President John F. Kennedy was a profile in courage

Re “JFK embodied a confident America” (Nov. 22):

JFK was, by far, one of our better leaders. His “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country” is just one example of his leadership and what was expected of Americans back then.

I remember when we went into DefCo2, the closest the world has ever come to all-out nuclear war, JFK and his cabinet stood up to the communists and they backed down. Read “Profiles in Courage” to get a sense of the man.

— Conrad vonBlankenburg, Rancho Palos Verdes

Proposition 47 is dead wrong for Californians

Re “Prop. 47 is doing what it was intended to do” (Nov. 26):

First of all, there is no explanation of what Prop. 47 really is in this editorial. Secondly, everything in this “opinion” is dead wrong. Crime went down because the bar for what was considered a crime has gone up. The San Francisco homeless population is out of control. The friendly drug environment is well known among addicts across the country.

Plus, they have a revenue source now that they can steal anything less than $900. I challenge you to find any positive outcomes of Prop. 47 besides cost savings to the state. Why don’t we calculate in property and damage losses due to theft? Surprised this article was even printed.

— Maureen Parker, Irvine

Freedom of speech

On Nov, 21, the editorial board, in an editorial headlined “USC, return Professor John Strauss to campus” said “America’s campuses have become places where it’s somehow actually harder than elsewhere in the marketplace of ideas for a person to express an opinion some students don’t like.”

The editorial board should be addressing that the government should protect and encourage free speech because free speech is an activity that is conducive to a healthy nation and thus is in the best interest of its people.

The actions of USC present a double standard in applying free speech principles on campus.

Professor Strauss should have the same right as the students to voice his opinion on the Hamas terrorist group. The exchange of ideas and engagement in open dialogue is crucial for a prosperous society on campus and worldwide.

— Christine Guthrie, Eastvale