More from our inbox:
- Russia and Belarus, Barred From Wimbledon. What About the Olympics?
- Tipping Is Exploitative
Credit…Kenny Holston for The New York Times
To the Editor:
Re “It Could Be a Biden Blood Bath in the Midterms,” by Charles M. Blow (column, April 18):
Most of those giving President Biden low marks in polls are the same ones who voted for Donald Trump twice and believe he won in 2020. President Biden got us out of Afghanistan, has turned the corner on Covid, signed the American Rescue Plan and infrastructure bill, appointed the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, united the West against Vladimir Putin, and has had to deal with intractable forces like Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, the “Squad,” Republicans and right-wing media along the way.
Mr. Biden, who is facing more challenges than anyone since Franklin D. Roosevelt, is doing a good job! Give the guy a break and let him run the country!
John E. Colbert
Arroyo Seco, N.M.
To the Editor:
Charles Blow suggests that President Biden’s low approval rating is due to his being a poor messenger. It’s really discouraging that many Americans want a showman, a reality TV star or a celebrity to lead them.
Mr. Biden is generally known as a decent man and has actually done a lot to rescue this country from the decadence of the last four years with Donald Trump. Americans need a president like Mr. Biden to tell the truth and focus on what we need, like voting rights reform, gun control and lowering of drug prices.
Why then do Americans appear to be drawn to celebrities, like the two who are running for office in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Dr. Oz and J.D. Vance, author of “Hillbilly Elegy”? The Democratic Party needs to reverse this trend and get the real message out to the public about how much better our country has become under Mr. Biden’s administration.
Anne M. Johnston
New Providence, N.J.
To the Editor:
The Democrats need a “writers’ room” to hone their message, to make it more memorable and targeted, and, most important, to get the message out in a timely fashion — refined every day. Look at what Volodymyr Zelensky has done on a daily basis. The entire world admires his leadership, and the Ukrainian people could not be more united behind him. Much of that is because his message is renewed daily and is carefully crafted, both by Mr. Zelensky himself and a cadre of writers, including ones from his past life as an entertainer.
True, Mr. Zelensky’s opponent presents an existential threat to his country and his people, but the threat the Republicans present to our democracy is scarcely less significant. The Republicans have blatantly advertised the platform of regression they plan to implement if returned to power. The Democrats must begin getting a unified and memorable message out daily to stave that off.
Tom Welsch
Bozeman, Mont.
To the Editor:
While Charles Blow makes an attempt to be objective, he brings me back to a question: “When will all the ‘Biden bashing’ stop?” President Biden inherited an unusually large plate of problems and crises. And yet media commentators continue to hold Mr. Biden personally accountable for not fixing all the problems immediately and perfectly.
President Biden is a patriot and a good man. Needlessly undermining him opens the door wider for Donald Trump to return. Is that what we want?
T.R. Beall
Warren, R.I.
Russia and Belarus, Barred From Wimbledon. What About the Olympics?
To the Editor:
Re “Ban by Wimbledon Cracks United Front in Tennis” (Sports, April 21), about the decision to bar players from Russia and Belarus:
Are athletes, not performing under the flag of their country, to be barred from competition by reason of their place of residence? What sin have they committed?
Are we to treat these men and women as a mere extension of their nation’s failings? Arguing that the No. 2 male tennis player in the world or the No. 4 female player is not permitted to perform because it might be considered a point of pride for their homeland should they prove victorious?
Wimbledon may be a most prestigious event, but don’t pretend it is more than that.
Let the players play. And don’t make it a condition that they swear an oath against Vladimir Putin. Don’t treat a tennis match as a battle of good vs. evil, of right against wrong.
Don’t make these athletes symbols. They don’t deserve our denunciation. They should be permitted the right to win or lose on the court.
Not off it.
Robert S. Nussbaum
Fort Lee, N.J.
To the Editor:
In the wake of Wimbledon’s decision to bar players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s tournament, the International Olympic Committee should follow suit and bar athletes from those countries from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Doing so would send a clear message that Russia’s and Belarus’s military actions disqualify those two countries from sharing the world stage in sports, and would also give fair notice to those athletes who are otherwise planning to train for the Olympics.
Wendy Livingston
Mountain Lakes, N.J.
Tipping Is Exploitative
To the Editor:
Re “Quandary Over Tips: How Much Is Enough?” (Food, April 20):
Tipping is a fundamentally regressive, dishonest and exploitative practice. Tipping an individual for personalized service is gracious. Tipping an unseen server for cleaning a hotel room, takeout food or movie tickets enables employers to underpay, undervalue and cheat their employees of benefits and security.
Just raise the price and pay a living wage!
Susan B. Shurin
San Diego
