Your editorial on April 3, related to the Toledo Muslim community’s Eid celebration, was a discourteous smear on our religious observance. It is deeply saddening that The Blade would be so unsympathetic toward families in northwest Ohio who have lost loved ones to the ongoing Israeli brutality in Gaza.
We observe with sorrow 77 years of what we view as an illegally imposed, genocidal, colonial, and apartheid system — widely condemned by international opinion. Gaza remains designated as “occupied territory.” Gazans endure daily brutality by snipers, U.S.-made bombs, aircraft, tanks, and mortars — funded by our taxpayers.
The selective sympathy of editors like yours perpetuates more death and destruction.
Indeed, “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” and the world bears witness to the brutality inflicted on Palestinians.
Instead of referencing detractors, The Blade would do well to consult the findings of international humanitarian agencies and institutions like the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which have documented Israeli abuses. Gazans endure profound hardship with faith, fortitude, and determination.
They deserve our sympathy and respect. Many fair-minded Israelis criticize their own government, as do numerous Jewish Americans.
Respected Israeli historians Norman Finklestein, Ilan Papee, Avi Shlaim, Daniel Levy, Omar Bartov, and Miko Peled can provide well-researched accounts to quote from. Yet the editors appear oblivious to these voices. There also seems to be a lack of awareness regarding sentiment on the streets of Toledo, where increasing numbers of residents support Palestinians and condemn what they see as taxpayer-funded oppression. Even our city council’s unanimous, benign resolution, which continues to vex The Blade, reflects this reality.
ZIYAD HUMMOS
Sylvania
Lack of funds for library is harming kids
This is a critical time for Ohio’s children. Child poverty in our area is increasing drastically, as high as 36 percent. We have children failing in school since the pandemic, with a record number failing their third-grade math assessments. I personally have patients in third through fifth grade who have been pushed along and cannot read! I am an assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Toledo Medical Center, and I am enlisting the pediatric residents to advocate for child literacy.
And in the midst of all of this, there is a proposal in the Ohio House to cut funding to public libraries. Libraries are safe places for children, places where they can learn to love books and be motivated to read. Places where literacy is taught as a value and as a joy. If funding is cut and libraries close, our children will lose so much.
This generation of children is already at risk, with mental illness at an all-time high, poverty increasing, and marijuana use legal and becoming more common among my patients.
If we don’t change this trend, there will be more health challenges throughout the lifetime of these children, increasing costs for their health care, and many less humans to contribute to society.
As a society, we need to preserve literacy. We need to preserve children’s safe spaces. It is imperative to keep funding public libraries.
JENNIFER FALLON DeLUCIA, MD
Perrysburg
Downtown march deserved coverage
I was looking forward to seeing your coverage of the April 5 demonstration in downtown Toledo. Thousands of people were there, demonstrating their concern about how our country is being run and possibly destroyed. What did you decide to do? Run, on the bottom side of the front page, a generic Associated Press article of nationwide protests. Not a single word about what was happening in our own city. If you don’t care, or have the staff, to cover important local events, then you will know why I choose not to renew when my subscription expires.
PATRICIA LINEHAN
Toledo
Eds. note: The Blade provided photo coverage of the local march.
Property tax hikes were out of line
Is it any wonder why 7,100-plus Lucas County residents are up in arms with regard to their recent property re-evaluations? As a Realtor for 40 years, I’ve advised countless buyers to seek out a lender that will advise them as to the appropriate monthly payment they should have based on their income and debt. This helps a buyer stay within their budget. We as good citizens, homeowners, and taxpayers try to live within our budget. Along comes the county/state and slaps us with, in our case, an increase of $800 per half year in increased property taxes. Like many others, we are retired and live on a fixed income which means stretching the budget to meet the increases in food, gas, medical, etc.
This looks like a not very well thought-out plan by the county/state. There must be a better way.
CAROL MILNAR
Monclova
Editorial twisted celebration purpose
I am writing in response to the Blade editorial, April 3, “Hamas receives Toledo Pass.” These comments were unfair and not a true representation of what happened on March 30 at Islamic Society of Northwest Ohio. The president of Toledo City Council attended the gathering as an end of Ramadan celebration for a diversity, inclusion, and humanitarian celebration, as she should, representing “all the Toledo city residents.”
The editorial unfortunately tried to twist the discussion from an inclusion philosophy to a condemnation of “Cease-fire in Gaza resolution” and erroneously portrayed it as “Toledo pass to Hamas.”
The editorial comments failed to recognize more than 60,000 innocent Palestinians who died, including more than 18,000 children, because of Israel bombings since this conflict started. When we think of innocent lives, we need to include every single human life irrespective of religion, color, gender, or any other attributions.
I agree with editorial comments that all hostages should be released today.
All fighting and bombings need to stop immediately, and people of Gaza need to decide their future themselves and not by any foreign government, one group, organization, pressures, or intimidation. If we adopt a humanitarian mind-set and avoid limiting ourselves, the world will be better off and more peaceful.
SHAUKAT RASHID, MD, FASN, MBA
Monclova Township
Wealthy are who benefit from tariffs
And just what are these tariffs for? To keep the tax deductions for the wealthy extended. Ruining a lot of programs that may need trimming but not canceling. He made us $8 trillion more in debt the first term and he’s seeing how high he can go this time. Remember he bankrupted six companies with his ideas. This will be his biggest of all.
KENNETH MACHCINSKI
Oregon
Burris’ comment not based on facts
There are a lot of objectionable comments that Keith Burris has made since he has taken a sharp left turn in his political ideology, but his comment Sunday that “grandma” may lose her Social Security is simply inexcusable. These unfounded scare tactics are an example of someone who wants to make a point without regard to the facts.
RONALD MOENING
Toledo
‘Hands off’ rally was rage-free, intelligent
My wife and I attended the “Hands Off” rally last week. I was impressed with the calm intelligence of the people with whom I visited. There was no rage or anger, only deep concern for the rule of law, the checks and balance of power, and for the perceived direction our nation is being taken, not led.
JAMES RAY
Monclova Township
First Published April 10, 2025, 4:00 a.m.
