To the Editor:
Re “Abortion Should Be Left to the States, Trump Says” (front page, April 9):
In his statement on Monday, former President Donald Trump seemed to be trying to forge a middle ground on the question of whether abortion should be legal. He failed. His problem is that it is simply not possible.
Either you believe — as most people do — that the procedure, at least in the early to middle stages of pregnancy, should be for the woman herself to decide, and should therefore be legal; or you believe that it is a form of murder, as is held by some, in which case it should be banned across the board.
To illustrate the point: In the matter of the murder of a living person, would we leave it up to each state to make its own decision? The answer is clearly no.
A half-century ago, when I was serving as national P.R. director for Planned Parenthood, we faced this problem. Our Washington director at the time, Jeannie Rosoff, made a public statement to the effect that there is no middle ground when it comes to the legality of abortion.
What she said then remains true today. Sorry, Mr. Trump, good try, but it doesn’t work.
Robin Anthony Elliott
Yonkers, N.Y.
To the Editor:
I find the online headline of an April 8 news analysis, “On Abortion, Trump Chose Politics Over Principles. Will It Matter?,” puzzling, as it seems clear that any instance in which Donald Trump were to choose a principle other than his own perceived self-interest — should there be such a case — would be vastly more newsworthy than the day-in, day-out reports of his efforts to influence by deceit.
As to your question, I don’t know whether it will matter or not. I certainly hope so. I’ve enjoyed living under the rule of law in our representative democracy.
Chris Weinmann
Norwich, Vt.
To the Editor:
Donald Trump’s statement on abortion includes that Democrats “support abortion up to and even beyond the ninth month” and “even execution after birth.”
This is an affront to obstetricians, pediatricians, nurses, midwives and other medical personnel who strive to care for the baby from the moment of birth. The notion that medical personnel might murder a newborn in the delivery room is insulting and deranged.
Alan Meyers
Cambridge, Mass.
The writer is emeritus professor of pediatrics at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
J Street and Israel-Gaza Nuance
To the Editor:
Re “Searching for a Middle Path on Gaza” (news article, April 9):
As a longtime human rights lawyer who specializes in national security and counterterrorism, I applaud J Street for having the courage to take a nuanced view of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
While a cease-fire is necessary, its terms matter, and must include a return of the hostages and an end to attacks on civilians by Hamas.
As a Jew born in Israel and raised in the U.S., I find it disturbing to see so many human rights and advocacy organizations insist on a permanent cease-fire by Israel without even mentioning Hamas’s responsibility in the conflict and its commitment to continuing attacks on civilians.
A truly progressive and rights-respecting position would acknowledge the responsibilities of all sides in resolving the conflict, and show empathy for all who are suffering its consequences. I believe that J Street has done exactly that.
Daphne Eviatar
Brooklyn
Should Students ‘Brand’ Themselves for College?
To the Editor:
Re “Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands,” by Sarah Bernstein (Opinion guest essay, March 31):
As the father of a high school senior who has just completed the college application process, I say amen to Ms. Bernstein.
Teens should be focused on exploring a range of interests (the broader the better), and colleges should be rewarding such diversity of experiences, versus résumé padding with empty titles focused only on fitting a desired narrative.
Higher ed is creating a generation of narrow-minded thinkers who have lost sight of the notion that it’s about the journey, not just the destination.
Jon Kossow
Atherton, Calif.
To the Editor:
Like Sarah Bernstein, I also help students craft admissions essays. She makes some good points regarding preparation for college admissions, highlighting that students’ individual interests and passions need to be considered, rather than creating a rigid strategy or marketing “brand” for the student.
However, it’s all a matter of goals. If students want to attend a top-tier university, they need to start defining a specific way to present themselves to the admissions committees right from the get-go at the beginning of freshman year in high school. If the goal is to allow students to explore their interests during high school, then they may have a more balanced life, but the chances of admission to a prestigious institution decrease significantly.
I was fortunate to have been accepted to M.I.T., and even though all of my high school efforts were geared toward that goal, I have no regrets whatsoever. In fact, it may have been one of the smartest decisions I have ever made.
Dennis Vidach
New York
The Risks Facing GPS Satellites
To the Editor:
Re “World Has No Backup if GPS Signals Ruling Modern Life Go Down” (news article, March 29):
Amid a global increase in GPS jamming and spoofing attacks — which drown out satellite signals or send them falsified data — the U.S. needs to modernize its GPS satellites rather than abandon them altogether.
While we should also be investing in alternative satellite and terrestrial systems, the reality is that GPS is our only viable option for years to come, and it’s essential to our economy, critical industries and emergency services.
The most immediate option we have is to complete the upgrade of our satellites in orbit. Currently, our satellites and technology devices rely on L1 band GPS signals that were invented more than 50 years ago and are susceptible to interference.
The U.S. has already invested billions to upgrade our satellite constellation to the more modern L5 GPS band, which is far more resilient to jamming and spoofing with 18 out of 24 L5-capable satellites in orbit and congressional funds appropriated. It is now a matter of finishing the job.
Doing so would be an important first step in enabling the U.S. to reclaim its GPS leadership in an increasingly hostile world.
Steve Poizner
Sunnyvale, Calif.
The writer is a former White House fellow in the National Security Council Office of Transnational Threats and is the C.E.O. of oneNav, a technology company.
Alternatives to Social Media
To the Editor:
Re “Is Threads the Good Place?,” by Pamela Paul (column, March 29):
Ms. Paul adroitly summarizes the problem with social media driven by algorithms, in this instance Instagram’s Threads. Her penultimate paragraph poses the question “But where else to go?” yet offers only other social media platforms as possibilities.
I have a few other ideas. Outside. To a coffee shop. To a public park. To the library. To a bar or club (don’t drink too much). To a cooking or painting class. To a book club. To the basketball court. To a friend’s living or dining room with a bunch of other friends.
To any of the places we used to go to socialize before social media came along.
Dan Jackson
Boston