Robots Already Taken Over

 Editor:

Regarding all this talk about AI everywhere you go. What is the big deal? We have had artificial intelligence in Washington, D.C. for more than 50 years. 

Allan Brooks

Chatham 

Incident Impact Is Widespread

Editor:

Like many others, I was sickened and saddened by the reports of the racial violence between juveniles at Goose Pond. I know that I can never fully know the depths of the pain and anguish the victim and his family have experienced as a result of that horrible day and I hope that they are receiving the support that they need.

I urge members of our community to consider also that members of this family are not the only victims of this incident. Every report of an assault on or the violent death of a Black person in this country, and there have been far too many of those for far too long, can traumatize other people of color as well. They must be thinking, “Are my children safe in this community?” Am I and my loved ones safe in this community?” As a mother who raised two white sons, I had many worries during their teen years but never did I have to worry that one would not come home at the end of the day because someone felt threatened by their looks and took their life. For parents of children of color, that fear is all too real. We must find ways to get past our stereotypes of people who seem different from us. A good first step would be to recognize that racism is real and present on Cape Cod just as it is throughout our country, and to actively look for ways to address it. Visit the MLK Action Team page on the Nauset Interfaith Association website (www.nausetinterfaith.org) to learn more about racial justice work being done in our area and how to get involved.

In closing, I want to commend the individual who witnessed the incident and responded to the victim’s calls for help by intervening and assisting him back to shore and safety. Thank you for doing the right thing and helping a fellow human being when it was most needed.

 Karen Boujoukos

Chair, MLK Action Team

Nature Thanks Us For Ban 

Editor:

This week on Sept. 15, Harwich will join its neighboring towns of Orleans and Chatham in the prohibition of the sale, distribution and use of any type of balloon inflated with any type of lighter-than-air gas (eg. Helium).

Hooray!

We, the marine life — fish, turtles, whales, seals, et. al. — and we, the wildlife — birds, sea birds, shore birds, woodland birds, deer, raccoons, et. al. — and we, the plant life — trees, bushes, grasslands, woodlands, marshes, et. al. — want to thank the humans for your caring concern for our well being. For without us what would Cape Cod, the oceans, all of nature be? A An empty wasteland of human priorities? Please, let us, nature and humans, live together with a shared respectful harmony. 

Patrick Otton

Harwich 

Grateful For Richardson’s Presence 

Editor:

It was a shock to read about Bill Richardson’s death overnight in his sleep here in Chatham. Grateful that he died with dignity and not in a bed somewhere away from home.

I knew him from a distance, speaking to him randomly, sitting on the long bench in front of the Squire, which he frequented and also in Kate Gould Park. He was a good friend of my cousin Edward Feighan when they both served in the House. I wonder if the Squire crowd knew what an important American icon he is. He had to do the political “schmooze” like my dad, also a congressman as well as my cousin Edward. They spoke with everyone no matter how humble. It is in their DNA.

Bill Richardson was also a good Catholic boy who attended Sunday Mass and communion without fail when he was in town. And he cruised around town in his baby blue vintage Mercedes convertible. In spite of sounding a bit like “The World of Henry Orient,” I followed his moves and admired his spunk and agility to talk to everyone no matter how humble. He used these skills to negotiate release of political prisoners in Iran, Sudan and Russia and wherever needed. He has been nominated again for the Nobel Peace Prize, so well deserved. Now it will be posthumously. Chatham will have a Nobel Peace Prize winner in our midst and be grateful to him forever.

Fleur Feighan Jones

Chatham