Opinion category, Page 636
Letter to the editor: Standing with Black Lives Matter
This has been a difficult time for Americans. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others have the country reeling in pain and demanding justice and equity. I have to ask, “What is the role of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in responding to these...
John Stossel: Violence, looting set back racial progress
“No justice, no peace!” they shout. Then they break windows. It makes me furious. But then I watch the video of the Minneapolis cop kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, while Floyd repeatedly says, “I can’t breathe,” and three other officers just watch. Then I see the video of the woman...
Walter Williams: Some facts worth knowing on the rich and the poor
Imagine that you are an unborn spirit in heaven. God condemns you to a life of poverty but will permit you to choose the country in which you will spend your life. Which country would you choose? I would choose the United States of America. A recent study by Just...
Rich Askey: To reopen our schools safely, Pennsylvania needs Congress’ help
In the months since covid-19 closed our schools, educators, parents, and students did a tremendous job transitioning from classrooms to kitchens and living rooms across Pennsylvania. Teachers continued teaching, and students continued learning — at a distance. This is far from the perfect way to educate our students. It’s not...
Gene Torisky: Why I marched
No one asked why I participated in the Greensburg and Latrobe rallies for George Floyd — not that I expected it. A few observers in Latrobe seemed to assume all 100 marchers were violent members of “the antifa.” I say this because of the matching “(expletive) antifa” T-shirts those onlookers...
Letter to the editor: Gov. Tom Wolf’s comforting words
By now we all are familiar with Gov. Tom Wolf’s soft, reassuring words regarding the coronavirus and what we must do to stop it, to “protect lives.” On the surface his demeanor comes across as comforting. All the while elderly people were being isolated and dying in nursing homes, our...
Letter to the editor: Tobacco taxes and dying
Close to 500,000 Americans die every year as a result of smoking. I think we should start there. Do you think all the tax money from tobacco has anything to do with that? Clem Zahrobsky Delmont...
Letter to the editor: Contrasts in America
Within the last week we have seen two contrasting sides of America. The first one deals with the George Floyd killing and the protests. Some are peaceful and legitimate. Many others are an excuse to vandalize, loot, burn businesses and a historic church, causing hundreds of millions in damages. Many...
Letter to the editor: We need to get back to normal
Things I’ve learned from the coronavirus: Gov. Tom Wolf chastised Ben Roethlisberger for getting a haircut, but his hair and beard are always neatly trimmed. I heard a rumor that the governor gave his barber a waiver. We are mandated by the governor to wear masks while in public, but...
Lori Falce: Good cops have power to demand change
I have never known a bad cop. I’ve been a reporter for 33 years. I’ve known a lot of cops in that time. I’ve known young cops who were enthusiastic and idealistic. I’ve known veterans who were still moved deeply at bad crime scenes. I’ve known retired cops who carried...
Saleem Ghubril: A message for Pittsburgh region’s children — you are special and loved
It was Friday evening, May 29, the end of a rough week, but not yet the end of a challenging season that has caused all of us to be under lockdown. Mr. George Floyd was killed that week, another life taken while being black and male in America. I got...
Laurels & lances: Ballots, memorials and bikes
Laurel: To making every vote count. There is no pretending that this primary election was like anything anyone has experienced before. For the people casting ballots, a delay for the covid-19 pandemic put the date squarely in the midst of sweeping protests — sometimes peaceful and sometimes violent. But for...
Rosanne Granieri: Finding the goodness during pandemic
As we enter the green phase of the coronavirus pandemic recovery, I have reflected on the past few months. I listened to stories of families torn apart by the death of loved ones. I observed individuals and groups display false bravado as they ignored expert scientific advice, claiming invulnerability to...
Letter to the editor: Group descriptions contribute to divisiveness
By describing events in terms of black vs. white, gay vs. straight, old vs. young, etc., journalists are fragmenting this country. If events like the Minneapolis tragedy were to leave out a group association, how different this country could be. Ron Kowach Southwest Greensburg...
Letter to the editor: Our country is like a church
Our country has become like a church, very “religious.” Here is the proof: 1. We have serious financial problems. 2. We are divided (reopen or not?). 3. For every problem, the leaders are blamed. 4. There are always some obnoxious people who do not cooperate. 5. We learned again that...
Letter to the editor: Sentence in deer torture outrageous
Outrageous! The entire point of changing animal abuse laws is so what took place in that abhorrent deer torture video wouldn’t end exactly the way it did. The older of the two teens who tortured a deer in Brookville may as well have been given a ribbon and prize. Cruelty...
Letter to the editor: Now is the time to reduce Pa. Legislature
There is no better time to press politicians to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Why? Because currently the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, at 203 members, is the largest full-time state House in the country. Because the state budget is in turmoil from covid-19. Because in 2015, when House...
Letter to the editor: Protesters’ destruction just adds to problem
Here we go again. People say they are protesting the injustice of brutality, and that part is fine. Why does this make it OK to destroy property, burn buildings, loot businesses and block public highways? A protest is one thing; destruction is quite another. How about the injustice happening to...
Letter to the editor: Giant Eagle shows care for customers
I was in Giant Eagle the other day and a man was asked to leave the store if he would not wear a mask. Despite his protests of a medical condition as his reason to not wear one, the store insisted and he begrudgingly put on a mask. I applaud...
Editorial: As school days beckon, clarity is the first lesson
Schools can get back to teaching and providing activities for students starting July 1. The Pennsylvania Department of Education made that announcement Wednesday with the release of the Process to Reopen Pennsylvania — a procedure that requires schools to develop health and safety plans, implement guidelines from the Centers for...
The Rev. Randy Bush: What fills the space between us?
Dog walks are now both an excuse and a necessity. They are an excuse to get out of the house and walk around the neighborhood. And they are how we see other people during these days of “stay at home” orders and pandemic precautions. To the dog, the walks are...
Corey May: Mystery complicates Lyme disease treatment
On Sept. 22, 2015, I received a kidney transplant at Allegheny General Hospital. Ever since, I have done everything within my power to be grateful for and reverent to my new kidney, which has served me well — until now. It is under attack. Even with total clothing cover, I...
Letter to the editor: Disrespect for veterans sad
When my family went to put Memorial Day flowers and flags on my dad’s grave at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in North Versailles, we found his metal World War II flag holder was stolen from his gravesite along with my grandfather’s World War I flag holder. What has happened to this...
Letter to the editor: Coronavirus and civil disobedience
Our fellow citizens of faith were not permitted to worship God in their place of worship because of a social distancing edict being reinforced to control a pandemic virus. In some cases, in states and cities run by progressives (i.e., Democrats), law enforcement monitored and cited those who dared to...
Letter to the editor: Will America survive Trump?
I received a letter from President Trump telling me what I already knew. My economic impact payment was deposited in my bank. What I would like to know is, how much taxpayer money was wasted on this blatant attempt by Trump to toot his own horn? It is amazing he...
