Letters to the editor
Thanks for voters guide
I want to applaud the Observer-Reporter’s publishing of the non-partisan Voters Guide for the May 19 primary election. The guide is an important service to the voters to see how each individual candidate responds to a few identical questions of current relevance to our community.
I was dismayed that nearly all of the Republican incumbents and candidates refused to share with voters their views on a few current political questions. Maybe they were just too busy, did not think their thoughts were important for voters, thought a question was inappropriate, or perhaps felt the questions were beneath their dignity to answer truthfully. Regardless of the political bent of a question, the job of the politician is to be communicating with the voters and tell them what they think. To withdraw from the political debate process is un-American and cheats the voters on a candidates’ public stance to important issues.
This is especially true for the hotly contested state senator race within the Republican Party. Without a response from the candidates, voters are instead bombarded with half-truth negative political mailers and ads. There haven’t even been any debates to assess a candidate’s position to the same questions.
It is a mystery as to what political genius thought a non-response to a few non-partisan questions of current relevance to our community was a good idea. This undermines voters’ confidence in those candidates. To maintain a healthy democratic republic government, informed voters are essential, or perhaps keeping the voter ignorant was the point.
Jon Volkwein
North Strabane
A class act
The king and queen of England came to the United States recently to help celebrate the 250th year of our country, and to attempt to improve relations with the British government. Britain and all NATO countries did not support Donald Trump’s war.
King Charles always seemed kind of stodgy to me, but his kindness and diplomacy was on display throughout the entire visit. He’s a pro!
His most touching moment was at Arlington National Cemetery when he placed a wreath, and the queen placed a bouquet of flowers on the graves of the unknown soldiers. One grave is the “Doughboy” of World War I, another of the G.I. from World War II, and a third is a Korean War vet. The fourth grave was for a Vietnam vet whom they were able to identify, eventually, by DNA. His remains were returned to his family.
I didn’t know that there were Americans who enlisted in the Canadian army to defend Britain before the United States entered WWII. Their remains are among the dead at Arlington.
This week I began to search through my mum’s stuff, 13 years after her passing. On a small piece of note paper, she had printed out this song that was sung in Britain and Europe after WWI. It was written in 1936 by Leo Towers, Morton Morrow, and Don Pelosi.
I hope you appreciate it and remember our own. Memorial Day is coming soon.
When the poppies bloom again,
I’ll remember you there beside the river Seine where we kissed adieu.
When you told me not to cry,
Held me tenderly,
Your last kiss was our goodbye.
You were gone from me.
My lonely footsteps stray where you must ever lay;
I’ll place this sweet bouquet, my token of love.
Darling, till we meet again, I’ll remember you.
Paul M. Lesako
Carmichaels
Enough already
When is enough, enough? Is everyone happy with the gas prices we are paying because of Donald Trump and “his” war in Iran? Are we provided any solid information or is Congress given any true purpose for this war? Did we or did we not “obliterate” Iran’s nuclear capabilities several months ago as we were told by Trump? Are we told how much money his son has made on drones being used in Iran?
Where is Congress and why are they allowing such buffoonery to continue? Why is not Rep. Guy Reschenthaler “representing” us and not just being a MAGA cult member of Trump? Does anyone believe gas prices will “fall like a rock” and “tumble” when this “war” ends as Trump “tells” us? And doesn’t Congress care about the millions and millions of dollars that Trump gets to spend on court costs and countless appeals?
The list of lies from day one of the Trump presidency could fill this page beginning with the redacted Epstein files, Trump “ending” 10 wars and counting and putting an end to inflation as people were told! I for one never believed his lies and I can only hope that our Republican members of Congress and MAGA followers can man up and put an end to the madness of Donald Trump.
Enough already!
Rev. Joseph Lewandowski
Washington