We unleashed the horror of nuclear weapons. Never again | Opinion

Aug. 9 program on Nagasaki great

Thank you to the National Park Service and the Department of Energy who run the Manhattan Project National Historical Park for the luminarias in a Lights for Peace program at the fingernail stage in Richland’s Howard Amon Park on Aug. 9, the anniversary of the day the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945.

Thanks also to the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers who performed and the speakers. Thanks also to the children and adults who wrote and drew messages of peace on the 1,000 luminaria bags at the Reach Museum on Friday.

Jim Stoffels, president of World Citizens for Peace, who passed away in 2024, obtained a model of the Bell of Peace from Nagasaki. He started a tradition of honoring the people who died at Pearl Harbor and those who died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a program and ringing of the bell.

His opposition to nuclear weapons in the town that manufactured plutonium during the war was very brave. In a world where war continues, may his legacy be a future without war and nuclear weapons. It will take many brave heads of state and citizens to make that happen.

Barbara Puigh, Richland

Voters due thanks for Benton levy lift

I want to extend my sincere thanks to the residents of Benton County Fire District No. 1 for supporting our fire levy lid lift during the Aug. 5 election.

This approval allows us to continue providing the emergency services our community relies on every day. EMS calls make up 68% of our total call volume, and this funding comes at a time when both our community’s needs and our responsibilities are growing.

Because of voter support, we’ll be able to hire three full-time firefighter/EMTs, update critical medical equipment and an ambulance, and install a new extractor washing machine to reduce health risks for our personnel. We’ll also tackle needed maintenance on our aging stations, including Station 120 on Finley Road.

We know that trust is earned through service — and we’re committed to delivering the highest standard of care and response. If you’d like to stay involved or learn more, I encourage you to attend a Board of Fire Commissioners meeting or reach out directly.

Scott LoParco, Fire Chief Benton County Fire District No.1

Trump trade win a Pyrrhic triumph

Eswar Prasad, a professor of trade policy in the Dyson School at Cornell University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, authored an article entitled, “Trump’s Tariff Victory Is Not What It Seems.” His article rightly frames President Trump’s trade strategy as a Pyrrhic victory.

While his tariffs may deliver short-term political wins and the illusion of economic strength, they risk long-term damage to consumer welfare, small businesses and global trade relationships.

Higher prices, retaliatory measures, and supply chain disruptions are already surfacing. The applause for this “victory” may be loud today, but the economic consequences could echo for years. True leadership requires foresight — not just fanfare.

Although Trump has secured concessions from several countries and reshaped the GOP into a protectionist force, the economic costs of this Pyrrhic “victory” are mounting:

Higher consumer prices: Tariffs are already pushing up costs for everyday goods, from electronics to food.

Strained global supply chains: Businesses are scrambling to adjust, leading to delays and inefficiencies.

Retaliation and uncertainty: Trading partners like Switzerland and India are reacting with frustration, and future negotiations remain volatile.

Risk to small businesses: Lacking the flexibility of large corporations, smaller firms are disproportionately hurt by rising import costs.

Jim Tow, Richland