Opinion category, Page 321
Hajar Yazdiha: Distortion of MLK’s words enables more, not less, racial division within American society
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is just the latest conservative lawmaker to misuse the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to judge a person on character and not race. In the protracted battle to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, Roy, a Republican, nominated...
Robert Smith: Pa.’s ‘Republican’t’ problem
Pennsylvania Republicans have a representation problem, as evidenced by two recent events. In the recent campaign for governor, won by Democrat Josh Shapiro, certain “Republicans” publicly endorsed the Democrat for governor. Let us consider a few examples from Shapiro’s own webpage to see if we can identify the allure to...
Letter to the editor: Tired of tax money going to leaders’ perks
After reading the details of Nicole Ziccarelli’s “minor” accident, I believe the repairs should have been completed at her expense or at the expense of her personal insurance carrier (“Westmoreland DA: Crash involving county vehicle was ‘minor,’ ” Jan. 7, TribLIVE). Furthermore, why do we continue to supply vehicles to...
Letter to the editor: AP article on Biden shows media bias
The article “Biden’s chosen image takes a hit” (Jan. 15) by Zeke Miller demonstrates the biased nature of the Associated Press. While reporting on President Biden’s mishandling of confidential documents, Miller couldn’t help but take unnecessary swipes at President Trump with phrases such as “after the tumult of his predecessor”...
Editorial: Let’s keep the 2023 election mud slinging to a minimum
It’s way too early for this. It’s January. The gubernatorial inauguration for the 2022 election was just this week. There are still three state House seats to be settled next month in special elections for the 32nd, 34th and 35th districts. People can’t begin circulating or filing nomination petitions for...
Letter to the editor: Trump and antisemitism
The letter “The real antisemitism” (Dec. 17, TribLIVE) stated, “I was angered and offended by another anti-Trump propaganda AP article, this one titled ‘Antisemitic celebrities stoke fears of normalizing hate’ (Dec. 4, TribLIVE). This article attributed a “surge in anti-Jewish vitriol” by citing Donald Trump hosting Kanye West and Nick...
Jonah Goldberg: GOP’s deficit reduction is a cynical performative gesture
For several years now, I’ve been told that the old consensus of fiscal conservatism and limited government was dead. So, you might think I’m delighted by the sudden rebirth of Tea Party-style budget-cutting zeal on display in the GOP’s brinksmanship over the debt ceiling. Not so much. I’ll get to...
Azadeh Masalehdan Block: An American-Iranian in Pittsburgh
Wait a minute … isn’t it supposed to be Iranian American? I was born in New Castle and we moved to Pittsburgh when I was about 3 years old. My family history dates back to 1799 in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Yet this isn’t the first impression many get of me when...
Letter to the editor: Wildlife must be managed, for their safety and ours
The letter “Goose/duck hunt at Mammoth park inhumane” (Jan. 13, TribLIVE) is way off the mark. The geese in question are non-migrating resident geese who have multiplied to where they are creating a problem with their feces all over the place. This creates a problem with disease to the flock...
Letter to the editor: Freedom Congress scores wins for American people
Hopefully the media is informing the public on what the House Freedom Caucus won in their recent pursuit to restore procedural order to Congress. Regarding the handling of bills, the Freedom Caucus secured policy for single subject bills to be debated, amended and voted on individually with a proper 72...
Editorial: Does Norwin director’s book challenge require more context?
Context is important. Context is the difference between someone running down the street being a jogger, someone trying to catch a bus or a criminal fleeing a crime scene. The actions are the same, but the intent and the outcome aren’t. Context matters. And so the context of the language...
Letter to the editor: Why do we need 3 commissioners?
I’d like to respond to both the editorial “Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew’s unforced error” (Dec. 21, TribLIVE) and former Commissioner Ted Kopas’ letter “High-paid commissioners” (Dec. 30, TribLIVE), since I was a commissioner candidate four years ago. The editorial says, “No one else offered up their paychecks.” This is not...
Isaiah Trumbull: Now’s the time to tackle the charter vs. public school problem
After having moved to Pittsburgh, my parents wanted what all parents want — to send their children to the best school possible. When I was in first grade, I attended the Environmental Charter School (ECS) in Regent Square, which at the time had 75 students per grade, because it looked...
Letter to the editor: Ballots of those who don’t follow rules should not be counted
If people are not intelligent enough to understand their state’s voting rules for mail-in ballots, their votes should not be counted by either party. Clem Zahrobsky Delmont...
Letter to the editor: Bovard residents tired of trucks
Once again a tractor-trailer missing turns off 119 ended up in Bovard. This happens numerous times a year. The driver ripped electric lines and a pole at the end of Price Street and damaged property and homes. We were without power for seven hours. There is a child on this...
Editorial: Shapiro’s NDAs miss chance for transparency
Nondisclosure is the enemy of freedom of information. Government of the people doesn’t just encourage transparency. It demands it. It is the responsibility of the people to be informed voters who then make informed decisions about who they want to represent them. That can’t occur if decisions happen behind a...
Letter to the editor: Dems can’t pick Biden as next presidential nominee
President Joe Biden just tossed a giant bone to the Democratic Party with the revelation that, like broadcasting confetti, he distributed classified top-secret government documents throughout his home, inside his Corvette, at the University of Pennsylvania and God only knows where else. I cannot imagine a political party would even...
Letter to the editor: GOP’s shameful special election plan
It is both utterly shameful and wholly predictable that the Pennsylvania House Republican leader, Brian Cutler, wants to leave 100,000 Pennsylvanians without House representation for as long as he possibly can, rather than holding special elections for two open state house seats as soon as possible (“Judges weigh GOP bid...
Tom Purcell: Stove debate a real gas
I love my gas stove — almost as much as I love my Weber gas grill. So I became curious this past week when I heard that a commissioner in one of our ever-expanding federal-government agencies discussed a possible ban on natural gas stoves. As the story goes, Richard Trumka...
Elwood Watson: What would Martin Luther King Jr. think of our America?
This month, as we celebrate Black history, millions of Americans will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King was, without question, one of the greatest historical figures of the 20th century. He dedicated his life in an effort to ensure the ideals of life, liberty and the...
Aaron Smith: Pa.’s K-12 funding needs major reforms, not more money
On the campaign trail, Josh Shapiro championed more money for public schools. Now that Democrats control Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives for the first time in over a decade, the state’s governor-elect will likely find ample support for that goal. “Everyone knows that our schools are chronically underfunded,” said state Rep....
Letter to the editor: Immigrants can help fill jobs
Regarding the many opinions on the lack of blue-collar workers: Our area loses about 1,000-plus people per year to overdoses, plus the thousands who are addicted or imprisoned. Our schools and parents push young people away from the blue-collar lifestyle of getting up every morning, packing your lunch and going...
Letter to the editor: Let’s get over ourselves and work for good of America
I don’t often voice an opinion publicly on politics, but with that being said: It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or Republican; I think if we all stand back and look from a bird’s-eye view, which is the way the rest of the world is looking at us,...
Editorial: Pennsylvania must prepare to pay claims
The Pennsylvania Senate last week passed a bill tying together three unrelated proposed constitutional amendments that included compensation for sexual abuse victims, leaving in question whether any of those matters will appear on ballots this year as referendums. The Senate majority wants amendments to require mandatory voter identification, even for...
Letter to the editor: EPA’s new soot standards welcome
I appreciate the Trib’s consistent coverage of air quality events. As a Pittsburgh resident, I have grown all too familiar with the smell of “code orange” alerts. Stepping outside, I can often tell without checking the news that the air is thick with soot. This odor is not just an...
