Sounding off: Mask is a small price to pay to save lives

I immediately started wearing a mask when the virus hit Pennsylvania. Many times, I pulled it down and asked people what color my beard was. The answer would be gray, white or a blank look. My reply would be: “74 years of wisdom.”

I would then share with them that I had been clinically dead twice in my life. I don’t remember it being fun, and I don’t remember any bright lights. I do remember somebody smiling down at me when they got me breathing again. Yes, I’ve gotten everybody’s attention every time, and they pull their masks up.

I also comment to them that the blue sky is a much better alternative than the inside of a coffin lid.

People who think their civil rights are being violated better get their heads out of the sand and take into consideration the medical professionals (and their families) who are risking their lives every day to save people’s lives. More than 700 medical professionals have died of covid-19, and those not wearing masks contribute to these deaths. And let’s not forget the moms, dads, aunts, uncles, siblings, wives, grandparents and cherished friends.

Until there is a vaccine, wear the mask and quit being stupid.

R.J. “Ski” Wygonik, New Kensington

Is covid-19 making us forget how to live?

On a 90-degree day, bored and thirsty, I decided to try my luck by playing the “daily number” and having a beer at my VFW club. Being a good citizen, before exiting my vehicle in the parking lot, I put on a mask, which is required to enter the club.

No stools are permitted at the bar. The barmaid checked my ID card and asked, “What can I get you?”

“I’d like an Iron City, and I want to play the daily number,” I replied as I removed my mask.

She pointed to the other room and said, “Before you buy a ‘daily number’ and get a beer, you must buy food that the government approves as constituting a meal. After you’ve eaten your meal and drunk your beer, you may put on your mask to ensure social distancing, buy your ‘daily number’ and leave the club.”

Unless you’re willing to jump through all these hoops, it is impossible to alleviate your thirst and satisfy your hunger on a hot summer day in America. How quickly we are losing our freedom to what I believe is the greatest hoax in American history. I have statistics to open discussion about this claim.

Cut all this nonsense. I’ll take my chances. Are we so afraid of dying that we’ve forgotten how to live?

Gene A. Weinfurther, Beaver

Will Trump be charged for crimes?

How soon after Joe Biden lowers his right hand after being sworn in on Jan. 20 as the new president will he signal to the new attorney general, or to allow the New York state AG, to arrest President Trump? I see his crimes consisting of money laundering (Russian oligarch money via Deutsche Bank), fraud, campaign finance violations, etc.

There is a five-year statute of limitations on many of these crimes, which could be another reason 45 is so desperate to win reelection. The New York AG has a stack of indictments waiting for him. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is waiting to restart investigations that Attorney General William Barr put on hold.

Trump’s former “fixer,” Michael Cohen, spent time in prison, in part for paying off a porn star and a Playboy model to remain silent prior to the 2016 election. These were campaign violations, and authorized and paid for by “Individual 1.” At 45’s direction, his corporation elevated his appraised real estate holdings when obtaining loans and devalued them for tax purposes. That’s fraud and a crime. He directed the IRS not to disclose his tax returns to Congress — in order to hide his guilt?

There are a number of other potential crimes that involve his children — using a charity as a slush fund, accepting foreign campaign contributions and pocketing unused inaugural party funds. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was also involved with the Russian oligarchs. Don’t you think Ivanka would still look attractive sporting an orange jumpsuit?

Lawrence Josephs, Penn Township, Westmoreland County

We must keep Trump to keep our freedom

I am afraid to say that President Trump has one opponent that will be difficult to beat in November. It’s a party that has only been around since March. The Sheep Party is firmly entrenched in all 50 states. There are only three requirements to be in it: You must be offended by everything, afraid of having fun and be willing to blindly follow anyone in charge.

The Sheep Party has taken charge and altered nearly everything according to its beliefs: Now only Black Lives Matter, and schools, fairs, concerts, sports, television, parades and restaurants have new ways of operating or can’t happen at all. I’m sure I have missed some, because anything that could be fun has been canceled up until at least October. Students are going to fall further and further behind. If teaching was so easy, no schools would have ever been built, and no degrees would be needed.

Most of the first section of the Aug. 9 Sunday paper was about this virus. Add that to the fact that people drive alone in their cars with masks on, and you can see what this is doing to people.

Please, if you believe in still having freedom and a life, we must keep Trump in office. I think he’s the only man keeping us from a federal mandatory mask law.

Russell C. Fenton, Ligonier Township

Are Biden and Trump the best we’ve got?

This nation is desperate for decent leadership, unless of course you think Donnie, Mitch, Nancy and The Chuckster are doing a helluva job.

So first, Biden makes still another utterly racist, dim-bulb comment, which he repeats again the very next day (!), fumbles his speeches in his basement and his few interviews, and when he does occasionally emerge, like Punxsutawney Phil, he screws up every time … and he has teleprompters right next to him. It seems he cannot even read now and often forgets where he is.

But President Trump then decides he must outstupid Biden by announcing, “Biden is against God.” Are either of those two getting any advice from their staffs, or any they too damn old, pigheaded, stupid, demented, deranged and senile in the extreme to listen and internalize? Good Lord!

And speaking of the Lord, Biden has probably not abandoned or is against God. He has, however, abandoned his Catholicism for personal gain — which to be sure is way up there on the list of sins.

What a freakin’ country, that these two are the “best” we’ve got. When we need (pick your favorite) George, Tommy, Abe, FDR, Ike, Gipper, we have Deranged Bozo One and Deranged, Cognitively Shot Bozo Two. If anybody needs me, I’ll be out on my deck crying bitter tears.

James Cataldi, Moon

Political correctness has become embarrassing

SQUAW(king) about the changing of the name of Squaw Valley Park (“O’Hara Council: Squaw Valley Park is now O’Hara Township Community Park”)! Does the council understand how many times the term “squaw” appears in famous historical novels, films, etc.? Not to mention ski resorts? Should all these now be changed because someone’s feelings might hurt?

Political correctness by those who think they know best is an embarrassment.

My uncle was a City of Greensburg police officer in the 1950s and ’60s and at that time the word “cop” was a derogatory term. Look where we are now.

Hannelore Miller, Hempfield

Mixed GOP messages on mail-in voting

If President Trump insists the mail-in ballot is a bad thing, then why did I receive a flyer from the Republican National Committee urging me to request my general election mail-in ballot? The irony is obvious. Seems the GOP is in a state of confusion, an indication of the leadership in this country. What does that say for his loyalists?

And then there is poor Shawn, the anti-Biden character on your TV or social media. Seems everyone he knows will lose their job. Poor guy must not know very many people. More scare tactics, because in my view, Trump has no real accomplishments, just threats.

Bill Weible, Johnstown