Categories: Letters to the Editor, OpinionProps to Cuomo for canal, rail initiativesI rarely find any merit in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s initiatives, but I believe in giving credit where it’s due.Although it pains me, I compliment him on his recently announced initiatives: re-imagining the Erie Canal and high-speed rail between New York City and Buffalo.The Erie Canal made New York “the Empire State.” Making the Erie Canal economically and recreationally relevant, and high-speed rail along the same corridor, could re-invigorate the dead and dying Rust Belt communities along the way. They called the Erie Canal “Clinton’s Folly” when Gov. Clinton proposed it.When completed, it not only transformed New York but extended our country’s frontier westward, opening up new markets and opportunity. Good transportation does that. If you’ve lived in the Capital District long enough, I’m sure you marvel at what I-87 has done to Clifton Park and points north. Don’t give up, Andrew.Having said that, now that I have your ear, I’d like to add that Mr. Cuomo’s unwillingness to extend the authority to perform marriage ceremonies to federal judges simply because they represent the Trump administration is petty, spiteful, childish and vindictive. Behavior like this (not to mention the SAFE Act) is why I regard him as a jerk.George NigrinyGlenvilleRight on red isn’t mandatory, so chillI am the driver of a small Honda, and I choose to turn right on red when I think it is safe for me, my passengers and pedestrians.Due to the size of my car, it is difficult to see around snowbanks, larger cars and SUVs. Sometimes I will sit at a light until it is green in my favor.During these short waits, there have been more frequent displays of flashing lights, blaring horns and finger messages. I look at your face in my rearview mirror and you look so angry and wretched that I almost feel sorry for you.Draw a deep breath, count to 10, send mental good wishes to a friend. Before you know it, this little car will be safely on its way and so will you. Turning on red is not mandatory — it is a choice.Louise FarnumMalta Destroying cultural sites is a war crimeOn Jan. 4, President Donald Trump tweeted that if Iran retaliates for the targeted killing of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, America will target sites important to Iranian culture.Let me be clear: It is a war crime to target cultural sites, according to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The United States is a party to that convention, meaning we must abide by it.The United Nations also regards destroying cultural sites as a war crime (U.N. Security Council Resolution 2347).War crimes are illegal under federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2441). The punishment is being “fined under this title or imprisoned for life or any term of years, or both, and if death results to the victim, shall also be subject to the penalty of death.”If President Trump goes through with his threat and attacks those cultural sites, he is a war criminal. Plain and simple.Daniel Wade IIIRound LakeMany share blame for Trump’s failuresWe need to get serious about climate change. We need to eradicate hate crimes and poverty. We need to build alliances, roads, bridges, healthcare systems and schools. Instead, we find ourselves in a useless fossil-fuel-sucking war that will kill, maim, destroy and deplete resources.Who is the most irresponsible?The 45th president? The military, which gave him an option it knew was terrible? (You don’t give a loaded gun to a baby and expect a good outcome.)  Or the American public and politicians who didn’t put an end to this presidency when they had a chance?Melinda PerrinNiskayunaWe all must learn to embrace differencesEvery year, people would like to accomplish some goals for the new year.Well I have a goal that I would like to see happen, not just in this new year, but year-around.This goal is that we as a human race need to understand that we are a very extraordinary human race and we all have our differences. We need to embrace them and learn from them instead of attacking each other.We are killing all of us with this hate. And yes, both sides, the left and the right, are at fault for all the hate that has been going around.But I strongly feel that if we as an extraordinary human race can embrace and accept our many differences, we can heal this nation and world. This is a goal that I would really like to see happen, not just this new year, but year-round.Anthony CarotaSchenectadyMore from The Daily Gazette:Foss: Should main downtown branch of the Schenectady County Public Library reopen?EDITORIAL: Beware of voter intimidationEDITORIAL: Thruway tax unfair to working motoristsGov. Andrew Cuomo’s press conference for Sunday, Oct. 18EDITORIAL: Urgent: Today is the last day to complete the census read more