Sounding off: Ignorance, apathy threaten democracy

A university professor told his class that the greatest threats to democracy were ignorance and apathy. When he asked his students to explain the difference, one responded, not knowing it was the correct answer, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

In the 2020 presidential election, voters took a step forward against apathy when both candidates received record numbers of votes. That was the good news.

The bad news then and since is that ignorance continues. Some of my Republican friends still believe (according to pollsters) things that are simply untrue.

Many of the former president’s followers bought the “big wall” story that Mexico was going to pay construction costs; Mexican leaders said they wouldn’t, end of discussion. Swallowing that lie, many became gullible to countless others.

It follows that more than 60% of the Republicans believe the “big lie” that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, all evidence to the contrary.

We shouldn’t wonder that many of these folks disbelieve their own eyes after viewing the Jan. 6 insurrection. People died and more than 100 were injured. “Tourists” didn’t attack the Capitol, as one Republican lawmaker suggested.

Recounting votes in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania or elsewhere won’t change the outcome. Three recounts in Georgia prove the point. Joe Biden won.

And by the way, there are no chips in vaccines.

Glenn R. Plummer, Unity

Make Election Day a holiday

Wife and I were discussing the state of our political system this morning. I came up with a way to possibly increase the turnout for upcoming elections. Declare a national holiday for each and any Election Day. Then everyone can vote, as they desire, with no time pressure, at least from their employer.

Al Bowers, Tarentum

Vaccine ignorance can’t stall our recovery

We daily hear the call for Americans to get vaccinated. Yet, amazingly, after a year of over 600,000 American dead, far too many refuse to get the vaccine that can save not only their lives, but the lives of their loved ones.

We live in a nation where misinformation and conspiracies abound. Many still believe the “big lie” that the presidential election was rigged or stolen, even though not an iota of evidence is given to support such absurdity. And sadly, too many refuse to concede that the Jan. 6 attack on our Capitol was truly an act of treasonous sedition.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that many of those espousing such nonsense also believe the covid vaccine will do them harm instead of good.

Getting vaccinated should be an act of patriotism, and the vaccinated must not be held hostage to the unvaccinated. The unvaccinated cannot be allowed to deprive the rest of us our rights to safety and the basic pleasures and freedoms of daily life. Thus the need for businesses, government and educational institutions to mandate the vaccine.

Vaccine ignorance cannot be allowed to undermine the nation’s recovery. Otherwise, this pandemic will never be put to rest.

Ron Slabe, Oakmont

Diagnosing the president

Regarding the letter “Biden’s decline is evident”: I don’t see Dr. or Ph.D. in Douglas Johnston’s signature, so I will assume he is not qualified to diagnose the president as having “aging health problems.”

Since Johnston wants to play a doctor in the newspaper, he should more closely examine his patient’s performance and mental status during the 2020 presidential debates. Nearly every major news source and citizen poll declared President Biden the victor during both debates.

Perhaps Johnston and others would have an improved assessment of Biden’s mental health and he would appear more lucid if he called women pigs, incited an attempt to undo a free and fair election, and pointed out the positive attributes of the “good people” who claim to be white supremacists.

Thomas C. Spallone, Hempfield

Wondering about the left

Some things I wonder about:

Why would anyone want to defund the police?

Why would anyone want to turn their backs while the national anthem is being played?

Why would anyone want to burn our flag, tear down our statues or set fire to buildings before they loot them?

Why would so many people prefer to sit at home and draw unemployment while so many jobs are available?

Why do so many people think the world owes them a living? Have they no pride?

Why is abortion OK, but if a pregnant woman is murdered, the assailant is charged with two killings?

If Black lives matter, and they do, why are they killing each other in epidemic numbers?

Why have the Democrats allowed themselves to be taken over by the radical left of their party, followers of Karl Marx, the founder of communism?

Why would the left insist that we kneel at the altar of science in terms of the covid pandemic but ignore biological science in terms of gender?

Does President Biden even know what day it is without looking at his notes?

Why is anyone who disagrees with the radical left labeled a racist? This illustrates the ignorance of the left.

Why are “woke” themes and critical race theory being taught in our schools and even our military?

I am an elderly white man. Why should I be held responsible for what happened centuries ago? I owe nothing to no one.

Ken Bearer, North Buffalo Township

God does care about church rules

In his letter “God doesn’t care about churches’ rules”, Carl Jones opines that God, not for one second, cares about the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church. Thus he thinks all letters relating to the receiving of Holy Communion by President Biden should stop.

Jones claims God has no concern for the laws governing the most holy sacrament of the Catholic Church, Holy Communion. He suggests we should read the Bible and educate ourselves, as the Bible is where God is. I have read the Bible, the canon of which was compiled by the Catholic Church, so let me give it a shot.

Jesus established his church, the one true church, the Catholic Church, appointed St. Peter as its first head and gave it authority to speak in his name (Matthew 16:18-19). The aforementioned authority is what separates the Catholic Church from all others. In John chapter 6, the “Bread of Life Discourse,” Jesus says multiple times his flesh is real food, his blood real drink, specifically in verses 54-57. St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:23-29), speaks to the consequences of receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ in an unworthy manner.

God does care. As he told Peter in Matthew 16:18-19: “What you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven, what you loose on Earth will be loosed in heaven.” I don’t think one can mock or contradict God without bringing judgment upon himself.

Rudolph Puchan, Latrobe

Blood on Biden’s hands

President Joe Biden has a lot of blood on his hands. His misguided decision to announce, and then implement, the immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, while leaving behind billions of dollars in weapons and equipment for the Taliban to use, is insane.

Regardless of what the Taliban say, I believe they will systematically locate and slaughter all Afghans that have helped us in the past, and subject Afghan women to unthinkable atrocities, and will also use their newfound weapons and equipment to attack our allies and potentially us.

Nice job, Biden. Your foreign policy genius shines once again.

Ed Davis, Greensburg