Published: November 10, 2009 01:29 pm      

READERS' FORUM 11-11 | Never forget sacrifices of our warriors

On Veterans Day we honor and give thanks to the brave men and women who have served or currently serve in the armed forces of the United States of America.

Many vets return from service uninjured but for memories of the hardships they endured. Some are mentally wounded by horrors of war they may have witnessed or been a part of. Others bear scars of physical injury or, worse, the loss of limbs or some disfigurement that forever changes their lives.

A number never return home, either having been captured or are missing in action. And ultimately, there are those who sacrifice their lives.

Veterans fought and continue to fight to defend America’s interests and uphold its values. Serving to prevent the spread of influence of egotistical and often maniacal leaders espousing Marxist, socialist and communist ideals. Throughout history many dictators have ascended to power while advocating something equivalent to “social justice.”

It is criminal that we now have officials, elected and otherwise, at the highest levels of our government who justify their decisions with the argument that their actions will lead to social justice. What will the results of the quest for social justice be this time?

We, the citizens, cannot forget the values and principles for which our warriors have given so much. We must continue the battle against the enemy within our gates and preserve the God-given freedoms and liberties protected by the Constitution that our veterans have fought to defend.

God bless our veterans and their families.

August Gato

Ebensburg



Trying to figure out sculptor’s intent

Did anyone else notice the wooden sculpture at the pebble park at Haynes and Bedford streets, near the YMCA? At first, I wondered if the sculptor was pulling one on me – you know, trying to get me to say something artsy, when all it really was is a pile of wood.

But sculpture is not something you can frame or readily put in a glass ball. It’s three dimensional, so you have to walk around it and see if anything happens.

The artist got me because I did just that and noticed a lot of cherry lumber in the mix. Then I started looking at how the artist constructed the timbers. It kind of goes around in a circle. The first time around I failed to notice the spiral. Next time around I took the spiral trail into the heart of the sculpture. Then I got it.

It was like I was in a fort ... some archetypical (I built a lot of forts when I was a boy). Go see it and tell me (via Readers’ Forum) if I am missing something.

But one note of caution: Unlike the trees it came from, you can’t climb on it.

You’ll see why.

Malcolm Crittenden

Tire Hill



Gays don’t choose their lifestyles

In response to the opinion written by Publisher Robin L. Quillon, I have several questions.

Has he ever spent even one minute talking to a gay man or woman? I doubt it because had he taken the time to do so, he would not have concluded that they “choose” this lifestyle.

Why would someone “choose” such a lifestyle? It is not as if they “choose” to live this way for a month or year but for a lifetime. Had he talked to a gay person, he would have found just how difficult it was for them growing up knowing something was different and not knowing what it was.

Does the Constitution not state that “All men are created equal?” Why, then, should gays have less rights than anyone else? Less rights than he and I, who have “chosen” to lead straight lifestyles, because if I go with his logic, we would have had to do so?

In stating that the gays’ fight for equal rights does not equal that of the blacks and is, in fact, a slap in the face to blacks, he misses one point. Giving blacks equal rights was not the will of the people. It was a law enacted by Congress. Had it been up to the states, many states would still have them as second-class citizens.

Free speech is a civil right. But he should do so without prejudice and at least educate himself.

Joseph N. Crisi

Windber



Store employee just protecting property

Regarding a Tribune-Democrat story of Nov. 3, “Store employee winds up jail”:

Jason Truscott and his co-workers are not armed thugs, nor do they carry firearms in the store, although his concealed weapons permit makes it legal for him to do so. Truscott is simply guilty of trying to protect the property of others.

WJAC-TV and The Tribune-Democrat tell stories to make him look like a criminal, when, in fact, he is a hero. This is not Jason’s merchandise, nor the merchandise of his employer. It’s the property of private vendors.

Before you cast judgment on Value-It employees, ask yourself what you would have done if you saw someone attempting to steal something.

Truscott tried to do the right thing and went above and beyond what is asked of him. Thank you, Jason.

Bill Knipple

Johnstown Pet Services Inc.



Federally run programs’ histories of failure

On Nov. 7, the House of Representatives passed health-care reform in spite of the objection of thousands of American citizens and taxpayers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her liberal colleagues refused to listen, called protesters un-American names, and purposely ignored Washington rallies and the majority of the electorate.

Here is a summary of federally run programs and their successes:

* The U.S. Postal Service, established in 1775, is broke.

* Social Security, established in 1935, is broke,

* Fannie Mae, established in 1938, is broke.

* The War on Poverty was started in 1964, and each year $1 trillion is transferred to the “poor,” and it has not worked.

* Medicare and Medicaid, established in 1965, are broke.

* Freddie Mac, established in 1970, is broke.

* TARP and the Omnibus Appropriations Acts of 2009 spent more than $800 billion of taxpayers’ dollars, and the economy remains in deep recession and unemployment is more than 10 percent.

* Cash for Clunkers spent $3 trillion and failed.

This is a perfect 100 percent failure rate.

Now the liberals want me to believe they can mandate and run health care for all Americans for a mere $1 trillion over 10 years.

The liberals want me to believe that the American public can trust the government to run the health-care system, which is 16 percent of our economy?

With all due respect ... are all of you crazy?

Dr. J. Michael Moses

Central City



Help on the way for self-employed

I want to say thank you to U.S. Rep. John Murtha for his recent vote on the Health Care for America Act.

I am so excited because now, as someone who is self-employed, I will be able to afford decent health care.

It’s been a long road, and I am so gratefully to all who stood for this very important bill.

Now we can all breathe a little easier.

Debbie Bandrowsky

Lilly



McCort has unfair advantage in playoffs

The high school football teams from Portage Area, Bellwood-Antis, United, Penns Manor, Marion Center and Blacklick Valley will not claim the District 6 Class A title in the upcoming playoffs since Bishop McCort Catholic High School has dropped to single-A.

With the exception of Portage, which also had a good football team last year, and United, which had good teams years ago, most schools might have one year where they have a good football team, but don’t have a shot at winning a district title.

The public schools don’t have a feeder system such as Bishop McCort has in the Johnstown parochial schools. But that’s not enough for McCort; it recruits some of the better players from the area public schools.

McCort has won titles in District 6 Class AA, but schools, such as Jeannette recently, in AA outside the district must be a lot tougher to beat.

I guess that by moving to Class A, McCort now has a better chance of winning in the state playoffs. McCort should have stayed in AA. The other schools in the District 6 Class A playoffs would be better off.

Dennis Naugle

Hollsopple