#Letters to the Editor — May 8, 2021

The Issue: A Facebook oversight board’s decision to uphold the company’s ban on former President Donald Trump.

The decision by Facebook to continue banning former President Donald Trump from the platform should scare every American (“FaceBlocked,” May 6).

Censorship by social-media entities is the stuff of socialist dictatorships.

While those on the left, who currently benefit from those tactics, may feel victorious over their political enemies, it may one day prove to be a Pyrrhic victory.

History shows that the monster you’ve had on your side may one day turn on you. No free society has ever benefited from the evil of censorship.

Robert DiNardo
Farmingdale

Our great nation was founded on freedom, particularly freedom of speech.

In spite of Facebook’s and Twitter’s attempts to stifle free speech and control opinions, most Americans still believe in and cherish our God-given right to be able, without fear of reprisal, to freely express our opinions in a sensible, respectful manner.

Why do many of the millions of Americans who cherish their freedom still continue to use Facebook and Twitter?

If they all ceased to use these social media, don’t you think this would send a powerful message to the would-be fascists and hypocrites who want to change the American way of life?

Karl Olsen
Watervliet

Facebook’s board has made the right decision to continue the suspension of Trump from its platforms.

Trump is having a tantrum, of course, and his supporters will join him in crying foul, asserting that his free-speech rights are being trampled on. They are wrong.

Just as there is no right to engage in the proverbial yelling of “fire!” in a crowded theater, so too is there no right for a dangerous cult figure to engage in rhetoric that is an incitement, not only to hatred and intolerance, but to violence, as we saw on Jan. 6.

Trump remains a clear and present danger to democracy and to the safety of our people and political institutions. Continuing to muzzle such a menace is the right thing for Facebook to do.

Oren Spiegler
Peters Township, Pa.

Let’s face the truth: Trump was exonerated of any wrongdoing. Face­book continues its ban because it’s run by hating and biased ­liberals.

Any way you slice it, the reason behind the ban of a president of the United States is strictly political.

Many people stopped using Facebook. Trump is getting the last laugh, as his social-media platform will soon be joined by millions of patriots. Who needs Facebook?

Vincent Conti
Staten Island

The Issue: Pleas to Mayor de Blasio to “do something” about the spike in subway attacks.

The mayor’s stating the subways will be safer with more riders is like saying if we have more homelessness, we will have less violent crime (“ ‘It is not safe to ride, Mr. Mayor,’ ” May 7).

We all (except the mayor and his equally inept wife) know the system is broken.

De Blasio, please own up to the fact that you have no clue how to fix the outrageous crime in the MTA system.

Doc Ludemann
Bridgeport, Conn.

With all the reports of mentally ill people taking over our subway system, where is First Lady Chirlane McCray?

Every day, there are reports of innocent people being assaulted, thrown on the subway tracks and sucker-punched — and all by people who are labeled “mentally ill.”

Maria Musolino
Staten Island

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to [email protected]. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy and style.