Sounding off: Politics and religion, Israel, school choice among week's topics

Religion and politics shouldn’t mix

Why are we relying on writings over centuries old to provide answers and solace to problems? Some quote the Bible, shouting “it has the answers.” To me, the Bible, is a book of fantasy stories written by individuals who at that time believed mostly in superstitions. Yet we sit back and wait for issues to be resolved like magic. It is unlikely there are any answers coming from a supreme being any time soon (meaning never). I’m tired of hearing the opposite. Whether it’s mass shootings or taking away personal rights, faith does not make it.

Now with religious zealots entering politics, our freedoms are in jeopardy. They do not believe in the separation of church and state. They do not believe in democracy. Soon your children may be forced to say prayers in school, and book banning will become more ridiculous. Repeating memorized sentences that have no meaning to them.

Maybe teach children what it takes to be a good citizen and part of a society, like responsibility, work, acceptance, courtesy, etc. Churches discuss these qualities at times, even if it’s driven by guilt and fear of heaven and hell, which I don’t believe exist.

Religion was started to control people and for greed and power that continues today. If we could shed the religious manipulation, it may be better for everyone.

Frank Flori

Hempfield

***

U.S. complicit in crimes against humanity

More than 10,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and nearly half of those are children. UNICEF warns that Israel’s attack on Gaza is killing or wounding 420 children a day. Israel has wiped out entire families in Gaza. No one is denying that the attack by Hamas was terrible, but what is the justifiable response? Israel’s response is not proportional!

Furthermore, the United States is funding the brutality and rushing billions of dollars more to Israel for the destruction of the Palestinian people. We have blood on our hands, and future generations will recognize this dark moment when the U.S. has been complicit in war crimes and genocide and the decades in which United States has subsidized apartheid in Israel.

With the support of the U.S., Israel brutalizes, murders and imprisons Palestinians and has done so for over 75 years. This is not morally excusable in any context. Israel is bombing schools, hospitals, the refugee camps where they have imprisoned Palestinian for decades. How can we allow our tax dollars to support this?

Regardless of political persuasion, no one should support our tax dollars contributing to the brutality and suffering of the Palestinian people, or of any people.

Rose-Marie Muzika

Bloomfield

***

School choice

Regarding the op-ed “We’ve always known how to create good public schools” (Oct. 17, TribLIVE): Yes, let’s talk about school choice. But first consider some old quotes:

“Freedom requires that government keep the channels of competition and opportunity open, prevent monopolies, economic abuse and domination.” — President Herbert Hoover

“All government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service … .” — President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The idea of monopolizing education funding into an abusive unionized monopoly will not end well.

Public funding was intended to educate the masses regardless of economic ability. Has it succeeded? It has for most. However, real estate taxes have destroyed the retirements of millions, trapped millions of students in poorly performing schools and created the never-ending battle over this most inequitable burdensome form of taxation.

The best public school districts have one thing in common. The parents are very involved in those school districts. In the districts where the parents aren’t involved, children in the families that do care are trapped by the lack of mobility in funding.

How do we build a successful education system for all? We allow the education funding to follow the child. The family knows the best form of education for their own children. Competition will draw the proceeds to the best, most efficient systems.

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.” — President Theodore Roosevelt

Gregory McQuaide

Hampton

***

It’s time to start respecting life again

Over the many gratefully embraced years of my life, I have seen a dramatic change in how America perceives the tremendous gift of life, the value of a single life, of all lives. I grew up learning that all lives are precious, that we are all interconnected through a bond, a sacred trust, if you will. This extends also to good stewardship for the earth and its resources.

The change, whether through shock news coverage of devastating catastrophes and wars, gun violent video games, mass shootings, the Roe decision for abortion murder on demand, etc., has caused a desensitizing reaction to such horrific acts. The overall lack of respect for life has allowed mass shooting gun violence and abortion murders to become an almost normal occurrence.

How can we elect any candidate who does not have the commonsense ability to realize that any abortion, abortion on demand, is killing a human being? It’s contraception after conception. It’s way past time to regain respect for the value of life.

Rich Narushoff

Monroeville

***

Democrats should debate

The Democratic National Committee is harming the party by not sponsoring debates among presidential candidates. Let us hear what Joe Biden, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson have to say. What are you afraid of? We are Americans. We can take in debates.

If Kennedy gets the nod from the Green Party or the Libertarian Party, he can do real damage to Biden’s path to reelection. If he was in the fold, he would do less damage.

Democrats lose the moral high ground that they are defending democracy against Donald Trump and the MAGA crowd if they don’t allow other candidates a chance to speak within the party. Remember President Obama’s first debate with Mitt Romney? By all accounts he lost that debate and almost lost his presidency. He was rusty on debates because he had no opposition within the party for the nomination.

Simon P. Solar

New Kensington

***

We need Trump back in office

I am not a Jew and do not practice the Jewish religion, but I am literally sick to my stomach after the horrible tragedy in Israel. Because of the stupid policies of the radical left, evil is not afraid of America and feels free to distribute agonizing pain and suffering among innocent people.

The only way to destroy evil and promote peace is to elect Donald Trump back into office in 2024. We had no new wars during Trump’s four years as president, which is amazing considering he had to battle vicious lies from Trump haters.

We desperately need Trump’s courage, wisdom and strong backbone for peace and freedom throughout Israel, America and the world.

God bless Israel and the people of the Jewish faith. God bless Trump and his family.

Harry Gilbert

Irwin

***

Let’s build friendlier roads for all

I commute daily by bike from my house in Squirrel Hill to my office in North Braddock through five municipalities, and the best part of my commute is the mile between Beacon Street and Beechwood Boulevard across the Fern Hollow Bridge to Forbes Street and South Braddock Avenue. This is the only section of my commute that is intentionally designed for all road users to be safe, and it’s honestly amazing.

There are still interactions with cars, but they’re more predictable. I have to cross from the bike lane on Beechwood into the Forbes Avenue bike track, and the new traffic calming throughout the intersection slows and spaces out cars so it is easy to anticipate where I can cross safely.

There are also interactions with pedestrians, the vast majority friendly. One morning two walkers were so engrossed in their conversation on the bridge’s shared path that they didn’t notice me biking toward them and I had to call out to get their attention. Many apologies and laughter from both sides ensued because we were able to interact face to face, even while moving at different speeds.

So, please let’s build more of this. Let’s rebuild our sense of community one intersection at a time.

Ben Peoples

Squirrel Hill