Opinion category, Page 699
James Thrasher: Can the self-destructing Antonio Brown be saved?
When you think life revolves around you, then destruction is waiting at your doorstep. In a recent YouTube video, NFL star Antonio Brown passionately reached out to share his self-absorbed life. The video captured how he views himself. “I get mad at it, but I love it — the game...
Zachary Barber: Pollution is U.S. Steel’s gift to Pittsburgh
There’s always something special in the air over the holiday season. This year, unfortunately, that something was a foul-smelling haze of dangerous industrial pollution. Even in an area known for dirty air, things have been especially bad lately. On Dec. 20, while most of us were doing our last-minute holiday...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Is this the right time for war?
When Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary in Sarajevo in 1914, the Serbian nationalist had no idea that his singular act would eventually consume the world. But sometimes assassinations do not end with the end of one life. If Princip thought that the archduke’s death would simply rid...
William McCloskey: Specter of Westinghouse haunts the ‘Castle’
There’s a grand ghost story unfolding with the spirit of old George Westinghouse arising in the little town of Wilmerding as its principal landmark stirs back to life after decades in limbo. “The Castle,” as it’s been known locally for generations, soon will be reanimated as a specialty hotel of...
Editorial: Turnpike crash showed hospital skill
One car slams into another at an intersection. It might be no one’s fault. Slick roads. A blown tire. Something goes wrong, and now there are people that need help. This scenario has people brought to emergency rooms everywhere every day. It can mean sudden, serious injuries that focus the...
Sounding off: Nancy Pelosi’s clever nonaction
I believe Nancy Pelosi has no intentions of sending the House’s Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial. Not now that it’s 2020, or ever, for that matter. She has never had any such intentions. She explains that she is “convinced” Trump will not get a “fair” trial but...
Letter to the editor: Democrats’ hate
I was taken aback by Edward A. Svitek’s letter “Morals, decency & Trump” (Dec. 27, TribLIVE) mentioning my letter “Tired of Democrats’ letters” (Dec 4, TribLIVE). I was raised to not hate anybody, even my critics. I asked the paper to limit the number of letters because we are talking...
Letter to the editor: A more compassionate Republican Party
As a new “liberal/progressive” Republican, I believe that the national Republican Party must change and evolve in fundamental and significant ways if it is to be at all competitive with the national Democratic Party beginning in 2042-44, when over 50% of the U.S. is predicted to be “non-white.” The national...
John Stossel: Congressional grandstanding
Congressional hearings were created to educate lawmakers so they have knowledge before they pass bills or impeach a president. Not today. Today, hardly any education happens. During the President Trump impeachment “testimony,” legislators tried to score points. At least five times, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., shut down criticism by shouting,...
Walter Williams: The new racism
A voter may dislike a black, homosexual or female candidate, but it’s not likely that he would openly admit it. However, diversity-crazed leftist/progressive Democrats have openly condemned the physical characteristics of some of their 2020 presidential candidates. Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders are leading the polls despite...
Editorial: Donation is gift of life
The math surrounding organ transplant is amazing. In 1953, there had never been a successful transplant of one person’s organ into another person’s body. Today, 67 years later, it happens every day. According to the World Health Organization, about 100,800 people have the life-saving procedure annually. About 70% of those...
Letter to the editor: School buses & traffic
After reading James Sikorski’s letter concerning busing issues (“Illegal school-bus passing,” Jan. 3, TribLIVE), I was pleased to see I’m not the only one concerned about this problem. 1) I have never received a citation for passing a school bus. 2) The situations the operators put other drivers in is...
Letter to the editor: Caring for those with no choice in abortion debate
Regarding Al Duerig’s letter “Abortion least of evils?” (Dec. 22, TribLIVE): Nowhere in my letter (“Wolf’s veto of abortion ban,” Dec. 9, TribLIVE) did I say I was a prophet of God. What I said was all humans are made in the image of God. You may not believe in...
Letter to the editor: Supreme Court should stop impeachment
The express political impeachment was on all the channels and in all the papers. Christmas vacation was more important for Nancy Pelosi than passing on her official paperwork to the Senate, another blatant political delay tactic. With the delay, the Democrats could now raise more political questions they missed or...
Paul Kengor: Michael Bloomberg & the Primanti’s vote
I was sitting in Primanti’s at Market Square with my 12-year-old son after escaping “The Nutcracker” at the Benedum. Almost as eye-opening as the Arabian Dance (I said almost) was a political ad on the large TV screen. Rudely interrupting the Pittsburgh ambience was a New Yorker, Michael Bloomberg, who...
Lori Falce: The political peril of buzzwords
I kept a little running tally in the corner of my notebook while the meeting went on. Interspersed with the critical business of running a university, the Penn State trustees and administrators would drop certain words so often I started to wonder if there was a cash prize or a...
Laurels & lances: Hard job, bad look, new name
Laurel: To a hard job done well. A crash can be hard to handle, even for people who handle things like that every day. A crash with five dead, 55 injured and twisted wreckage that takes hours to navigate is worse. It isn’t something that allows the people rendering aid...
Cal Thomas: It’s war — are we in it to win it?
Prior to Iran’s missile attacks on U.S. bases inside Iraq, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, “We are not seeking war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one.” Esper said the U.S. prefers a “diplomatic” solution to the escalation of tensions in the region. Yes, that would be...
Letter to the editor: Which of our allies will stand with America?
President Trump took out a terrorist, something that should have happened years ago. This could cause a major conflict. Maybe it’s time to clean up the area, especially Iran. But now America goes to our allies to see who supports us. My prediction is that France will be the first...
Letter to the editor: Who are we to question God?
The letter “Abortion least of evils “(Dec. 22, TribLive), in which Al Duerig attacks God while millions are celebrating the birth of his son, Jesus, crosses a line. I could write a book to rebut his letter, but instead will reply with a quote from French philosopher Albert Camus: “I...
Jonah Goldberg: Will EU’s genetic flaw lead to its demise?
Since I am in Europe — Spain, to be precise — I shall do as the Europeans do and fret over the future of the European Union. As my tepid opening sentence suggests, I don’t really care much about the future of the EU. In this, I’m a lot like...
Letter to the editor: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
The statistics are devastating: In 2019, more than 260 officers were shot in the line of duty, and more than 40 officers made the ultimate sacrifice — which is why on Jan. 9, the Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge is encouraging you to take the time to say...
Editorial: Mayors shouldn’t act like children
A mayor’s job isn’t the same in every Pennsylvania community. In a small borough, the mayor may be little more than a figurehead for ceremonial events like a Memorial Day flag service or a tie-breaker in case someone hasn’t shown up for a council meeting. In a larger city, like...
Letter to the editor: Pa. legislators’ pay
I read with bewilderment Richard Herd’s letter “Inflation for Pa. officials vs. Pa. seniors” on the cost of living discrepancy between the Pennsylvania Legislature and seniors. There is a good reason for it that is far worse than Herd can imagine. It dates back to the legislators’ infamous midnight pay...
Editorial: The case of the trashed sheriff’s office
The smooth transition of power is always important after an election. It reinforces the will of the people. It proves that the office is bigger than the occupant. It also shows that the people involved are mature adults who can play by the rules of the game. In Allegheny County,...
