Good juju

Re Larry Wilson’s column of Feb. 5: I’m not sure what “juju” is. I’m guessing karma. But I certainly appreciate the hopeful and positive message Larry expresses.

I have lived in the same house in Pasadena for almost six decades. My Madison Heights neighborhood wasn’t threatened by the catastrophic Eaton Canyon fire. But I’ve been deeply affected by it.

Many friends in Altadena and northeast Pasadena have lost or suffered meaningful damage to their homes.

I’m awed and encouraged by their commitment to rebuild their unique diverse communities.

It seems to be an almost overwhelming endeavor.

A good friend saved his house on North El Molino Avenue. It has been red-tagged. No power, water or gas service as well as extensive smoke damage and the loss of his garage, fencing and landscaping. It’ll take at least six to eight months just to allow occupancy.

He’s taking baby steps to restore his family’s home, doing his part to restore the devastated communities.

Onward and upward.

— Joseph F. Paggi, Jr., Pasadena

About Ukraine

Among all the disturbing news in today’s paper about President Trump’s misguided actions such as his damaging tariffs and dangerous nominees such as RFK Jr. was the shocking news about Ukraine.

Trump is determined to help his buddy, fellow big-bully Putin, to achieve a Russian victory in his unprovoked invasion of his much smaller, democratic neighbor, Ukraine, by “freezing U.S. aid to Ukraine and demanding an end to the war.”

And just who would this benefit? Putin, of course, who could then consolidate his illegal territory gains achieved through his brutal invasion of that little country, and set the stage for his inevitable total conquest of Ukraine itself.

Russia would then be on the doorstep to Western Europe, and eyeball to eyeball on those borders with our NATO allies.

Every dollar spent so far supporting the brave and awesome people of Ukraine has been skillfully used by their army, fending off the much larger army of Russia, and is actually an investment in world peace. For Trump to betray our magnificent Ukrainian allies now would only encourage war criminal Putin to do further evil, and drag NATO into a future war that would cost far, far more to the United States and to the world.

— William Stremel, South Pasadena

The tariff tantrum

About the anonymously written editorial from 3 /4 on Trump’s’ “tariff tantrum”:

At what point will you poison-pen folks realize the brilliance and negotiation skills of our current president? Hard for me to honestly understand how you couldn’t have connected the dots with issues concerning tariffs and our national security.

I would encourage a little patience and faith during this time before you continue on the hate-Trump-at-all-costs train.

— Terese Laurance, South Pasadena

The derangement

Kudos to the Southern California News Group for ingeniously publishing Matt Fleming and Larry Wilson’s Opinion columns on Feb. 2. Mr. Fleming’s column regarding President Trump’s administration concludes with the question, “But can we try to stay objective here?” Mr. Wilson answers Mr. Fleming’s question by reviewing some of President Trump’s most recent lies and concludes by stating, “Lies like this are an ongoing national embarrassment.”

Both columns also referenced Trump Derangement Syndrome. As for me, I’ll have my Trump Derangement Syndrome treated as soon as Trump’s cult of personality ceases to exist.

— Robert Aragon, Duarte

Atlas shrugged

In 1968, my last year of high school and first year of college, I was an avid reader with a predilection for science fiction and fantasy.

I stumbled upon “Atlas Shrugged,” which set my political beliefs in concrete. Ayn Rand’s philosophical soliloquys droned on for pages and could best be described by me as selfishnes’. Not seeing myself in that morass I registered with the Peace and Freedom Party and shortly thereafter it dawned on me that anyone be they liberal or conservative registered in any third party was negating any influence they might have that would favor the party to which they were most opposed.

At that point I reregistered as a lifelong active Democrat.

By the same token it’s my hope and prediction that over the next four years President Trump will be the most effective tool to register new Democrats.

— Ron Garber, Duarte