Have a goal for growth

Dear Editor,

Learning is a lifelong process!

It is a bad day when one does not learn something new. The ability to improve and grow in knowledge is not limited to “school-aged students.”

As a new year approaches, it is important to reflect on the past, and plan for the future.

Take time to dream!

Then make the dreams into a reality.

Learn a new hobby. The best way to learn is by doing.

“Become 1% better.” Atomic Habits by James Clear.

May 2023 be a year of growth and learning for all who are willing to learn.

Ann Wallin,

Warren

Hot-button issue

Dear Editor,

A few weeks ago, I wrote a letter to this newspaper, and signed it as a former pastor of First United Methodist Church of Warren. While the views I addressed in that letter are passionately my own, and they address a major schism developing across the United Methodist Church, I meant the letter to address this wider denominational issue, and was inappropriate in specifically addressing members of my former congregation in the last paragraph of that letter, as I am no longer that congregation’s pastor.

While I do hope that all of the United Methodist churches I was privileged to serve examine this issue very carefully before making decisions about disaffiliation, I am sorry for any confusion arising from my letter, which was meant to inform, not obfuscate, nor to do any harm to the good people of First United Methodist Church. My prayers continue to be with all the United Methodist congregations in the greater Kane-Warren area that may be deliberating over these difficult decisions.

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey D. Sterling,

United Methodist Elder (retired)

Mars, Pa.

Family still matters

Dear Editor,

A woman wrote, in the Erie Times News, that a “standard basic income” would reduce poverty and violence. She recalled being poor even with her mother working three jobs.

Ultimately, she was raised by her grandparents. Unwittingly,she may have revealed a cause of her youthful poverty.

As her mom worked, where was her father? If he was dead or disabled, we offer sympathy. Statistics on fatherless homes show that’s seldom the case. And why did she need to live with her grandparents? Was one, or both parents, uncommitted to parenthood? Incarcerated? Addicted to drugs or alcohol?

There are some outstanding single parents raising impressive children. But when populations are studied, kids have the best chance when raised by married parents.

The farther from that “norm,” the greater is the risk of poverty, school dropout, teen pregnancy, abuse and legal issues. David Blankenhorn’s “Fatherless America” documents this as well as the studies of psychologist ‘Dr. Phil’ McGraw.

Census figures,1960 through 2010, show huge increases in fatherless homes for whites, blacks and Latinos. It’s more about family stability than race. The aforementioned writer, predictably, wants to make race an issue even after acknowledging the absenteeism of her own parents.

Several sources recommend three guidelines to young people for avoiding poverty. First, graduate from high school with proficiency — it’s a foundation for a job, an apprenticeship, the military, trade school or college. Second, avoid crime and substance abuse. Third, don’t have children until you’re in a stable marriage.

Personal responsibility matters. The welfare plan worked out between President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich required able-bodied welfare recipients to show evidence of effort to find work. That was weakened during the Obama years. Certainly, the truly disabled must be cared for with “no strings attached.”

Fading of the family unit has been an issue for decades. In addition, President Joe Biden and elected leftists have caused crippling of energy independence, inflation, violated borders (with fentanyl) and an emboldened Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The latter has made Ukraine a beneficiary of American taxpayers.

National masochism continues.

Terry D. Hallock,

Warren