Letters: Pink Floyd too depressing for radio

Dark side of Pink Floyd

​Pink Floyd is a bummer.

They should stop playing their depressing songs on the radio.

Their lyrics usually have a negative message. Consider the lyrics in “Another Brick in the Wall.”

“We don’t need no education.”

Well. we don’t need any Pink Floyd. What kind of message is that? They seem to have a dim view of the human race.

“All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.”

Compare Pink Floyd’s nihilistic attitude to The Beatles, whose music is usually uplifting. Such as in “All You Need is Love.” Or John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” or “Imagine.” Or Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs.”

A simple definition of nihilism is life is meaningless and knowledge is impossible. That’s what Pink Floyd is all about.

Think of all the great human accomplishments. Skyscrapers, spaceships that go to the moon and Mars. Railroads, freeways, electric cars.

And what does Pink Floyd say to enlighten us?

In the song “Breathe,” they sing, “Run rabbit run. Dig that hole, forget the sun. And when at last the work is done, don’t sit down, it’s time to dig another one.”

In “Wish You Were Here,” they tell us, “We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year.”

I wish they weren’t here.

Jeffrey Andrasovsky, Lakewood

The hypocrisy of it

The GOP has a hypocrisy problem. Remember how:

Republicans in Congress fought against President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill and then they went home and took credit when federal money started flowing to their states.

Congressional Republicans said border security was their top priority, then killed a bipartisan border deal.

Far-right Supreme Court nominees whose disingenuous statements about Roe v Wade being “settled” provided cover to a GOP that always intended to overturn it.

GOP lawmakers have flip-flopped on supporting Donald Trump, with leaders like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, scolding Trump for rallying the mob on Jan. 6 — then letting him run wild with his “big lie.”

It’s an open secret that prominent Republicans who fawn over Trump in public call him incompetent (and worse) in private.

Republicans’ IVF debacle reflects this hypocrisy. It also reveals a party captured by an extremist fringe. Today’s GOP contains huge numbers of election deniers, conspiracy theorists and power mongers who’ll say anything to get elected. It’s not good soil for truth. Although the media coverage of this hypocrisy has been inadequate, voters are smart enough to see it. And Republicans will pay for it.

Suellen Roberts, Fairlawn

For men only

To all the men who believe that they have the right to manage a woman’s health care and access to abortion, did they ever think of having a vasectomy first?

David Milkovich, Copley

Disturbing graduation

Along with roughly 60,000 others, we attended the Ohio State University graduation on May 5. It was a very disturbing experience. Our hearts went out to the family of the 53-year-old woman who died by suicide during the commencement; but that was not the only tragedy at this event.

We were appalled at the disrespectful performance of commencement speaker Chris Pan, an OSU alum and Harvard graduate, who admitted he wrote his pathetic speech while under the influence of a psychedelic drug. For nearly 20 minutes, he rambled on about 4 Non Blondes, Bitcoin and his jewelry company. He led the audience in breathing exercises and asked us to sing “This Little Christian Light of Mine” and watch a magic trick. I’m not making this up!

It’s really sad. This was the class that missed its senior prom and high school graduation because of COVID. The students gave OSU their money and worked hard to meet the requirements for graduation, AND they deserved better than this ridiculous nonsensical self-aggrandizing act, which was truly a disservice to 12,500 OSU graduates.

Sue Rice, Munroe Falls

A good education

In 2023, Christian nonprofit World Vision has been encouraging people to pray for children in extreme poverty who are unable to attend school, especially in Africa. COVID-19 has made it even more difficult for children to attend school and for teachers to teach their students.

As a Borgen Project supporter, I’m urging my congressional leaders to reauthorize the READ Act which stands for Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development and am encouraging you to do the same. The original READ Act that was signed into law on Sept. 8, 2017, expired on Sept. 30, 2022. This bill is supposed to provide children in impoverished countries with a good education that will bring them better opportunities.

It is believed that the READ Act will benefit people in developing countries by improving the economy, preventing violence, diseases and bringing peace. It will also benefit the US bringing trade opportunities and preventing violent threats.

In the end, we all benefit from a good education because we need it to thrive as a society. Children need schools where they can learn the importance of working together as a community and teachers to show them how to do so.

Esther Elliott, Northfield

Envy of the world

The Wall Street Journal recently called America’s economy “the envy of the world.” It’s true: stock market in record territory; job market the best since 1960s; lowest uninsured rate ever; most robust pandemic recovery in the G7, and the lowest inflation rate. Wage growth is strong. The annual deficit is trillions less. Three big Biden bills are driving hundreds of billions in new investment, accelerating our energy transition, creating jobs and opportunities for American workers.

No wonder the Economist said: “America is in the midst of an extraordinary start up boom.” The article noted that while America has enjoyed a reputation of being at the cutting-edge of innovation, in recent years startups have formed a decreasing part of the business landscape.

But now Americans are rediscovering their go-getting spirit. In 2023 applications to form businesses reached a record 5.5 million. This year, the monthly average is about 80% higher than during the pre-COVID decade, compared with a 20% rise in Europe. And these startups play an outsized role in creating employment.

This remarkable sign of the health and vitality of our economy shows that the American can-do spirit is alive and well.

Russ Smith, Strongsville

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Pink Floyd music should be more uplifting