I am the proud Jewish mother of a Jewish Midwestern woman attending Barnard College. But I am not a proud U.S. citizen when Donald Trump abuses his power to detain Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident and Columbia graduate student, while Congress stands silent, complicit in its inaction.
The Constitution is not a suggestion. The First Amendment guarantees free speech, and no leader — no matter how authoritarian — has the legal or moral authority to trample that fundamental right. Mr. Khalil’s arrest is not just an injustice; it is an unconstitutional act of repression that should terrify every American who believes in democracy.
In the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy wielded state power as a weapon, persecuting those who dared to think differently, branding them as enemies of the nation, and subjecting them to illegal punishment. Today, Trump is following that same authoritarian playbook — demonizing students and immigrants as enemies of the state, firing career bureaucrats who dare to oppose him, and daring the rest of us to accept it as the new normal.
History warns us: When leaders suppress dissent, democracy crumbles. Will we be the generation that allows tyranny to take hold, or will we stand up and fight for our country? The time for courage is now.
Jennifer Obel, Wilmette
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Technology upgrade needed in Illinois classrooms
As the state considers a proposed law to ban cellphones in schools, it should also consider what it can add to classrooms so as to make them the most effective learning environments. While passage of this type of cellphone ban is welcome, more consideration needs to be given to peripheral factors that are connected to this topic.
Students will pay attention to lessons and instruction that is interesting and relevant. Whether a cellphone ban is in place makes little difference if teaching is not engaging and interactive. Instruction that sticks and skills that improve our students’ lives require lessons with real-world application that students can connect with and value. In addition, the governor and Illinois General Assembly should also consider how important the use of research tools are to students who want to elevate their learning.
Schools traditionally have their own computer labs, learning centers and libraries. This learning and research advantage is basic to all students who want to do their school work and excel in class projects that require more than just book work. Long gone are the days with classes taking turns going to the computer lab. Instruction in 2025 requires daily use of technology.
If Illinois wants to be a leader in academic instruction, a law that requires all school districts to provide each student with their own personal learning device, such as a laptop or Chromebook, is in students’ best interests, allowing them to focus on learning tools instead of their cellphone. Leveling the playing field and minimizing the digital divide is just as crucial as solutions restricting distractions. Illinois is smart to consider implementing laws that address what takes away from quality instruction. It would also be shrewd to invest in education resources that will add value and equity to classrooms.
Froylan Jimenez, civics teacher, Hancock High School
Trump, Musk: ‘Bratty 2-year-olds’
How did we get to this? Two of the richest men on earth are laying off thousands of American workers, cutting off student aid, stifling scientific research and speculating about limits on Social Security, which neither of them needs or understands. To watch Donald Trump and Elon Musk interfering with the futures and security of normal Americans is like witnessing a pair of bratty 2-year-olds knocking over their blocks.
Michael Raleigh, Lake View