Letters to the Editor | Sept. 6, 2022

Donald Trump has a pattern of cruel, vindictive revenge:

So again I ask, why did Trump steal our nation’s most sensitive secrets?

Because our nation rejected him in the 2020 election.

How does Trump get his revenge on the nation? Use your imagination.

Mike O’Connor, Blue Bell, mfo22@hotmail.com

Many Republican congressional candidates in swing districts, especially, are now realizing that their previous antiabortion stance was protected in part by Roe v. Wade. Women knew that their abortion rights were protected and could focus on other issues. Now that it has been overturned, these candidates are scrambling. They are scrambling because women are registering to vote and voting in record numbers. The statewide vote in Kansas to protect abortion rights (giving a new, ironic meaning to Dorothy’s famous “I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore”) shows how powerful this movement is.

These Republican candidates who are now changing or softening their abortion stance are snake oil salesmen. What they say now is neither relevant nor binding on them. And they must not be believed. It is not relevant because this shift in position cannot undo their years of calling for the end of Roe.

It is clearly not binding on them. One only needs to look at the confirmation hearings of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, where they all expounded on Roe’s precedential value and then voted to overturn 50 years of freedom. Also putting in danger same-sex rights as well. Don’t be the pathetic Susan Collins and get “mislead.”

All voters, Democrats, women, independents, and right-thinking Republicans must turn out in great numbers and either oust these incumbents who are merely saying now what they think people want to hear in order to get reelected or reelect people who have been consistent and honest about their support of these important rights.

Andrew M. Rosen, Philadelphia

While I’m not a sculptor or painter, I continue to be appalled as our great city persists in commissioning art from artists outside the region with no chance given to the highly creative community of artists right here in Philadelphia. The community isn’t asking to be handed opportunities. It’s asking for the city government to let the Philadelphia community of artists be in the competition for its commissions.

Harriet Tubman wasn’t just a giant of African American history. She was a giant of American history. The opportunity for a commission to create a public statue of a person of Tubman’s stature and importance to America, to Philadelphia, and particularly to its African American citizens, should have been open to all — especially Philadelphia artists, particularly Philadelphia African American artists. It’s long past time for the Philadelphia city government to stop ignoring the Philadelphia community of artists. It’s time to end noncompetitive government contract awards for public art in Philadelphia. This should start immediately by reopening the opportunity for artists to earn the chance to create Philadelphia’s Harriet Tubman statue.

Ned Levi, Philadelphia

The recently revealed photo of gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano in a Confederate uniform in an Army War College faculty photograph proves that he condones the overthrow of our democratic principles. That a candidate for the highest office in Pennsylvania would openly advocate the destruction of a system of government that he would head is shocking. Like his support of the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, Mastriano’s judgment to wear this outfit signals his belief that he is justified in disrupting the legitimate work of our government. The Confederacy fought for the dissolution of the United States, and this is what candidate Mastriano conveys with his Confederate costume.

Pennsylvanians cannot afford to elect this man, who would violate his oath to defend the Constitution to put in power those who would disrupt the lawful function of our government.

Meg Berlin, Philadelphia

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