O.J.’s old, sordid news
How sad that our culture saw all the television coverage of O.J. Simpson and his parole hearing (“Juice on parole will continue to enthrall,” July 21). And commentators talked about it ad nauseam, before and after — as if anything this sociopath says and does matters.
To our detriment we sensationalize criminals or idolize people who are famous for doing absolutely nothing of substance in their lives but appearing on trashy reality shows. Yet in every neighborhood across this country there are so many great people doing good things every day who never get recognized for their hard work or good deeds.
— Thomas C. Wahlberg, Dedham
Talk to North Korea
Our government should not threaten military action against North Korea, but should work toward negotiation (“Hawaii prepares for ‘unlikely’ N. Korea missile threat,” July 21).
War is almost never the correct answer to our problems with other countries. Haven’t we learned that from our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Military action against North Korea could be devastating for its closest targets, our allies South Korea and Japan, and it would send thousands of refugees flooding into China. Of course the U.S. would defeat North Korea if there were an all-out war, but at what cost — financially, and in terms of human lives? And what would it settle?
If President Trump would like to see “regime change”in North Korea, what would replace it? Is there a functioning government system that could bring about an orderly transition, or would there be the same kind of chaos we see still in Libya? Would the U.S. prefer a failed government to a hostile, but as yet ineffective, one?
There are grounds for negotiating. I urge the president to make serious efforts to do so.
— Lynn Biddle, Swampscott
Pipeline plant pollutes
Gov. Charlie Baker finally decided to listen to the concerns of his constituents about the Weymouth natural gas compressor station (“Baker orders state reviews of proposed natural gas station,” July 18).
The credit goes to the persistent efforts of citizens to oppose the construction of this polluting monster in their backyard.
If the state agencies conduct a rigorous review, they will find that compressor stations are a significant source of nitrogen dioxide (a lung irritant) and a plethora of volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde. That’s along with greenhouse gas emissions.
Add significant levels of noise to that, and you can see why many people are concerned. I would not want that near my house.
Baker needs to act to stop the construction of the compressor station.
— Paola Massoli, Somerville
Climate change eternal
In my view there certainly is climate change in the world and has been since the beginning of time and will be until the end of time (“ ‘Ugly Environmentalist’ ever more crazed on climate,” July 17). Such climate change is cyclical and to be expected — and it is arrogant to believe people could possibly alter nature on such a grand scale.
— James F. Holland, Newton, N.H.
