Harry Truman in 1949. Th e week of June
14 is designated as National Flag week.
I therefore urge that the American Flag
be displayed outside homes, apartments,
offi ces, businesses and stores throughout
the United States.
We do this to honor all that our great
nation represents, which is freedom,
equality and justice for all. Th ese principles
and ideas are embodied in the
American fl ag. We should do this also
to show honor and respect for all our
brave men and women who are serving
our nation in the military and in civilian
life as police offi cers and as fi refi ghters
— and also all those over the years,
who gave their lives to preserve our cherished
freedoms.
By fl ying the American fl ag, we can be
reminded that we can prevail against any
adversity.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
Email your letters to editorial@qns.com
(Subject: Letter to the Editor) or leave a
comment to any of our stories at QNS.
com. You can also send a letter by regular
mail to Letters to the Editor, 38-15
Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361. All letters
are subject to editing. Names will be withheld
upon request, but anonymous letters
will not be considered for publication. Th e
views expressed in all letters and comments
are not necessarily those of this publication
or its staff .
oped
A LOOK BACK
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268-5011 ext. 502/LHarpaz@cqy.org
For some time now, it has come to
our attention that we have an ongoing
problem with the policing and upkeep
of Oakland Lake.
A growing rodent (rat) infestation has
surfaced, and marauders slither about
with impunity — lords of the manor, if
you will.
Given the seasonal change upon us,
with the anticipated summer uptick in
lakeside strollers, we perceive a timely
need to be proactive. Better safe than
sorry.
A substantial eff ort to clean up the
area would go a long way to assuage our
collective concerns. City agencies have
many years of experience and know how
to tackle this blight. Lakeside summer
strollers, their children, families and
seniors should not have to curtail their
seasonal summertime experience in the
outdoors.
Community space goes hand-in-hand
with community mental health and
well-being. From time to time, we need
a reality check, a wake-up call.
Edward Trowbridge, Lakeside
Towers, Bayside
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