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Our opinion: A weekend for U.S. remembrance

Our Opinion

Sadly enough, many Americans unintentionally will disrespect the true meaning and purpose of today's solemn national holiday. After all, ever since 1971 when Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the fourth Monday in May, for many, the holiday is simply the final day of a long weekend dedicated to the start of summer fun and frolic. For far too many of us, Memorial Day's primary purpose has been corrupted. The day has become a day to fire up that shiny new grill for outdoor barbecues, a day to catch some rays at the beach or simply a day off work to sleep ...

Readers' Speak

Letters To Editor

More than numbers Dear Editor, “War is hell,” stated General Sherman with the obvious. Then why do wars continue? Why are populations slaughtered? How can human beings do this to one another? The answer lies in dehumanization. The most frequently cited is the German holocaust of the Jewish people. How could they mentally deal with plucking neighbors from the populace, stealing their belongings, and shipping them off to be exterminated? By changing them from humans to numbers. Dehumanization. The first step is to control the media. And the Nazis did. They convinced the fellow ...

Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Local Commentaries

As the United States prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding, on this Memorial Day, let’s remember and honor the men and women whose sacrifice made this country possible by finding ways to serve and give back. Memorial Day gives us a chance to acknowledge the shared values that hold us together amid our different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. It’s a time to express gratitude for what has been given so that we might have the freedoms we treasure. At its core, it’s a day that honors service. This Memorial Day, let’s renew our commitment to service, in ...

Our opinion: School start time worth talk

Our Opinion

Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Export, is pushing pretty hard to get high schools to start their day later in the morning. It’s a topic that has been researched for decades, with experts at two virtual Rested and Ready forums convened by Cooper recently speaking about the possible benefits of a later start time for schools and how Cooper’s House Bill 2152 could help schools begin to move their start times. Cooper proposes state grants to schools that move their start times later into the day. There are several studies that show too many adolescents aren’t getting enough sleep, with that ...

Piles and piles of paper piles

Local Commentaries

Are you drowning in paper like I am? If the computer age was supposed to eliminate paper piles, it’s doing a lousy job. Yes, I know I am supposed to convert all my accounts to paperless – and for the most part, I have. My credit card statements are electronic. The insurance, the bank, gas bill, water bill and township sewer bill all arrive to my inbox monthly. Despite many tries, I have been unable to convince the Pennelec people that this is a convenient idea. When the mail comes each afternoon, a new pile arrives in our mailbox. Occasionally it’s just the newspaper and ...

Our opinion: Threats against lawmakers are chilling

Our Opinion

We reported last week on a disturbing case involving a Lebanon, Pa., man’s threats against several Democratic Party lawmakers. The State Police at Jonestown have charged Adam G. Berryhill, 42, of Lebanon, Pa., with terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another after Berryhill allegedly posted a threat on his X account on April 7 and again April 22 threatening several legislative Democrats, including Ben Sanchez, Jordan Harris, Rick Krajewski, Malcolm Kenyatta, Danilo Burgos, Chris Rabb, Joe Hohenstein, Mary Isaacson, Emily Kinkead, Lindsey Williamsm, Steve Santarsiero, Amanda ...