Remember Trump said he could do anything? How about addressing our latest school shooting? | Opinion

Right steps

“When you pray, move your feet.” I heard this African proverb earlier this week, as we welcomed the new school year with a blood bath of innocent children in Minneapolis. It is an improvement on our usual “thoughts and prayers.”

Donald Trump said that as president, he can do anything he wants. He sent National Guard troops into Washington, D.C. He could send the troops to gather assault weapons, which were designed for them and not the citizenry. Remove the weapons and spare the slaughter of our precious children.

As we weep with broken hearts, we long for our representatives to move their feet to do something.

Doug Kostowski,

Kendall

High stakes health

Numbers cited in the Aug. 26 online U.S. Viewpoints commentary, “The price increases that should cause Americans more alarm,” also reflect a structural challenge threatening equitable access to healthcare in the nation. What distinguishes health insurance from the price of eggs or gas is that it is not an optional expense. Health coverage is a prerequisite for participating fully and securely in society. Its decline has profound consequences for families, workplaces and communities.

In the many nations of the Global South, I have observed how rising costs of essential services, when left unchecked, undermine social trust and widen inequalities. The U.S. risks repeating that pattern.

The article rightly indicates that if younger and healthier populations exit the system, an older and more expensive group to cover will be left behind. This is precisely the kind of market failure that requires stronger state intervention and policy innovation, instead of leaving decisions to companies driven mainly by profit.

Warda Mashhood,

Parkland

Police shooting

The pending trial of a Miami-Dade police officer for manslaughter for his role in the 2019 death of a UPS truck driver is a miscarriage of justice and possibly a politically motivated sham.

That two innocent civilians, including the UPS driver, were accidentally killed during the shootout is tragic, but charging this officer — and possibly three others — will not return the victims to their families. What it will do is send a chilling message to other dedicated police officers to not place themselves in such high intensity situations.

The responding officers on that fateful day put themselves in the line of fire of two armed and dangerous ex-cons. The officers did not choose a crowded highway for this encounter and were only doing their jobs when they returned fire. Had they had any control over the situation, they would have chosen an isolated or less crowded street and awaited the arrival of a Special Response Team.

The Broward County State Attorney’s Office has made a horrific decision charging these officers. Let’s put criminals in jail, not innocent police officers.

Charles Miller,

retired Miami-Dade Police captain,

Port St. Lucie

Israel is wrong

Growing up in Miami, my relationship to being Jewish came from my father, a deeply ethical man steeped in tradition and justice values. I witnessed the kind, gentle manner he treated everyone. He was a Yiddishist community leader and owner of a beloved delicatessen. At his funeral, where hundreds came from all over, several older people shared they visited the deli not only for the blintzes but also because my dad encouraged them to tell their stories, listening intently to every word. As a storyteller himself, he understood the profound power of sharing stories and histories.

I left Miami as a young adult, returning a decade ago to live, work and be part of the multi-layered social justice landscape. My understanding from childhood of my responsibility as a Jew and a human propelled me to fight for justice.

I can’t know exactly what views my father would hold today, but he encouraged me to listen carefully to people’s stories and experiences and follow where the truth led. That moved me to learn about the Nakba (catastrophe) — when 750,000 indigenous Palestinians were expelled from their land and homes before and during Israel’s establishment — and continuing today.

I’ve joined Jewish and other justice-seekers compelled to action, as horrifying stories and images of Israel’s war against the Palestinian people are witnessed worldwide. We campaign against unconscionable investments in Israel bonds and demand our electeds stop funding Israel’s starvation campaign and end their complicity in Israel’s crimes.

One is on the side of justice, or not. There’s no middle ground. Journalists have been murdered to silence their stories, but the world is watching. We will not — cannot — be silent.

Donna Nevel,

Miami Beach

Misplaced glasses?

Article One of the United States Constitution grants Congress the powers and ability to pass laws “necessary and proper” to carry out those powers. Article One, Section one vests all legislative powers in Congress, meaning that the president and the Supreme Court cannot assert legislative authority.

Today’s Congress, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, evidently misread Article One as “Article None,” as they have abdicated all legislative powers and prerogatives to the Executive Branch.

Lois Kahn,

Coral Gables

Corporate fraud

When armed National Guard troops, as ordered by President Trump, descend upon Washington, D.C. to hunt down criminals, will that include felons who falsify business records for their own monetary gain?

Roger Hammer,

Homestead

FHP critique unfair

To criticize our state troopers for not checking the “immigration status” of Harjinder Singh, a truck driver, while investigating vehicular homicide and manslaughter in a Florida Turnpike accident, is not relevant. Short staffed as it is, the Florida Highway Patrol’s primary function is to promote a safe driving environment, protect the motoring public, reduce traffic crashes and ensure public safety on Florida roads.

Meanwhile, FHP’s conspicuous absence has been noticeable on residential state roads, where aggressive drivers loudly disturb the peace with their noisy engines, exceeding speed limits and blatantly running red lights.

Let the feds do their job and let FHP do its job of protecting the motoring public.

Nelson A. Benedico,

Miami

Top topic

President Donald Trump said that crime will be the most important topic in the 2026 midterms. He is correct. Fighting crimes committed in his White House will absolutely be the most important topic in next year’s elections.

Glenn Huberman,

Miami

True colors

We agonize over global wars, environmental crises, poverty, hunger and the greed and corruption of weak, spineless politicians. We see the cancellation of historic truths, the defunding of artistic institutions on a whim and the silencing of good educators. We witness the wrangling of humans off the streets who are then put in cages without cause. Meanwhile, stray pit bulls and Jan. 6, 2021 terrorists run free.

And now…rainbows?

Are we laughing at these manic politicians for choosing this issue to divide people, or crying over our loss of joy for the colors in a simple box of crayons? Who remembers using crayons to draw a rainbow on paper? Who remembers rainbow shoelaces, bathing suits, hot air balloons and rainbow ribbon cookies? Do all these now mean “scary sexual subversion?” Should parents and teachers forbid children from drawing rainbows?

Colors on a street crossing are a delight to the eyes and may add a skip in your step as you cross. If it gives symbolic meaning to the LGBTQ community and beyond, that’s great, but is it a threat to the public?

Absurd! If that makes you fearful, then I suggest you just stay home, lock your doors and be very alone. The rest of society will be fearful of you and your limited, closed mind.

Linda Faber,

Miami