Opinion category, Page 212
Letter to the editor: Pa. powers America
I was amused by a recent TripAdvisor survey naming Pennsylvania the “most American state.” While the metrics used were silly — most RV parks, fast-food restaurants and the like — I still think the idea holds merit. We’re the birthplace of America, after all. But more than that, we play...
Editorial: Juvenile detention must be consistent and secure
Braedon M. Dickinson, 16, and Robert Cogdell, 14, were watching television on Saturday night. All of a sudden, they got up and ran out the back door. News came Monday morning that they were found more than 30 miles away in Fayette County. It’s a worrisome situation no matter what...
Letter to the editor: Lottery tickets are not for kids
During the holiday shopping season, the Pennsylvania Lottery reminds players and its retailer partners to gift responsibly by discouraging the sale of lottery products to anyone younger than 18. While lottery tickets can make fun gifts for some adults, they are not intended for use by minors. Throughout the year,...
Dyan Mazurana and Anastasia Marshak: Hamas’ use of sexual violence is an all-too-common part of modern war — but not in all conflicts
The United Nations, women’s groups and human rights groups are facing criticism for not quickly condemning Hamas fighters for raping and sexually violating Israelis during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Most critics cite rising antisemitism as the reason some experts and advocates did not quickly rally behind Israel’s repeated claims...
Elwood Watson: The continued hypocrisy of so-called family values conservatives
Do as I say, not as I do. This sort of Victorian philosophy seems to be par for the course among many of the so-called family values conservatives. Recent reports that Christian Ziegler, the husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under police investigation in Sarasota, Fla., following...
Jonathan Sharp: Protecting our firefighters from dangerous chemicals
Firefighters , the brave people who risk their lives to protect their communities, are regularly exposed to countless toxic substances while extinguishing blazes, including formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, smoke, carbon monoxide and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” because of their persistence...
Letter to the editor: Florida State’s chances
Florida State players, fans and alumni are shocked at being left out of the college football playoffs despite their 13-0 record. Travel back in time for some perspective. On Jan. 3, 1994, Florida State defeated Nebraska, a Top 5 team, to win the Orange Bowl and finish 12-1. Meanwhile, Notre...
Letter to the editor: Align voting age with duties, privileges of adulthood
The writer of the letter “Lower voting age and get out the youth vote” (Nov. 30) points out that “Many of our youth are required to pay taxes and follow the same laws as adults, when working and driving, at the age of 16 and above. At age 17, our...
Editorial: UPenn president Liz Magill’s resignation is lesson to other college presidents
The departure of Liz Magill from her post as president of the University of Pennsylvania may not have been written in stone when she testified before Congress about antisemitism on college campuses. However, it wasn’t exactly written on a chalkboard, easily wiped away with a swipe of the hand, either....
Letter to the editor: Special needs children, adults deserve choices
Here we go again. Families and guardians of special needs children and adults have been informed that the government is again seeking to cancel 14(c) certificates, which would close down workshops like the one at Clelian Heights in Greensburg. They claim that if these establishments can’t pay special needs workers...
Tom Purcell: Let’s make America profane again
Here’s a regrettable trend: As profanity has become commonplace, swear words are losing their usefulness. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the language used in movies and television has gotten dramatically more profane. There are a couple of reasons why. First is the rise of subscription-based streaming television,...
Lawrence McCullough: Pittsburgh can use the arts to fight intolerance
Pittsburgh has the opportunity to take the lead in a federal initiative that enlists the arts to inspire empathy and combat intolerance. United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture is a set of strategies and funding resources introduced by the Biden-Harris administration to counter the corrosive effects of hate-fueled violence on...
Editorial: Legislators need to make unexpected break a working vacation
Pennsylvania lawmakers aren’t going to be able to go to work for a while. Yes, it sounds like the start to a particularly frustrating joke. But it’s true. The House of Representatives won’t be able to go back into chambers for about three months because of repairs. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star...
Rachel Hadas: McCarthy’s departure from Congress reads like Greek tragedy — but he’s no hero
Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s departure from Congress brings to mind ambition and the other side of ambition’s coin: humiliation — the thirst for fame and power on one side, ignominious failure on the other. Classical literature abounds with ambitious characters; heroes are by definition ambitious. McCarthy says he will “serve America...
Letter to the editor: Giant Eagle’s perks changes drive business to Walmart
I wish the news stories about the enhanced Giant Eagle myPerks would contain all the facts. Currently fuelperks+ users get 10 cents off a gallon of gas or 2% off groceries for every 50 fuelperks. In the future, it will take 100 perks for 10 cents off gas and 150...
Letter to the editor: Protect children from adult material
In regard to the Hempfield Area School District book policy, I’ll use Eden as my high school parable — Voice of Westmoreland (VOW) is the serpent and Moms for Liberty (MFL) are Adam and Eve. VOW seems to want to allow adult material in an under-18 environment. MFL and parents...
Letter to the editor: Facts about weapons in Afghanistan
If I give something to you and you misuse it or transfer ownership to another, your actions aren’t my fault and I shouldn’t be blamed. I’m responsible only for my own actions. Such is the case when, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, millions of dollars worth of...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Dec. 11
Editorial cartoons for the week of Dec. 11....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Dec. 11
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Dec. 11....
Michael Reagan: Has the party of Reagan become the party of quitters?
Monica Crowley summed up the sad state of the Republican Party perfectly last week in a single tweet. Following the House’s 311-114 vote last week to expel the lying GOP weirdo and future criminal defendant George Santos, she wrote: “Republicans bounced George Santos. “Kevin McCarthy is leaving this month. “Bill...
Letter to the editor: Public must weigh in on PRT bus route redesign
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is in the process of redesigning bus lines across Allegheny County, which will have a tremendous impact on our community. It has been almost two decades since the county undertook such a large redesign of bus lines. Public input is being accepted at www.buslineredesign.com until Dec....
Editorial: Why does Pittsburgh care so much about foie gras and fur?
Pittsburgh has important issues to address. There’s crime, including gun violence. There is a police department that needs to staff up. There is homelessness. There are all of the typical things a large city has to address, from economy to infrastructure to affordable housing and so much more. And so...
Letter to the editor: Senate must act on gun bills for safety of all in Pa.
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania believes that the proliferation of handguns and semiautomatic assault weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens, in particular children. Firearms are the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens. For years, we have...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Mike Johnson needs to tell the truth
If you are raising kids and hope to teach them that it is important to respect and obey the law, your job got harder last week. On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson disclosed that the Republican caucus will not release the raw footage of the Jan. 6 insurrection...
Wilson Beaver: Why are we doing so little to counter China’s military buildup?
Our National Defense Strategy identifies China as the primary challenge to the United States. To confront this threat successfully, our military needs more warships, aircraft and munitions. Now. But the Biden administration’s spending does not match its defense strategy. The president’s Emergency Supplemental Request made this clear by asking for...
