Regarding the Nov. 1 news article “At the Kennedy Center, thousands of empty seats”:
Having just heard the National Symphony Orchestra’s stupendous rendition of George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, I was dismayed to read of the Washington community’s failure to support our important local arts institutions during President Donald Trump’s takeover of the traditionally nonpartisan John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Regarding the Nov. 1 news article “At the Kennedy Center, thousands of empty seats”:
Having just heard the National Symphony Orchestra’s stupendous rendition of George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, I was dismayed to read of the Washington community’s failure to support our important local arts institutions during President Donald Trump’s takeover of the traditionally nonpartisan John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
I can well understand that Trump’s takeover has repelled many former Kennedy Center patrons and supporters. But quite a number of them have, unfortunately, decided to express their objection by boycotting performances. This reaction does nothing to help their cause. Rather, it punishes the orchestra, whose dedicated musicians continue to provide world-caliber performances.
Washington is blessed to have such a fine hometown orchestra. If it — as well as the equally threatened Washington National Opera — falters or fails because of lack of financial support, it will be the city’s music lovers, as well as students, children and other future music fans, who will suffer.
Beryl Lieff Benderly, Washington
The Nov. 8 Metro article “Kidnapping skit in school club’s video sparks ire” about videos made by Muslim Student Association chapters at two Fairfax County high schools forces one to ask: “Where was the faculty adviser?” The videos evoked Hamas’s taking of Israeli hostages on Oct. 7, 2023.
The claim by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and some parents that the students were being unfairly judged based on “racist tropes and stereotypes about Muslims and Arabs” misses the mark. I’m confident that any student organization, no matter the faith of its members, would have faced the same backlash had it aired the video. But in this case, only the MSA chapters made violent videos.
I’m relieved that Fairfax County Public Schools and Thomas Jefferson High School’s leaders issued firm statements that students filming videos containing violence, for any reason, is unacceptable.
Paula Weiss, Annandale
Government shutdowns represent a perhaps unique manifestation of American exceptionalism: In our country, we don’t punish failure.
Just as American professional sports leagues don’t punish losing teams with relegation to lower divisions, Congress can tank its annual appropriations “season” with little fear of members losing their jobs. Unlike in European parliamentary systems, there are no votes of confidence and no fear that a specific vote could bring down the government and lead to a new prime minister, a new coalition or fresh elections.
Just as bad American professional sports teams are incentivized to lose as a way to get better draft picks, Congress is incentivized not to try too hard to pass appropriations bills because the parties would rather win the blame game.
The Nov. 8 editorial “The Democratic shutdown gambit” seemed to imply that congressional Democrats are more invested in this strategy than their Republican colleagues. But Senate Republicans should be just as incentivized as the Democrats to negotiate a continuing resolution. In fact, as they control their chamber’s leadership and calendar, Senate Republicans are in some way even more responsible for ensuring swift passage of the continuing resolution. But with no immediate punishment for failure, the Republican majority has no compelling reason to negotiate.
Could such a system persist if members of Congress had to justify their jobs with every vote instead of just every other year?
Art Stern, Falls Church
Regarding the Nov. 10 online article “These are the Democrats who broke ranks to vote for the shutdown deal”:
Sen. Tim Kaine (Virginia) voted for a deal that would pave the way to reopening the government. He was right to do so, and he should not be taking heat from his fellow Democrats for doing it.
As a former mayor and governor, Kaine understands that there is a point where politics has to end and governing begins.
Democrats have to understand that they can lose this battle and still win the war.
Tom Howarth, Front Royal
Regarding the Nov. 9 Sports article “Trump Stadium, home of the Commanders? The president is not opposed.”:
D.C.’s football team has a long history filled with great players and coaches. Though some fans appreciate the president’s support in bringing the team back home, the stadium should be named for someone directly associated with the team. As a tribute to the team’s glory days of the 1980s and early ’90s, the stadium should be named for Joe Gibbs, who took the team to the Super Bowl more times than any other coach.
Nan Raphael, Washington
Megan McArdle recently wrote that nostalgia needs a reality check — Midcentury appliances and air travel weren’t as glamorous as nostalgists imagine. The Post wants to know: What beloved relic shouldn’t be romanticized by people today? Or what really did live up to modern hype? Share your responses with Post Opinions, and they might be published in the letters to the editor section: wapo.st/nostalgia
The post Why patrons should fill the Kennedy Center’s empty seats
appeared first on Washington Post.
