Regarding John Steigerwald’s insensible and disheartening piece on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (“It might be time to show skepticism about CTE research.”): To date, we have come to realize that 1) the world is not flat, 2) asbestos is bad, 3) cigarettes cause cancer and 4) lead will poison you. Humanity has taken many once-popular notions and, when proof is irrefutable, turned them upside down for the good of mankind. This kind of seismic change never comes easily or quickly. Such is the case with CTE.

CTE is very real. We lost our son Patrick Risha to CTE and we created an awareness foundation in his name. CTE sufferers, desperate for help, contact us every day. Patrick only played football through college. Yet that set the stage for CTE in his otherwise brilliant brain.

Mr. Steigerwald, it’s not just football: it’s boxing, rodeo, hockey, motor sports, stunt work, military training and combat, domestic abuse — and the list goes on. It’s anything with repetitive impact that inflames and weakens the brain for the onset of CTE.

Another thing that destroys brains are uninformed or frivolous arguments by those who want to pick apart the science to keep things the way they are; delay the inevitable conclusion. Attack the science and maybe we can keep bashing our heads for another decade for our entertainment and otherwise.

Steigerwald can pretend he didn’t hear the warnings. We urge you to listen to the other side.

Learn and share the truth about CTE, and in doing so save lives. Visit StopCTE.org.

Karen and Doug Zegel, Doylestown

Minds change on abortion

Thank you for your coverage of the March for Life and the statements by President Trump about his position on abortion (“Trump, a late convert to cause, attends anti-abortion rally”). You repeated Trump’s statement from 1999 that he was “pro-choice in every respect.” We witnessed at the March for Life what can happen if a person is willing to learn from the “facts of life” and honestly change his mind.

Trump’s past statements make him seem like an unlikely advocate for the preborn child. But he was not the first guy to change his mind. National Abortion Rights Action League founder Dr. Bernard Nathanson was an ob-gyn who aborted thousands of babies. Later he changed his mind and became a staunch advocate for life. He made the movie “The Silent Scream” about the horror of abortion and became an outspoken advocate for the baby in the womb.

Look at Roe v. Wade. The woman the feminists “used” as “Roe” in the famous 1973 case never had an abortion. Norma McCorvey was simply a tool in the hands of the feminist attorneys who argued the case. McCorvey rejected abortion and became an outspoken heroine in the pro-life movement.

The media remains reluctant to betray the feminist/Democrat/abortion industry. People should know there are more than 40 pregnancy support centers in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and we will continue to offer assistance — free of charge — to any woman who asks.

Helen Cindrich, North Versailles

Let Trump keep fighting corruption

During his inaugural address President Trump spoke about the relationship between the people of this country and the government class in Washington. He used the line, “Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs.” Although accurate, I would have added, “Their prosperity has not been your prosperity.”

The government class in Washington has been getting rich off working Americans for many years. There are countless scams that line the pockets of politicians (and their families, friends and cronies) paid for by working Americans. One does not have to look very hard to see that every politician in Washington is a multi-millionaire. Every bill in Washington funnels money to a politician in some way.

Trump is fighting this corruption. But the politicians are fighting back. And losing. They know they cannot beat him at the ballot box — so they are going to try to remove him through impeachment.

The only crime Trump has committed is the “crime” of ending government corruption and cleaning out the cesspool in Washington. All corrupt politicians in Washington are saying to themselves, “We gotta get rid of this guy.” Do not let them have this victory.

John Meskanick, Lincoln Place

Trump’s actions don’t support his pro-life ploy

I have journeyed to Washington, D.C., a number of times for the March for Life in support of the pro-life movement. In the 1970s I was a bus captain, and my daughter accompanied me on one of the trips.

I was shocked when I read that the pro-life community was enthralled and supportive of President Trump’s appearance and speech at the rally (“Western Pa. pro-life activists excited for Trump appearance at March for Life”).

I recently read a letter to the editor from a writer who quoted Pope Francis as indicating that Trump is similar to King Herod, who sacrificed male children who were 2 or younger in an attempt to kill Jesus. Trump has acted just like Herod by placing young children in cages and separating parents from their infant children, then sending the children thousands of miles from their parents. When their parents have sought to find them, the federal government did not know where some of them they were.

Trump and his radical Republican cohorts have made it more difficult for poor foreign countries to receive contraceptive aid, and have forced Planned Parenthood facilities to close by eliminating their federal funding. This means poor citizens in the United States are being denied contraceptives and pre- and post-pregnancy services. These efforts do not deter abortion, they encourage it.

Before he became the Republican standard- bearer, Trump was a vocal proponent of choice. Describing himself as pro-life is simply another ploy he used to get elected president.

Richard P. Davis, Saltlick

E-cigarettes are an epidemic for our kids

Our nation is facing a youth e-cigarette epidemic, setting up our kids to become the next generation hooked on tobacco, and continuing the cycle of tobacco addiction and the diseases that come with it.

The federal government isn’t doing enough to protect kids.

The American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” 2020 report found the federal government failed to protect kids from flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes.

That’s why it’s so important that U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb supports House Resolution 2339, legislation that would remove these flavors from the market. Congress can do more in 2020 to protect kids from a lifetime of tobacco addiction.

As a parent, I urge Lamb to support HR 2339, which will reduce tobacco use and save lives.

Alison R. Yazer, Sewickley

Gas industry/cancer study applauded

We should all be pleased that Gov. Tom Wolf has allocated public money, namely $3 million, to study gas industry effects and cancer, especially child cancers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. As a chemist, I can only imagine how complex it will be to study multiple possible effects of a controversial heavy industry like shale gas development.

For such a study, it is critical to include an advisory/review group composed of citizens in the affected counties as well as scientists. Citizen participation is critical to ensure that those in the community feel their voices are heard and can increase the likelihood of open doors when the needed samples are collected. This advisory board should be included in the review of projects to be undertaken and ways the public can stay informed of work in progress.

Members of this board may also be effective educators in explaining to the public the rationale behind the decisions made. This is about our tax dollars and the health of our kids. Everyone deserves to know how public money is spent and how to protect our kids from pollution.

Lou Pochet, Hempfield

Westmoreland’s dire budget situation

I was alarmed by the article about Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli’s square off with County Controller Jeffrey Balzer (“Westmoreland controller calls for bigger county tax increase”). Our county had to use $5.5 million from its surplus fund to balance this year’s budget, leaving only a projected less than $300,000 in the surplus coffers for 2021.

This alarms me because (1) the county has relied on this “surplus” to balance the budget annually for greater than 10 years now, and (2) if the county requires $20 million to cover two months of expenses, this $300,000 covers only about 20 hours of operations! Many financial planners recommend individuals have an “emergency fund” with enough to cover six months of expenses without income.

This situation is dire. Running at a deficit is not a viable option. And it seems unwise to bank on a legal settlement not yet secured. There is no “sure way” to rebuild our coffers, other than to raise taxes.

Let’s face the harsh facts — goods and services cost money, and the needs of our citizens change over time. There will be no other choice, in balancing our budget, than to cut expenses. Then taxpaying citizens may lose their jobs, and we will all be at a loss of some significant goods and services on which many rely.

Susan Wilson, Greensburg

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---