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Schools need to be wary of political leanings of programs

An event took place last week that is of grave concern to me and should be of concern to every parent whose children (primarily 7th & 8th graders) attended a play at the Community Arts Center entitled Mad River’s “Keep on Marching”. According to the C.A.C. website, the event was sponsored by UPMC. I cannot critique the play because I did not see it. Its focus was to be on the Martin Luther King Jr.-led 1963 March on Washington. The speech Dr. King gave at that event has become one of the most recognized and beloved speeches in American history. Arguably, its most well known line ...

Congress must act to protect police

It’s never been more dangerous to be in law enforcement. In Pennsylvania and across the nation, ambush-style shootings of officers have become all too common. On Feb. 6, 2023, McKeesport Police Officers Sean Sluganski and Chuck Thomas responded to a domestic incident. While appearing to be walking away, the assailant suddenly turned and shot both officers, killing Officer Sluganski and seriously wounding Officer Thomas. On June 17, 2023, Pennsylvania State Trooper Jacques Rougeau, Jr., was supposed to be off, but put on his uniform and went to work when his station was attacked. ...

Maryland puts grid to the test while Pennsylvania pays bill

Last year, the Maryland General Assembly announced plans to reduce its output of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 60% by 2031. The Climate Pollution Reduction Plan was sold as a roadmap to achieve near-term climate goals and a path to reach net zero emissions by 2045, setting the tone for environmental and energy decision-making throughout the state. The problem with this roadmap is that it leads to nowhere but disruption to the reliability of our electric supply and a higher cost to all ratepayers, including Pennsylvanians. Yes, Pennsylvania ratepayers will pay part of the costs generated ...

Remembering Operation Desert Storm

We remember the service and sacrifice of our citizens who faced a massive Iraqi Army 33 years ago this week. The Iraqi Army had just come out of an eight-year war with Iran. Skilled in modern warfare and equipped with chemical weapons, the Iraqi forces were confident of victory. It all began on Aug. 2, 1990, when Saddam Hussein ordered his army to invade and occupy Kuwait. President Herbert Walker Bush acted swiftly and ordered American forces into the region. By January 1991, nearly 700,000 U.S. forces backed by 256,000 allied and coalition forces were in the region. My own ...

Fear, facts and COVID-19

Merriam-Webster defines fear as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” Fear was essential to humanity’s early survival, and it is still crucial today. It is one of our most basic and most powerful emotions; it helps us to recognize and respond to threats. Feeling so little fear that we fail to anticipate or respond to serious threats is obviously bad. Overwhelming fear that keeps us from responding to danger is just as bad. Fear of something that isn’t dangerous (or doesn’t exist) can be bad too because it limits our enjoyment of ...

A more dangerous form of piracy

The Bible opens with the words “In the beginning.” Modern physics has finally caught up with the Bible. Out of chaos, after the big bang, came the stars, the planets and ultimately humankind. Leaving for Israel, I could not help but think of how Israel has traveled from chaos to order and back to chaos again. October 7, 2023, to borrow Roosevelt’s phrase about Pearl Harbor, will not only live in “infamy” because of the Hamas assault upon farmers, innocents, peace activists, and especially women, but because it marked a descent of humanity into the bowels of unspeakable ...