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Despite the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition to weaken the Israeli Supreme Court, one has to wonder if the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, and the other justices have the moxie to assert as U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall did that courts have the obligation to interpret laws to see if they pass constitutional muster.
There is no mention of judicial review in the Constitution, but Marshall asserted this duty in Marbury v. Madison in 1803, and throughout American history, there have been a number of cases in which the Supreme Court has declared laws unconstitutional at the federal and state level.
Israel does not have a written constitution and is governed by quasi-constitutional Basic Laws. Perhaps Israel’s Supreme Court could assert that in the spirit of what has occurred in the past 75 years regarding Israel’s founding principles, like our dependence on essays in the Federalist Papers that our own Supreme Court justices often cite, that it has the power and obligation to strike down or modify this power grab by Netanyahu. This would lay the foundation like Marbury v. Madison did in the United States that courts have the final say.
Ultimately, this would preserve and strengthen Israeli democracy instead of Israeli society being forced to kowtow to legislative fiat.
— Larry Vigon, Chicago
Reauthorize the Farm Bill
Most people do not realize that the Farm Bill is our nation’s most important national food system legislation. Nutrition programs represent 85% of the Farm Bill, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, is the largest nutrition program. However, considering more and more families must rely on food pantries due to inflation, and an estimated 30% of college students are food insecure, we need a reauthorized Farm Bill that fully addresses this need.
Bread for the Word, of which I am a member, urges U.S. decision-makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. This year, we urge Congress to eliminate existing barriers to SNAP for marginalized populations and to generously fund the international nutrition programs that help millions of women and children around the world to thrive.
Please contact Illinois U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and your representative and ask them to fully fund these programs in the Farm Bill that are so critical to so many people.
— Janet L. KIttlaus, Glenview
The state of our trains
I’m glad to see the governor putting in time to build economic ties between Illinois and the United Kingdom. I was just there this summer as well, and I do hope Gov. J.B. Pritzker found time in his electric vehicle-promoting schedule to ride and see that country’s impressive underground subway and regional rail system. Trains in England are clean, on time and used by folks from all walks of life.
I’m sure U.K. officials would have no problem bringing him along for a ride on the new Elizabeth Line or even the venerable Metropolitan Line. Would the governor feel the same about inviting a British delegation to join him on the Red Line?
— Mark Kosin, Chicago
Don’t give Trump press
I do not understand why the boring but obnoxious Donald Trump gets so much free press. Am I the only one who is tired of seeing his face in the news? Every day, it seems there is a picture of his mug wearing a clownish red MAGA hat. And really, what has he ever accomplished on behalf of the common good?
He has managed to degrade this country’s morale and morality even further than one could ever imagine. Enough. Either lock him up or return this insufferably loud old man to his long-suffering wife and son. Quickly and quietly.
We would all be better off without having to see or hear from him. So, Donald Trump, please go away. Far away. Before they take you away.
— The Rev. Bill Lenters, Chicago
Gratitude for Tony Bennett
I‘ve enjoyed all the tributes to him and wanted to add my own. My husband and I were blessed to see Tony Bennett twice; the last time was seven years ago at a delightful theater in Wabash, Indiana. I told my husband it could go either way — it could be great or his voice could be shot and we’d be out a good chunk of change.
The concert began with the orchestra playing some favorites, and then Bennett came out and announced it was his 90th birthday and couldn’t ask for a better way to spend his evening. He began ... and it was terrible! After less than a minute, he stopped everything and apologized to his pianist, his orchestra and the audience, saying, “That was my fault. I was in the wrong key. They did everything right. Let’s start again.”
Chicago Tribune Opinion
From then on, it was magical. For 45 minutes (short by today’s standards, but let’s give him a break as he’d just turned 90 that day), he had us in the palm of his hand. Amazingly, he leaned against the piano a few times but never sat down, and I never saw him take a drink of water. For the last of his many encores, he put the microphone on the piano and sang “The Music Never Ends.” You could hear a pin drop, and the audience was awestruck. The only thing that could have made the evening more enchanting would have been if he showed up at the delightful piano bar of the hotel where we were staying.
Thinking back, I believe this was around the time of his dementia diagnosis, but it had not been made public yet. We are so grateful to have this memory of a truly incredible gentleman, entertainer and artist.
To quote Bob Hope: “Thanks for the memories.” To quote Bennett: “Because of you,” heaven now has a new lead singer for the choir. I know the Rat Pack welcomed him with open arms. He left this planet a sweeter-sounding place with his interpretation of the Great American Songbook.
Thank you and Godspeed.
— Karen Roseler, La Grange
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