The majority of Congressmen Richard Neil’s and Jim McGovern’s constituents voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic caucus.
Both men appear committed to voting for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic convention. If that is their intention, they no longer represent the will of their constituents.
The candidate for the Democratic Party should not be elected by a political machine. He or she should be elected by the people, and the people have spoken in western Massachusetts by simple majority.
Michael Childs
Amherst
In view of John Paradis’ fine column March 12, how can women’s groups and women leaders countenance the obvious sexist American policy of registering only 18-year-old men for the military draft?
David L. Adams
Hadley
We are three fourth-grade girls – Liza, Eliza and Monica – at Crocker Farm School in Amherst. In class we were learning about climate change, and how it is really dangerous. But some people don’t believe that climate change is real, which we find very strange.
Climate change is real, and very dangerous, and it is especially dangerous for our generation, mainly because of rising seas. Now you may ask yourself, “What is climate change?” If you don’t know what climate change is, we are about to tell you.
Climate change is where the air begins to heat up to higher temperatures than ever before. Now what causes climate change? We humans have caused it by doing many things, in fact. We have caused it by burning oil, fossil fuels that release Co2 (carbon dioxide) into the air and cause greenhouse gases to happen. Greenhouse gasses are when the atmosphere traps the Co2 in the earth making it really hot. Now we will tell you about rising seas.
Rising seas are made by ice caps melting because of the hot weather. When ice caps melt, they melt right into the ocean. Scientists say that ice caps melting at this rate could mean that 75 years to who knows when, big chunks of land will be underwater, like a big chunk of Florida, and almost all of Cape Cod. But that’s just a little bit of what could happen.
Hopefully now you understand that climate change is real, and bad so now you can help try to stop climate change.
You can plant trees and not cut down trees, or you could bike places that aren’t very far, instead of driving. You can also stop using aerosol sprays and use pump sprays instead. Buy appliances that are designed to use less energy, use the air conditioner less in the summer, turn off TV sets, computers and lights when we are not using them. We hope that you will care about global warming because we want to grow up in a world that is safe and healthy.
Liza Beigel
Monica Som
Eliza Tuthill
Amherst
The story “Offshore wind projects see fresh interest,” in the March 4 Gazette, reminds us of the United States’ failure to embrace the economic potential of renewable energy.
It describes one U.S. company facing competition from very experienced companies from Denmark, Germany and Italy in the effort to develop the huge wind resources off the U.S. East Coast. Whether it’s because we continue to look for reasons why climate change isn’t happening, or because it just somehow isn’t “American” to invest in large scale renewables, we have dragged our feet in fields like offshore wind.
Other nations, particularly in Europe, haven’t been burdened by these anxieties and have invested heavily, while European businesses have eagerly developed and are marketing the technology world-wide, and in our region in particular.
Christopher E. Riddle
Amherst
Seeing two “Hillary for President” signs stolen in the night left me with two thoughts. Bullies are, at heart, cowards. And sign thieves don’t realize that they just increase funding for their opponents when signs are re-ordered. Not the brightest bunch of folks. How sad that any American would want to take away the right of another American to show support for a candidate. Bullies always have followers. Hopefully not you.
David Moskin
Hadley
Twas the day after Blarney, and all through the town, not a student was stirring, none making a sound.
Some woke in drunk tanks, others strange beds, most of them suffered, from pounding of heads.
And all through the Valley, locals did quake, in eager anticipation of the coming spring break.
William Servos
Pelham
Recently you had a reader write in and complain about having their Black Lives Matter sign stolen.
She said this shows just how racist people are around her area of Florence. I wonder how many Trump signs were stolen, or Cruz signs, or any political sign that dared to differ with the liberals in the area.
I bet most people who vote Republican would be afraid of having their houses burned down or their vehicles damaged by the “open minded, tolerant” folk in the Northampton area if they were to put out a sign supporting their candidate.
Can Republicans cry about being “victims” too? Or are they expected to act like adults?
John Ortiz
Sunderland
Now that Super Tuesday has passed, it is time to take a deep breath and look back at one of the other issues that roiled the journalistic waters in the Pioneer Valley a short time back.
I am referring to the decision by the trustees of my alma mater, Amherst College, to give Lord Jeffery Amherst his pink slip as the unofficial mascot of the school.
Reportedly, a committee has been formed to select a new mascot and there is a rumor that the moose is a strong contender for the job. But surely this cannot be true.
The moose was the symbol of Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party in 1912, and, as you might know, Teddy’s administration did some nasty things to insurgents in the Philippines during his tenure. No, we sons and daughters of Amherst can’t have a moose represent us.
Choosing a new mascot can be such a quandary but now I think the good old Commonwealth of Massachusetts has come to the rescue. Just as we are seeking a replacement, the state has announced it will soon re-introduce timber rattlesnakes onto an island in the Quabbin Reservoir right in our backyard.
What could be more appropriate than this new local species for a new mascot? I hereby propose that Amherst College athletic teams become known as the “Rattlers.”
I know a serpent is not nearly as elegant a mascot as Lord Jeff was, but the snakes are natural and local and we should support area wildlife. Just imagine for a moment the possibilities. Everyone in the stands could have purple and white rattles and, at the appropriate moments, shake them menacingly at our opponents. At the same time we could all go “hisssss.” (It would be understood we are encouraging our team and not denigrating our foe.)
A student could volunteer to don a snake outfit and perform as mascot. There is already precedent for this as a student wears a banana outfit each time the Amherst Zumbyes perform.
I bet it would be great fun to lead the rattles.
I have not heard what the plans are for the Lord Jeffery song. I know there are some references to him in the tune but I hope they can figure out a way to save that chorus.
If the trustees believe Lord Jeff as a mascot has created strained feelings in the college community, I would suggest that through the decades the song and especially the chorus have played a major role in creating school spirit and pride. Some way should be found to preserve it as part of the school’s tradition.
Finally, the Lord Jeffery Inn will soon have to acquire a new name. I expect it will be something appropriate but bland such as “The Inn on the Common,” or the “Inn on the Green.”
If the trustees desire to keep an historical aspect to the building, let’s call it the “Calvin Coolidge Inn.” I acknowledge this is a highly subjective wish on my part and as likely to happen as me winning Powerball.
But he is the only president to graduate from the college and I hope the trustees would at least consider it.
OK, mascot committee, it’s now over to you.
Rich Szlosek
Northampton
The author is a 1961 graduate of Amherst College.