Opinion category, Page 107
Editorial: Putin’s weaker than he looks. Seize the opportunity
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to project an image of economic strength while prosecuting the war in Ukraine, as if he could easily outlast the West’s efforts to counter his aggression. If President-elect Donald Trump and other Western leaders want to negotiate a prudent peace deal, they shouldn’t buy...
Letter to the editor: St. Nicholas legends show point of Christmas
It’s the demise of our culture, especially today, how we’ve taken great characters in history and twisted their purpose toward fulfilling our worldly fantasies. One of these characters is St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), the saintly legend whose story has been obscured by modern society. There are two events in...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Dec. 23
Editorial cartoons for the week of Dec. 23....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Dec. 23
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Dec. 23....
Letter to the editor: Did you vote for Elon Musk?
Who voted for Elon Musk to represent them in Congress? Why does anyone in Congress (Republicans) listen to him instead of their constituents who voted them into office? Tim Babyak Perryopolis...
Letter to the editor: The importance of Dec. 25
Christmas has been hijacked from a Christian holy day to a day of commercial self-gratification, and few people seem to care. When examining the roots of Christmas, one finds that by the fourth century, the Christian church had established itself as the official faith of the Roman Empire and had...
Editorial: Self-exclusion is a cry for help
The state does a lot of things to keep people safe. It creates laws about domestic violence. It paints lines on roads. It makes sure the water is clean, the ground is unpolluted and the air is clear. In many cases, the state keeps people safe from themselves. Pennsylvania governs...
Letter to the editor: Faith the only way to tell the Christmas story
He (Joseph) took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Friendship, the greatest gift
Not much good is expected from the combination of politics and the internet these days. But for our family, the gift of Christmas 2024 — celebrating a friendship across the sea that was borne of politics and the internet — is an exception to that rule. Some years ago, weary...
Kathryn Anne Edwards: The influencer economy exposes a 70-year problem for women
The holidays are upon us, and more than ever the burgeoning influencer economy is having an impact on what consumers buy. Few reliable statistics can be found concerning the influencer profession, but several studies suggest the industry is dominated by women in their homes selling products related to the personal...
James Densley, Jillian Peterson and David Riedman: Here’s what is so unusual about the Wisconsin school shooting — and what isn’t
The Dec. 16 shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., shocked the nation, not only for its horror but for its unique profile. This time, a teenage girl opened fire inside her school, killing a teacher, another student and apparently herself, and injuring six others. Although female school...
Sounding off: Politics letter-writers’ top topic
Don’t castigate real Democrats I stewed as I read and reread the letters “Trump’s victory shows rejection of Democrats’ ways” (Nov. 15, TribLive) and “Better under Trump? Think again” (Nov. 15, TribLive). As a lifelong Democrat, I take exception to the castigating of real Democrats. The Democratic Party has been...
Letter to the editor: Biden a flawed president, flawed man
I was a young, politically naive man during Jimmy Carter’s time in office, but even then I could see his was a failed presidency. The humiliation of the Iran hostage situation, including the failed rescue mission, high inflation, record high interest rates, etc. led to this conclusion. In spite of...
Editorial: Will Westmoreland County finally hire an elections director?
Westmoreland County Director of County Operations Greg McCloskey has retired. People do this every day. Yahoo Finance reports an estimated 6.1 million Americans have retired this year — or will in the next 10 days. McCloskey is 61 — a hair short of the traditional 65 but definitely in the...
Letter to the editor: Don’t castigate real Democrats
I stewed as I read and reread the letters “Trump’s victory shows rejection of Democrats’ ways” (Nov. 15, TribLive) and “Better under Trump? Think again”(Nov. 15, TribLive). As a lifelong Democrat, I take exception to the castigating of real Democrats. The Democratic Party has been infiltrated by progressives, poisoning their...
Gary Franks: Lincoln’s pardon and Trump’s victory
In politics, there are some things we have seen before and some things we have not. Abraham Lincoln was criticized for giving a pardon to a family member. So family pardons are not new. How about President-elect Donald Trump’s recent victory over the legacy press? Now that is different. It...
S.E. Cupp: The press must resist Trump’s bullying lawsuits
In his first week as a federal judge, Murray Gurfein was assigned the biggest case of his life. He’d just been nominated to the Southern District of New York by President Richard Nixon in April 1971, and confirmed by the Senate in May when the Pentagon Papers case landed on...
Rep. Jesse Topper: We can stop the pinch who stole Christmas
It is a few days before Christmas and across the commonwealth, Pennsylvania families are busy looking for last-minute holiday gifts, planning for family gatherings and engaging in charitable efforts to help those in their communities during the holiday season. However, this season is another stark reminder that every Pennsylvanian is...
Stephen Lind: People thought ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ would fail. Sincerity powered its success.
It’s hard to imagine the holidays without “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The 1965 broadcast has become a staple of the season for many generations. But this beloved TV special almost didn’t make it to air. CBS executives thought the 25-minute program was too slow, too serious and too different from...
Letter to the editor: Biden was right to pardon his son
NEWS FLASH: President Biden pardoned Hunter! Oh no, earth-shattering tragedy, moral abyss, epic lies! Oh, please. This in no way equates to allowing the Proud Boys to break into the Capitol ranting, “Hang Mike Pence.” Biden is absolutely right to pardon Hunter after the MAGAs made it clear that, for...
Letter to the editor: Sheriff’s divisive letter tarnishes office
In eight years of submitting opinions, I have never rebutted others. After all, it’s just an opinion. But when a county officeholder receives county funds, I believe taxpayers do have a say. I’m not sure why the chief law enforcement officer of Westmoreland County found the need, or the time,...
Laurels & lances: Taxes & sentencing
Laurel: To taking action. Tarentum property owners will feel an extra pinch in their tax bill next year, but it might be a better benefit in the long run. Council passed a 9% tax increase that will take the cost for an average homeowner from $219 to $239. So what...
Letter to the editor: First responders deserve help for PTSD
We applaud the Trib and its excellent coverage of Act 121, the PTSD law for first responders, including Patrick Varine’s article “Legislation aims to address post-traumatic stress among first responders” (Dec. 12, TribLive) and the editorial “Post-traumatic stress is a shock to the system for first responders” (Dec. 15, TribLive)....
Lori Falce: Is Trump captain of his ship or is Musk?
The prow of a ship is often decorated with a carved object. It may represent the name of the vessel. It may be something important to the owner or the nation whose flag flies on the mast. Over the years, these have been depictions of deities. They have been mythological...
Paul Kengor: The NFL disses Christmas
Count Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and a devout Christian, among the NFL players not happy about the league scheduling games this year on Christmas Day — a Wednesday no less. The Chiefs will play in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. For the Chiefs, there’s an added affront. Because the...
