Readers sound off on anti-war demonstrators, Tony nominations and clean energy jobs

They go after us when we disturb war, not peace

Amagansett, L.I.: Voicer Norman E. Gaines Jr. accuses me of vandalizing President Grayson Kirk’s office at Columbia University in 1968. Nothing could be further from the truth. Despite our fun, we were careful about Kirk’s possessions, antiques and fine art. We were, after all, children of the elite. We called Columbia security guards and gave them a multi-million dollar Vincent van Gogh painting to keep safe. We did help ourselves to Kirk’s private stash of Madeira and exquisite cigars. There was no damage, save for some empty pizza boxes.

But the night of the bust, when the cops cleared the building, they smashed everything. The New York Times published pictures of the office destruction and blamed it on the student “animals.” In truth, it was a police riot. The “paper of record” also failed to report that the cops beat up two of its own reporters, John Kifner and Michael Kaufman.

Did the illegal protests change anything? The answer is unequivocally yes. The anti-Vietnam War and civil rights protests spread like wildfires across the country and the world. The protests, many illegal, eventually created a climate that forced an end to the war years earlier than might have been. As it is, millions of Vietnamese civilians died, and more than 50,000 American boys lost their lives.

I am very proud to have played a small part in ending this most senseless war and saving many lives that might have been lost had it gone on for years longer. Blake Fleetwood

All over again

Jamaica: I graduated from elementary school in June 1969. Just about every night, my parents had the TV on for local and national news. Although I was a child when the protests at Columbia and other universities were going on, I remember watching them on the news. Now I’m an official senior citizen, so I get what the reasons are more now than back then. For those of you in my age group, doesn’t this all sound familiar? Different reasons, of course, since the late ’60s, but we’ve been here before. Seems like the old saying “history repeats itself” is exactly what’s going on. Shirley Watts

Undue force

Darien, Conn.: I just saw on live television more than 200 big and brave police break in illegally to Columbia University and arrest a mere 30 peaceful demonstrators. Shame on them. I believed that peaceful demonstrations were still legal in my free country. Dan Singer

National security risks

Astoria: It is so obvious that the protesters at college campuses are radical Islamist plants and the easily indoctrinated. Every single one should be arrested and many deported. Where is Homeland Security? Susan Davis

There’s the line

Belle Harbor: It is certainly true that anti-Zionism does not directly equate to antisemitism. One can have doubts about and disagreements with the policies of Israel. However, anti-Zionism can also be a subtle shield for virulent antisemitism, as the concept of states’ rights was used as a cover for slavery and racism. When you say “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and chant “death to Israel” and “we are all Hamas,” you are revealing your bias against Jews. Own your bigotry, haters. Bobby Nelsen

Divest tuition

Manhattan: Private entities, like Columbia University, need to divest themselves — of hypocritical, troublemaking rabble-rousers. No one forced these students to pay tuition to institutions whose policies they disagree with. Leave Columbia and go, for example, to Hostos Community College. Problem solved. College is a place to study different subjects, not to riot or make demands. It is a lesson these miscreants and their enablers need to learn, called Divestment 101. Daniel Jean Lipsman

Unfortunate end

Rochdale Village: Two things about the 77-year-old “in a rage” about losing “his” spot (“Parking spot rage claims his life,” April 30): His grandkids were coming over for the Passover Seder last Saturday? The Seders were last Monday and Tuesday. And the spot was “a mile from his home.” At 77, he walks a mile for a spot? He’s in that shape? It’s a shame about his temper. Saul Rothenberg

Great picks

Hallandale Beach, Fla.: I’m so excited that the semi-autobiographical Alicia Keys musical “Hell’s Kitchen” was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. And I’m also excited that “Stereophonic,” a play about a 1970s rock band recording a star-making album, was also nominated for 13 Tonys, including Best Play. “Hell’s Kitchen” is one of the greatest musicals of the year, and Keys deserves a Tony because she is not only a great singer-songwriter but a great choreographer. “Stereophonic” is one of my favorite Broadway plays because it’s about music, and I am a music lover. I think both will sweep the Tonys — including Best Musical and Best Play, respectively — at this year’s awards on June 16. Congratulations, “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Stereophonic”! Paul Bacon

Said nothing

Swannanoa, N.C.: Within four to five paragraphs in your excellent article “Suit by News, 7 other papers says Microsoft, OpenAI ‘purloining’ work” (April 30), l hit a roadblock. When l read the rebuttal from the OpenAl spokesperson, it was so bland and evasive that it created real cognitive dissonance in me. “We are actively engaged in… etc.” Essentially, it was a pitch for the cooperative possibilities between human and artificial intelligence. l relaxed, lit a smoke and was reassured that although it looked like the greatest content heist at this point in history, there was really nothing to see here. Everything is going to be alright. Right? Rob Stimson

Rejected monarchy

Forest Hills: Trump? Immunity? If our Founding Fathers had wanted this country to be ruled by a madman who believed he had absolute power with no accountability, they would have kept King George III. Alan Hirschberg

Ineffective incumbent

Floral Park, L.I.: I can’t believe the Democratic Party can’t offer the American people a more competent candidate than President Biden in the upcoming presidential election. Biden created the illegal alien crisis we are now dealing with, proving himself to be totally irresponsible. What’s worse, he offers no solution. The man is unfit to be president. Surely, somewhere in this great country of ours there are possible candidates more competent, responsible and exemplary for our children to look up to. The man is incapable of running our country. Angelo Vetrano

Fit for the future

Brooklyn: Due to circumstances beyond Gov. Hochul’s control, New York is behind on its offshore wind goals. But I have hope that she’ll get us back on track, and it’s smart to be prepared for the future. No sense in preparing students for the jobs of now when the ones of the future — clean energy ones — will demand new skills. That’s why the Brooklyn Youth Offshore Wind Industry Training Program, a paid summer internship for youth in Brownsville this summer, is so exciting. Wind turbine technician is going to join solar installer as a hot job category, along with wind farm project management and construction. Some jobs of now, like pipefitter for the gas industry, however, would segue perfectly into a clean energy future. If we pass the NY HEAT Act, disintegrating gas pipes could be replaced with neighborhood-scale geothermal systems. Pipefitters will bring us cleaner air instead of pollution. Ella Ryan

Transferable skills

Bay Shore, L.I.: How come we have bench players pitch in blowout games but we can’t have some of the 13-man bullpen pinch-run, pinch-hit or fill an outfield spot in extra-inning games? Aren’t they all athletes!? John T. O’Connell

Not following

Bronx: Does anyone else have a problem reading the entire subtitles/captions used on TV or computer screens, as well as the translation of a foreign-language movie? While I appreciate that the subtitles are there for the convenience of those who have difficulty hearing the speaker’s voice, it’s frustrating when the message disappears when one is only partway through reading it.  The viewer is faced with the decision to just read the bottom line of the caption; but what if the beginning lines are important and explain the bottom line? Yes, it’s frustrating! Isn’t there a better way to show the viewer what is being displayed in the caption? Arye Barkai