Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for June 16, 2024

West Peak could be used for solar and wind energy

It seems, from reading the IJ, the future of Mount Tamalpais’ West Peak has already been visualized as brought back to its original peak, since it was flattened for a radar station in World War II (“Storm cleanup on Mount Tam’s West Peak offers silver lining,” June 6).

While that is a noble thought, I try to listen to what the mountain says. The following is what it tells me.

Today’s changing climate, brought by modern man’s thirst for “more and more,” now threatens our very existence on Earth. We must change our way of life, particularly living in our highly developed culture of waste. Humans, of course, own the largest ecological footprint on the planet.

We need to be more self-sufficient — living more, using less. Locally, Mill Valley must become more sustainable. Mount Tam can help. West Peak stands ready to give us energy, to turn the sun and wind surrounding it into electric power. Thus, its second life would continue to defend us, this time from climate change.

With our own source of energy, we could address public transportation and lessen car traffic — a battery-operated shuttle around the Miller Avenue, East Blithedale Avenue and Camino Alto loop is a good start. Then, we could add a gravity train system to Muir Woods and to the Mountain Theater, as well as East Peak, which is now hard for many to get to.

The mountain knows. Just listen and learn, as we are all an integral part of nature. People need to see the options for their future.

— Dart Cherk, Mill Valley

Russia, Hamas attacks different if Trump was in

I appreciate the letters by Elaine Johnson and Kate Brouillet in response to my earlier published letter supporting former President Donald Trump in the coming election. I respect both opinions and wish to assure them that my vote for Trump will have no effect on the election outcome, as California is a solidly Democrat state.

In her letter, Johnson gave an outline of what four more years of Trump would look like. I worry what an outline for four more years of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris would look like. She did confirm that, “Biden cannot stop wars in other countries.” In my opinion, a strong America with an equally strong leader can influence whether some wars start. Leadership and diplomacy are important.

Recall, in 2013, the administration of then President Barack Obama and Biden drew a “red line” in Syria indicating there would be “enormous consequences” if the Syrian president used chemical weapons on its citizens. The Syrian president crossed the line and used sarin gas to kill 1,400 of its own people.

Instead of powerful airstrikes, the administration convinced Syrian leaders to simply give up “all chemical weapons” with no further consequences. In the “Frontline” news article titled “‘The President Blinked’: Why Obama Changed Course on the ‘Red Line’ in Syria” PBS reported that some believed “extremist groups, including what would eventually become Isis, exploited the decision not to attack, gaining a foothold” in Syria.

In contrast, when North Korea was firing rockets over Japan and threatening both its neighbors and the U.S., Trump got on a plane and met with the Korean leader. The rockets stopped.

I wonder if the attacks by Russia and the Hamas terrorist group would have happened if Trump was still president. I’m guessing things may have been different. I don’t think they could have gone any worse.

Can a strong U.S. president prevent or stop wars in other countries? I’m not ready to concede that they cannot.

— Mike Allen, San Rafael

Unethical Trump not qualified to be president

As a retired Marine, I know the Cadet Honor Code for the United States Military Academy at West Point states, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”

The code is a fundamental part of the academy’s ethical code, which is also reflected in its motto of “duty, honor, country.” The code is intended to guide cadets’ behavior from the day they arrive at West Point until they graduate, and to help develop leaders who are trustworthy and respected.

Based on that, the unethical former President Donald Trump is not qualified to be a West Point cadet much less president and commander in chief.

— Ed McMenamy, Greenbrae