Is there anything more threatening to our national security than the constant threat of climate change and severe weather events that have disrupted and destroyed communities, businesses and personal property throughout our country and the world this past year?

Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer and Jack Healy, reporters for The New York Times, wrote an article published Dec. 18 in the Tribune print edition titled, “White House plans to take apart weather research center in Colo.” This article should send up red flags all over this nation. The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado is “one of the world’s leading Earth science research institutions,” the article says.

This is a short must-read for any American concerned with severe weather events that have threatened our country and the world community.

Our country’s modus operandi has always been to seek out the best and brightest to take positions of leadership and authority in any and every field of our national security.

The current administration stands against scientific research and investigations that actually help protect us and our homes and businesses. Just because they disagree with practical scientific research in our educational institutions and especially in institutions as important as this one, they want to tear them down; taking away our guardrails and exposing us to unknown dangers.

How short-sighted, stupid and dangerous.

This administration’s agenda to destroy progress and our well-being by dismantling institutions such as the NCAR in Colorado is a true and real threat to our national security.

— Joe Artabasy, Glencoe

Republicans’ abdication

The Donald Trump administration says it is closing the National Center for Atmospheric Research because of its “climate alarmism.” Do these officials really believe issues go away if you stop studying them?

Even more perplexing to me is the role of Republicans in Congress. I think most of them recognize this as a bad idea, but they seem unwilling or unable to exercise the role the Constitution indisputably gives them: to provide checks and balances to prevent a president from running amok. Basic reality orientation seems like it would be one of the less controversial areas for expressing that duty.

— Mike Koetting, Chicago

Helping our neighbors

Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have recently occurred in Evanston, Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Aurora and Chicago, as well as other communities. Violations of constitutional rights are increasing since the Supreme Court ruled that agents can stop and arrest individuals based on the color of their skin, the language they are speaking or their location. These detentions are devastating families, neighborhoods and businesses. People are afraid to leave their homes, to take their children to school, to go grocery shopping or even to attend church. And everyday, these actions also put police at risk.

It is hard for many Americans to believe that this can happen in our country — and our neighborhoods. We should all be outraged. It is un-American.

Fortunately, here and throughout the country, thousands of people are helping these families. Groceries, clothing and toiletries are being collected for organizations that are helping people who cannot leave their homes. Individuals, organizations and religious congregations are driving kids to school, providing legal services and money for legal defense, collecting food and more. Your help is needed.

What is happening is wrong. You can help: It is important to join the volunteers who are working to serve our neighbors. Speak out: Let local, state and national government representatives know that you want these illegal activities to stop now. Ask them to publicly support efforts to ban ICE from using municipal-owned properties for immigration enforcement activities. Tell political candidates that you will not support anyone who accepts donations from companies and organizations that are providing services to ICE.

There is much to be done. Together, we can help to protect innocent community members — and to end these raids.

— Kathy Winterhalter, St. Charles

Is the ACA affordable?

I have read several articles about the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are being debated. If this insurance is so expensive without the government paying for it, what made this affordable in the first place?

— Loren Monsess, Waterman

We can’t fail our kids

Two students at Brown University lived through school shootings as children. They were forced to relive that terror again at Brown.

As a father, I am heartbroken for the trauma these young adults and their parents are experiencing. As someone who was shot by a school shooter and survived, I deeply empathize with those whose lives have been forever altered. As a former FBI special agent and crisis negotiator, I have seen the aftermath: families waiting in trauma units and asking questions that will never have answers.

I know we can and must do better.

Too often after shootings such as the one at Brown, we offer “thoughts and prayers.” But thoughts without action are not a strategy. We have failed to translate grief into policies that save lives. We need to close loopholes that allow weapons of war into civilian hands, invest in community-based violence intervention and treat gun violence as a public health crisis.

We have seen promising steps at the state level: improved background checks, red flag laws and funding for prevention programs. Yet, national action remains stalled by political calculation and the lack of courage to prioritize people over special interests.

Our children should be safe in classrooms, not trained for active shooters. And parents should be able to send their children to school without the constant fear of “what if.” To honor those we have lost at Brown and every community scarred by gun violence, we must not accept this as normal.

With a Congress that lacks the courage to act, we will fail another generation of children if active shooter drills, fear and tragic loss continue to define our values.

— Phil Andrew, U.S. House candidate, Wilmette

Brazen Islamophobia

U.S. Sens. Randy Fine and Tommy Tuberville, in calling for the mass expulsion of Muslims from the United States, demonstrate their ignorance of the Constitution, which they’ve sworn to uphold and defend. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion. The fact that it is the first line of the First Amendment shows how important it was to the Framers of the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Deporting all Muslims due to the depraved actions of one individual would be illegal, immoral, racist and anti-American. What’s next on the Republican agenda? Deport all of the Latinos, which Trump is getting a head start on, and only allow immigration of Scandinavian or Slavic supermodels?

— Larry Mayerhofer, Geneva

The Person of the Year

Nerts to Time magazine and its glorification of artificial intelligence architects. The Person of the Year for 2025 is Ahmed al Ahmed, who saved lives at Bondi Beach.

— Mac Brachman, Chicago

Inspiration for action

Following up on Sami Uddin’s letter to the editor (“Hero at Bondi Beach,” Dec. 18), Ahmed al Ahmed’s bravery will go on to inspire others to react to sudden abominations.

As the saying goes: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

— Terry Takash, Western Springs

Note to readers: We’d like to know your hopes for the new year. Please send us a letter, of no more than 400 words, to letters@chicagotribune.com by Sunday, Dec. 28. Include your full name and city/town.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/letters-122225-atmospheric-research-climate-change/