Letters to the Editor | May 26, 2023

As a clinical psychologist, I have studied how people process anger for over 25 years. There are 27 different forms of anger — ranging from cold silence to rage. Anger makes people attack or shun. Also, a common element of anger is the feeling of self-righteousness. That means the person who is angry feels that they have every right to take any action they want — whether it is breaking your golf clubs or breaking your computer — because of a sense of self-righteousness.

But the answer to all of this is what I have been saying for the last 20 years: that we need to provide anger regulation training in all schools, from kindergarten to 12th grade, so that we can begin to have groups of people who know how to effectively deal with anger in a way that can stop senseless acts of violence before they occur.

Ronald J. Coughlin, Mercerville

The May 15 letter to the editor “Misguided cancellation” criticizing the Anti-Defamation League’s support for the cancellation of Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s Nakba Day event is sadly ironic. Yes, we need more events to promote peace from both Israelis and Palestinians. Tlaib, unfortunately, is not one who recognizes the need for Palestinians to take some responsibility for their “Nakba” (catastrophe). The author is wrong to write a one-sided narrative of Israel’s victimhood. No media coverage ever focuses on the great wealth of Arafat and the Abbas family, and the Palestinian leadership’s lack of support for the well-being of its people. Palestinians do not need to be suffering in refugee camps and Gaza. Their leaders prefer to increase their suffering and promote them as victims. We rarely hear criticism of the Palestinian government’s subsidies for terrorists and their families. More often we hear criticism of Israel demolishing terrorists’ homes.

While striving for peace, we cannot forget Arab responsibility for rejecting Palestinian statehood from the beginning — in 1947 and so many times afterward. Tlaib is one of those who refuses to recognize that responsibility. How ironic that she can feel the Holocaust robbed her of her home and simultaneously be ignorant of the endless years of victimhood and persecution that forged the Jewish yearning for its homeland long before the Holocaust. It is Tlaib’s approach that is one-sided — neither the right nor constructive way forward to peace.

Susan Sommovilla, Elkins Park

I wholeheartedly agree with Mark Goldstein’s May 22 letter asserting that legislators should be required to view the devastation inflicted by assault weapons. His suggestion that lawmakers “directly viewing the carnage would enable any empathy they possess to prevail over politics” reminded me of how American media helped bring an end to the Vietnam War. Night after night of seeing body bags carried off military planes did more in weeks than years of protest marches and well-meaning editorials.

Will seeing these images shock the sensitivities of the American psyche? Will it, unfortunately, rain more pain on the victims’ loved ones? Of course. But as Mamie Till taught us when deciding on an open casket funeral for her son, Emmett, that pain can serve a greater cause.

So, my question to The Inquirer is: Do you have the courage to take the lead in starting a national movement of outrage that will finally lead to the banning of these instruments of mass murder? I hope your answer is an immediate and resounding yes.

Jim Lilly, Haddon Township

In response to Will Bunch’s May 14 column, “Why billionaires and right-wing extremists want to wreck your kid’s public school”: The narrative that there should only be one delivery system for the education of the public is tired. People like Jeff Yass are demonized for their school choice advocacy and framed as trying to destroy public education. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Yass’ support of the Pennsylvania tax credit program is not taking millions in funding from public schools. Only 2% of state education spending and 0% of local education spending goes to the program. In fact, Yass’ support of school choice can only make public schools better. Giving parents the opportunity to decide what is best for their children not only allows them to have a say but also requires public schools to compete for enrollment by demonstrating academic excellence and safe learning environments.

The students of Independence Mission Schools, a network of Catholic elementary schools serving children of all faiths, enjoy better outcomes at a low cost to families. They learn from mission-driven teachers who work tirelessly to set them on the path toward promising futures. Their parents choose to pay some tuition rather than opting for a local public school because they see the value of an IMS education. And why shouldn’t they have that option?

We are grateful for the support of Mr. Yass and others who are laser-focused on what’s best for our children.

Brian McElwee, chairman of the board, Independence Mission Schools, Radnor

Wednesday’s op-ed on the rash of privatizations of Pennsylvania water systems was spot on. Since the passing of Act 12, allowing municipalities to sell their water systems to deep-pocketed profiteers, more than 17 communities have done so. This shows the shortsightedness of local officials, bedazzled by seemingly generous offers and clueless or nonchalant to the long-term, disastrous effects of these sales.

One thing missing from the author’s informative piece was the all too cozy relationship these for-profit companies have with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

The commission is tasked with protecting residents from onerous rate increases. Its mandate is to verify that any proposed increases are fully justified and necessary and to allow public scrutiny. That hasn’t happened with the two main players: Aqua Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania American Water.

These companies’ rate requests are seemingly rubber-stamped, with some ratepayers suffering triple-digit increases. Who’s advocating for the consumer? Incredulously, one former commission member, upon retirement, joined the board of one of the very companies he was tasked to regulate — appearances and ethics be damned?

It was reassuring to see some townships have rejected these carpetbagger tactics, but those who have succumbed, and will in the future, are burdening their residents with budget-breaking utility bills for generations to come.

It will be interesting to see if Gov. Josh Shapiro and our (soon-to-be-on-summer-recess) state legislature will take any action to keep the basic human right to clean water affordable.

J. Savage, Philadelphia

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