Opinion category, Page 184
Elwood Watson: What you might have forgotten about O.J. Simpson and his trial
For those too young to fully remember the O.J. Simpson trial, it was a television spectacle with all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. Sex and violence, interracial relationships and marriage, infidelity, alcoholism, sexual deviancy and a host of lurid details that titillated and fascinated the public. Stories covering the...
Cal Thomas: Needed — regime change in Iran
Every approach to curtailing Iran from its threats and behavior toward Israel and other countries has failed. In 2023, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials accused of planning assassinations overseas. In 2024, it “reapproved a sanctions waiver that unlocks upwards of $10 billion in frozen...
Letter to the editor: Better ways to spend Pa. money than student teacher stipends
So Pennsylvania is spending $10 million to pay college students for their student teaching assignments. Will the governor next propose paying college students to attend their college classes? I was a student teacher while in college. Student teaching is a learning experience just like time in a classroom. Don’t we...
Letter to the editor: So it’s the gun’s fault again?
Regarding the article “Pa. Supreme Court hears debate on gun-industry immunity in lawsuit over Mt. Pleasant boy’s death” (April 9, TribLive): So now it really is the gun’s fault for going off? Once more it’s an object’s fault for an individual’s actions. A gun cannot fire on its own. It...
Leonard Greene: O.J. Simpson ex-teammate says trial showed ‘Black man can buy justice like a white man’
If there is anybody with a unique perspective on the O.J. Simpson saga, it’s Boston lawyer Eddie Jenkins. Not only is Jenkins, a former president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, well versed on the subject of jury nullification, he had a front row seat to the vanity show as...
Letter to the editor: Sports success requires character
OK, first things first: Congratulations to the Penn State and Canon McMillan High School (girls) wrestling teams and coaching staff for making national history and for helping to develop players with more character. Now, for my story. I have been writing letters to editors and doing three-minute citizen speaks on...
Lori Falce: Jury in Trump case upholds Jefferson’s ideals
A criminal trial is built out of more than just evidence, testimony and justice. Predominantly, it is constructed of people: the prosecution, the defense, the accused, the judge, the witnesses. All are moving parts in the machine of court. But the most critical group of people in the process are...
Letter to the editor: Dysfunctional board erodes public trust in Harrison
The four-month Harrison impasse “Harrison commissioners fill township boards, with one oddity among the appointments” (Dec. 23, TribLive) is pathetic, as an expired authority board position remains unfilled. Municipal authorities were created to be independent of political bodies and their undue influence. Nevertheless, the manipulative trio of Chuck Dizard, Gary...
Laurels & lances: History and repetition
Laurel: To living history. It’s no secret that Pennsylvania’s origin story is the origin story of the nation. But a New Kensington woman brings it to life with her own family tree. Mary Lee Brady-Atkins, 95, is a remarkable woman. She got her bachelor’s degree from Pitt before moving on...
Letter to the editor: Penn Township transparency
In a recent email newsletter, Penn Township announced: “Due to technical difficulties, livestream meetings are temporarily unavailable. An improved audio and visual experience is coming soon!” I am glad to hear it. Since last fall, Penn Township hasn’t had streamed video or recordings of meetings available to the public. Myself...
Letter to the editor: Nepotism produces incompetence
I’m not wrapped too tight, and I watch movies such as Martin Scorcese’s riveting “Casino.” Brilliant, dazzling as it was, it meant little to me when characters spoke of “juiced-in cowboys,” which meant any of many forms of nepotism. With no hard feelings at all, no judgments made, I don’t...
Cheryl Allen: Retail marijuana would hurt Pa., especially our young people
Government officials should refrain from promoting a predatory industry whose very existence relies upon drug dependency. This was my message to state representatives in Harrisburg as I was invited to share testimony during a recent committee hearing on marijuana legalization. I have extensive experience with young people and their parents...
Letter to the editor: What about the war on the unborn?
