Sounding off: Israel, county leaders, Biden, bag ban among week's topics

Comparing Hamas, Nazis

As one whose parents were Jewish Holocaust survivors, I find the behaviors of the butchers of Hamas eerily reminiscent of the descriptions relayed to me by my parents who witnessed the murder of their families by the Nazis.

This current Middle East war, in part, is based on anti-semitic propaganda. I believe there is also a more universal conflict between pro-Western and anti-Western civilizations. The woke ideologies of our universities, media and legal institutions, as well as the leaders of Russia, China and Iran, are the enemies of western civilization.

Judeo-Christian ideology is the foundation of Western civilization, and the Jews have always been on the front lines of these conflicts. The Jews have survived the onslaught of empires throughout history. Those who sought to annihilate the Jews have ended up on the ash heap of history, while the Jews remain and thrive.

A thousand Hamas terrorists breached Israel’s fortified border by air, sea, land and tunnels. However the Israelis have the tenacity to fight back. Here in the USA, our immigration policy seems to welcome illegal aliens, including unvetted terrorists, and provide them with sanctuary. Does the USA have the tenacity to fight back or at least change its immigration policy? If not, in the long run, Israel may be safer from future terrorist attacks than the USA.

Those supporting Hamas, and those protesting Israel’s right to defend itself, are on the wrong side of history.

Dr. Joel I. Last

Greensburg

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Westmoreland needs new leadership, more transparency

With this election season, it is time for a change. I don’t believe County Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew have been working in Westmoreland County’s best interest. Rather than using the covid-19 American Rescue Plan funds to help residents most impacted during the pandemic, they spent the most of the first 50% of the allocated funds on items such as parking lot repairs, computer and phone upgrades that would have been necessary anyway and should have been paid for out of the general budget, and salary increases for themselves.

The funds being spent on community blight appear to be benefiting local contractors for building projects instead of at least some of these properties being directed to the development of low-income housing.

There still appears to be approximately $50 million of the funds that have not been allocated. In an August Zoom town hall meeting, Chew said those funds were being held in reserve and that no specific plans for their use had been made to date.

This is not good stewardship. County residents have a right to know what use these funds are going to be used for. We need new leadership and more transparency. Vote for it!

Elizabeth Veronica Weaver

Hempfield

The writer is a member of Voice of Westmoreland.

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Fetterman not the laughingstock

The letter “Fetterman is an embarassment” (Oct. 6, TribLIVE) seems to be nothing more than a way to disparage someone who was able to win an election. Some people can’t accept the fact that Sen. John Fetterman beat Dr. Oz. Most people I know admire Fetterman, for his battle and the job he is doing for the people of Pennsylvania. Fetterman has consistently worked for the have-nots as opposed to the rich.

Perhaps the letter-writer should look at someone who really is a laughingstock and embarrassment to America — Donald Trump. When Trump as president gave a speech to the United Nations, the members all got a good laugh about it. Unfortunately, Trump is now running for president, I believe as a would-be dictator. He’s even tried to remove top secret papers and force his toadies to fabricate the idea he still is president. Fortunately, there are knowledgeable attorneys, the FBI and jurists to handle him.

Leo Nagorski

Shaler

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Why no outcry to remove Biden?

Where is the outcry to immediately relieve President Biden of his office? It was too easy to dump the guy who is two heartbeats from the presidency (speaker of the House).

The current unbelievable happenings in Israel could come to our soil because of Biden’s weak enforcement of our immigration laws since day one in office. Millions have come here who can no longer be traced. He wants to put our air marshals on the border to help Border Patrol babysit illegal immigrants. This mindset overwhelms the security of our country.

Wake up and take a look at our illegals and Biden now.

Edward Biskup

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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Plastic bag ban another ‘show’ by Pittsburgh leaders

Regarding the article “Pittsburgh businesses, shoppers prepare for plastic bag ban” (Oct. 9, TribLIVE): Sales of plastic garbage bags have skyrocketed after bans on plastic shopping bags in every case. Paper bags have a higher carbon footprint than plastic. This information is available everywhere. All you have to do is read. The latest failure is California (see the Los Angeles Times article “California’s plastic bag ban is failing. Here’s why”).

The people running the city do so many things for show (like removing statues) that make them feel better without looking at data. How about synchronizing the traffic lights, which cuts tons of garbage from our atmosphere?

And so it goes.

Peter A. Mamula

Venetia

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Don’t need TV to know which president was better

The news media sure can twist stories around to fit their politics. I wish they would just report the news. If you watch one channel, they try to make you hate President Trump. If you watch another channel, they try to make you hate President Biden.

I watch all the channels, but I don’t hate anyone. I don’t even know them.

I don’t need to watch TV to know that I did better financially under Trump’s policies than Biden’s. Even the world was safer under Trump.

Susan Stiles

North Huntingdon

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Pittsburgh Diocese could have saved St. Lad’s

What a difference in two dioceses. The Diocese of Greensburg rebuilds churches; we wreck them (“120-year-old St. Ladislaus church is coming down in Natrona,” Sept. 1, TribLIVE).

The Diocese of Pittsburgh could learn a lesson. They have grown woke to St. Ladislaus Catholic Church’s beauty, its history, its popularity. It was the people’s choice church, the gem, the most architecturally beautiful. To step into St. Lad’s was to step out of the world and into God’s beauty. It was a most worthy place to host the eucharist.

Mass was well attended; the church had six figures in the bank, was always in the black. We the sheep who supported the church had no voice. Was it because it was in Natrona, a lower level of Harrison Township? I think so. Jesus was born in a stable.

RIP, our beloved St. Lad’s. You earned your wings, serving us over a century in baptisms, communions, weddings, funerals. Bringing us closer to God and eternal life. It did not have to end this way. Jesus asked, “When I return to earth will I find faith?” Sadly, not in Natrona anymore.

Karen Stempkoski

Harrison