Sounding off: Vaccination is our moral duty

We have been dealing with the covid pandemic for nearly two years now, and it is becoming part of everyday life. When it first spread out over the country, schools closed and parents were responsible to teach their children or make it possible for remote learning. Before too long came complaining and protesting. Then they realized they did not have much of a choice, so they just sucked it up and worked with it.

As pharmaceutical companies are working 24/7 manufacturing vaccines and the government is doing its due diligence to have people get their inoculations, there are still many people who refuse to get it, and many now are refusing to have their children wear masks to school.

These parents are fighting with the same government agencies that have developed ways for children to get back in the classrooms. The parents, however, are still complaining “My child, my decision” or “You can’t infringe on my rights.” Well, parents, have you forgotten about your moral obligation to help your fellow man? This pandemic is a worldwide illness, and not getting immunized is just giving it more strength and not giving the world one up on the deadly virus.

Stop believing social media conspiracies about the vaccines causing sterility in women or containing microchips. Read instead the CDC guidelines and follow them. They are true, honest and accurate. Go get your shot and quit fighting.

Peg Bittner, South Park

If school leaders won’t protect children, parents must

Thank you, Frank Flori, for your letter regarding the lack of leadership in our school systems and the lack of intelligent and informed decision-making that our children rely on (“Vaccination, not God or selfishness, is the way out”).

To allow the loud voices of a few, filled with false information and conspiracy theories, to dictate policy-making of an entire school district is unconscionable, shameful and infuriating. It’s amazing that school board members and administrators have become infectious disease experts when most probably have a hard time with sixth grade math.

Patricia Kimball, Unity

Hoping Biden can last 4 years

We should all pray tonight that President Biden can serve out his full four-year term.

If he can’t, we get veep Kamala Harris. If she falters, we get House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. If she can’t go, we get Senate President Pro Tem Patrick Leahy. Next, it’s Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Well, you get the picture.

Sleep tight.

Frank Myers, Southwest Greensburg

In Afghanistan, history repeats itself

The Roman Empire fell, in part, when the government began paying tribute to the invaders rather than defending their borders and allies. President Biden has hastily (and dangerously) withdrawn from Afghanistan, leaving tribute to the Taliban in his wake. Billions in military equipment, including sophisticated aircraft, drones and firearms, were left as spoils to the enemy. A sound withdrawal plan by the prior administration that could have avoided this was discarded.

Moreover, we left standing military bases to be used against us should the Taliban choose to make hostages from remaining American citizens. Worse, Biden was publicly condemned by our allies for implementing this plan. The CCP is telling our allies to choose China over the U.S. as we have demonstrated our global weaknesses.

We don’t know how this will end, but the troubling conclusion is even more difficult to accept. While there continues to be a question as to Biden’s competence, one must assume that our intelligence experts are either equally incompetent or, even more disturbing, this was intentional.

When Rome was finally sacked, patriotism had been replaced with individuality rather than the common good, and Rome’s collapse followed shortly thereafter. The repercussions of this are disturbing. President Obama’s withdrawal of troops from Iraq resulted in the rise of ISIS. Who knows what terrorist organization will be created from this debacle, as our enemies now have the location and finest equipment to plan their attack.

Richard Lafferty, Butler

How can anyone praise Afghanistan withdrawal?

How can anyone in their right mind say this withdrawal from Afghanistan was good? I cannot comprehend how anyone human would condone what has been done. Not only did we abandon those people, we abandoned our own. Left equipment that will be used in whatever evil endeavors they may choose. It is beyond belief. Where is the outcry that would have been deafening if President Trump had done such a thing?

Should we have pulled out of Afghanistan? Perhaps so, but the way it was done is criminal, unforgivable, inhumane and certainly not acceptable. Is this the example we show the world and our children of who we are? May God forgive us as a nation and take control of our government officials, whoever they may be.

Eileen Condie, Hempfield

Good experience with electric vehicle

In response to Donald Nelson’s letter “Issues with electric vehicles”: I have owned a Chevy Bolt EV (electric vehicle) for a little over two years and my comments are based on my experience.

For most of the year with a full charge I can drive about 300 miles of range, less in winter. How many days does the average driver put more than 300 miles on a car? As to the claim that recharging “would add an enormous amount of time for a trip”: Using the readily available commercial chargers, my car can get about 90 miles of charge in 10-15 minutes.

2. Currently there are over 70,000 commercial charging stations, and more are being installed every day. When cars were first becoming popular, the only place you could buy gasoline was a drug store! That didn’t stop the use of cars; it only expanded the opportunity to create a whole new business.

3. Someone does have to pay for the electricity — the person using it pays by inserting a credit card into the charger, exactly like buying gasoline.

4. My Bolt has an overall efficiency of 144 mpg energy equivalent. Using electricity in my car saves gasoline and dramatically reduces pollution.

Finally, for the most part I charge my car at night when demand on the grid is reduced and this evens out the demand on the grid. Your comment on the use of hydrogen has been studied in great detail and it is another “can of worms” that would involve much more discussion than can be handled here!

Kenneth R. Nath, Saltsburg

Work for peace to honor 9/11 victims

When the terrorist attacks were committed on this country 20 years ago, we had one shot to be the United States. One shot to honor the victims of the tragedy by clamoring for peace and restraint. Unfortunately, we blew it.

We spiraled into belligerence, and terror. We spiraled down the bowels of Islamophobia that marginalized Americans of this country in need of protection. Americans on their driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Americans in their oath of allegiance and certificate of naturalization.

Suddenly, this country’s policies were enacted because of Islamophobia. The Patriot Act of October 2001 gave law enforcement broader power to target Muslim communities without the use of warrants. We watched as immigration policies in the U.S. suddenly started folding their welcoming arms and began to shift from paths toward citizenship to deportation. Suddenly, Muslim communities were not only victims of the attacks as Americans, they were being blamed for them.

We can honor the victims of 9/11 by working for peace, and the understanding that this world is only as great as our collective work toward stamping out injustice and discrimination. And that needs to be the new American way toward the new American dream.

Gino Ferretti, South Park

The writer is communications coordinator for the Western Pennsylvania chapter of Veterans for Peace.