Sounding off: Tree of Life death penalty

Leaders of Dor Hadash and New Light congregations who lost members in the Tree of Life massacre in October 2018 wrote to Attorney General William Barr weeks ago asking the U.S. Justice Department to avoid pursuing the death penalty. They asked instead that the Pittsburgh killer be incarcerated for the rest of his life with no possibity of parole. They stated that a “a drawn out and difficult death penalty trial would be a disaster with witnesses and attorneys dredging up horrifying drama and giving this killer the media attention he does not deserve.”

The Department of Justice, completely ignoring the wishes of the mourning survivors, has announced that it is in fact seeking the death penalty.

Following this decision Dor Hadash expressed sadness and disappointment at the department’s decision, stating, “We continue to mourn with our fellow congregants and community members who have lost loved ones and survived unspeakable terror. We continue to reject hatred and all systems of oppression, and follow the tenets of our faith, which teaches us that only through our shared humanity can there be an end to hatred and violence.”

When the Department of Justice decides to pursue a heart-wrenching extended trial with intense media coverage, is it considering concern for the feelings of the victims or in chalking up an easy victory for itself?

Charles Henry, Greensburg

Constitution & impeachment

It slays me to listen to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders refer to the Constitution in regards to these clownish impeachment hearings. Pelosi has characterized any defense by President Trump or his administration as “obstruction of justice.” Invoking attorney-client or executive privilege is not obstruction. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone refuses to answer congressional subpoenas until the entire House votes for an impeachment inquiry. It is incredible that Pelosi considers even this obstruction.

Republican Rep. Henry Hyde insisted that the House have a vote of inquiry before initiating impeachment hearings against President Clinton. In his letter, Cipollone quotes the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, before the 1998 impeachment hearings as saying that the serious charge of impeachment could not be a partisan, politically motivated event brought by one party to dethrone a legitimately elected president. By voting for an inquiry, the minority party has a right to call its own witnesses and present a defense.

A tenet of our laws is the right to confront your accuser. The whistleblowers are anonymous, and to think their mere accusations could be evidence for impeachment. Rudy Giuliani stated that even under old English law, the Salem witches had the right to face their accusers, which often led to their release. If this is a witch hunt, even witches had more rights than our current president.

Before Democrats invoke our Constitution, perhaps they should refer to due process and the Rule of Law, key ingredients of our Constitution.

Michael Contes, New Kensington

Catholic church must listen to the faithful

I’ve recently written disparaging remarks in letters and on social media regarding the closing of St. Raphael School in Morningside and how covertly it was done. I have been told to accept what I cannot change and/or to leave the “dying” Catholic faith and explore others.

I’m not ready to give up my Catholic faith, but I also can’t accept the direction in which the current leadership is guiding us (and guiding many from the pews). These are different times, and congregants no longer accept every decree sent from the bishop and the Diocese of Pittsburgh unquestioningly as “God’s will.”

The church has many broad-minded voices among the priests and congregants, and those voices should no longer be silenced based on assumed obedience. The bishop and diocese need to understand that they need the people every bit as much as the people need them. Many want to follow their faith but don’t want to follow it blindly. We want to be treated fairly and truthfully and to be included in discussions that affect us. The church should not act as a dictatorship.

I don’t accept that the current state of the church cannot be changed; nor should our faith be so easily abandoned. I believe with new leadership and the help of many of the priests and faithful, the Catholic faith and Catholic education can be rejuvenated as essential institutions and worthwhile choices.

As the Bible shows — do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Those making decisions within the Diocese of Pittsburgh need to re-read that passage.

Joe Adams, Shaler

Trump keeping promise to troops

Three years ago, candidate Trump promised to get our troops out of the bellicose Middle East. Today President Trump, recognizing that a thousand of our troops have been caught between warring factions in Turkey and Syria, has moved to get them out of harm’s way. He is being accused of abandoning the Kurds to “ethnic cleansing” at the hands of Turkey, one of our supposed “allies.”

If Turkey is about to engage in ethnic cleansing, where is the outrage at the United Nations? Who among America’s friends are stepping up and stepping in to protect the Kurds from this heinous crime? Where is England? Where is Germany? Where is the rage around the free world?

Trump has been warning that America is tired of being the free world’s policeman. So it’s pretty rotten of his fellow Americans to accuse him of “abandoning the Kurds to ethnic cleansing” for pulling our troops out of danger, like he promised he would three years ago.

Ed Collins, West Newton

Legalized pot, DUI & cellphone use

On marijuana legalization, I’m undecided. I believe that several things need to happen in Pennsylvania before it would be a “yes” for me.

A lot of revenue would be generated by legalizing marijuana. I would like that revenue to remove property/school tax for any individual over the age of 59.

In addition, we have not solved the DUI issue. And we have done nothing to prevent people from hand-held cellphone usage. This must be addressed prior to any legalization of marijuana. We need new cellphone legislation. New Jersey law prohibits the use of hand-held devices while driving, whether it be for a phone call, texting or emailing. Cellphone and texting laws are considered “primary” laws, which means a police officer can pull you over for the offense without having to witness any other violation. If a pedestrian or another driver or passenger is injured or killed because of a distracted driver using a hand-held cellphone, that driver could be charged with an indictable crime or felony.

What laws are we putting in place for DUI as a result of marijuana use? What tests will be performed to determine intoxication while driving?

Dan Yaklich, Delmont

We’re not doing enough for our planet

The Trib recently published opinion pieces denying or mitigating man-made effects on our environment — Walter Williams’ op-ed “So many environmental predictions grossly wrong” and the letter “America has done well by our planet.”

We cannot reference worst-case scenarios or use comparisons with other countries to gauge our progress. We must not reassure ourselves we are doing enough. There is no consensus or urgency among G20 members. This type of collective reasoning will prevent any measured response.

The U.S. remains a major contributor, releasing 76 million tons of pollution in 2018 (see the Environmental Protection Agency’s national air quality summary at www.epa.gov). We’re more focused on making pollution less visible than reducing emissions.

The primary concern should be determining the unknown combined effect of pollution and greenhouse gas on the earth’s biosphere. It may prove senseless to use “climate change” and “global warming” to describe the gradual disintegration of our atmosphere.

Coral reef, amphibian, insect and bird species are experiencing population collapse.

A question for Trib readers, “See any grasshoppers this summer?”

David Poskin, Harrison

Legal marijuana for all over 21

I’m all for commonwealth-regulated, legal, “recreational” marijuana use by all Pennsylvanians over the age of 21 (including law enforcement officers). Such change will provide significantly increased tax revenue for our commonwealth, significantly reduce burdens to our legal system (and its taxpayers) and expand personal “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for responsible Pennsylvanians.

It also helps to keep legal, “medicinal” cannabis out of the hands of young people under 21 (in whose developing minds the use of THC poses the greatest neurocognitive and mental health risks). And, it reduces the likelihood that Pennsylvania’s citizens will be exposed to the “illegally bought cartridges” of THC oil that have been causing the recent “public health crisis” in our state and nationally.

Susan Wilson, Greensburg