I hear the abortion supporters call Republican efforts to outlaw abortion a “war on women.” There are no fatalities in this war, yet I don’t hear anyone call the over 600,000 babies that are killed in the womb every year a “war on the unborn.” Wonder why? Bill Radvansky New...
Letter to the editor: Vote for democracy, not autocracy
Why on earth would Donald Trump want Viktor Orban, the autocratic leader of Hungary, to meet with him at Mar-a-Lago? Trump thinks Orban is a great leader and, like the other dictators, Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-Un, he seems to want to become one of them. And the thought...
Letter to the editor: We need real presidential leadership
When any political party attempts to elect/reelect to president a candidate that to me is visibly cognitively impaired (based on special counsel’s findings), that party has lost value to our America. The bottom line of that counsel’s remarks — President Biden should not hold a security clearance. His recent State...
Editorial: Coal workers’ respiratory health must be priority
“Today, we’re making it clear that no job should be a death sentence.” That should go without saying, but acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su spelled it out Tuesday as she announced new standards for exposure to silica dust. Silica dust may not sound dangerous, but for some industries it...
Jonah Goldberg: For Israel and Ukraine alike, U.S. support is proving unreliable and inadequate
After Iran’s massive drone and missile attack on Israel Saturday, President Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “You got a win. Take the win.” Most of the weapons, the first Iran had ever fired on Israel from its own territory, were successfully intercepted. “From its own territory” is...
Colin McNickle: Settle the assessments lawsuit, Allegheny County
The long-threatened lawsuit by Pittsburgh Public Schools to force Allegheny County to conduct a comprehensive property reassessment came to pass on April 8. And a scholar at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy says the county should settle the matter without a court order. “The best course is for Allegheny...
Letter to the editor: Social Security fiasco
So, the Social Security Agency has been making huge blunders that somehow none of the geniuses that we the taxpayers employ there caught. They somehow overpaid some recipients in their monthly checks, then sent them letters telling them they need to pay back all of the overpayments, some totaling thousands...
Letter to the editor: Trump ‘voters’ remorse’ coming
The author of the letter “McDaniel ouster reminiscent of blacklisting” (April 1, TribLive) feels that Ronna McDaniel should have been allowed to express her views on MSNBC. Anyone who is paying attention to fact-based news (including MSNBC) knows that Trump’s “Republican” party is an existential threat to our democracy. They...
Letter to the editor: Democrats, don’t vote for Biden
The writer of the letter “Don’t vote for Trump” (March 26, TribLive) asks Republicans to “sit this election out.” His brazenness and audacity are appalling. He is concerned with his democracy, but apparently not Republicans’ freedom to vote. Obviously he does not understand the MAGA movement. The Democratic Party uses...
Letter to the editor: Tips for rural road safety
The Westmoreland County Farm Bureau is recognizing Rural Roads Safety Week April 14-20 by encouraging motorists to travel safely on roadways. As planting season begins and farmers return to the fields, tractors, farm trucks, wagons and other large equipment are once again traveling on roadways. These vehicles can pose a...
Editorial: Shawn Denning’s actions betrayed people and police
Shawn Denning has admitted to drug crimes. The former Greensburg police chief was arrested in January 2023. Federal charges were filed against him as part of a methamphetamine and cocaine investigation detailing 16 months of activity. That puts the start of the probe before taking over the department as interim...
Cal Thomas: It’s a taxing time
Was it as bad for you as it was for me? Sending Washington money we earn, but Washington doesn’t, I mean? It’s not just being part of half the nation that pays taxes while the other half doesn’t that bothers me. It’s the waste and unnecessary programs and agencies that...
Ashleigh Strange: Shapiro administration will remain stalwart for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians
“Be Who You Are” by Todd Parr, a picture book for children that encourages them to embrace who they are inside, was selected for a drag queen story hour at the Lancaster Area Public Library. Lancaster Pride had made plans to host on March 23 — just a week before...
