Letters to the Editor | July 19, 2024

Maj. Gen. Timothy Brennan’s recent op-ed reminded me that Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr.’s story is told in the book Forgotten: The Untold Story Of D-Day’s Black Heroes, At Home and At War by Linda Hervieux. Woodson was a member of the Black 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, whose mission was to provide balloon protection for the D-Day ground troops from enemy planes The author is a journalist who was sent to Normandy to cover the 65th anniversary of D-Day. There, she met a veteran who told her about the 320th unit. Research led her to surviving veterans or their families, including Woodson’s. The book’s detailed description of racism and abuse in the military of these Black defenders of our country is an eye-opener. Add to that the withholding of Woodson’s well-deserved official recognition.

Irwin Leventhal, Jenkintown

Regarding the recent letter to the editor labeled “American hero,” there’s a few things I take issue with. First, the letter writer said Donald Trump took a bullet for the people — he’d never do such a thing. He’s a draft dodger who called soldiers suckers and losers. Did that, as the writer said, show “remarkable courage, heart, and strength”? Second, the writer said Trump loves this country and its people. Which of his policies show this? Is it the tax cuts for the richest? Weakening the IRS so the rich can get away with fraud? Funding cuts for public education? Cutting Medicaid? Social Security? Gutting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration? Trump has only shown love for his own power and that of America’s richest. His disregard for the average American is indisputable; he wouldn’t take a bullet for anyone.

R. Schwarz, Glenside

How is it that a decent man like Joe Biden is apologizing for his diction and a documented creep like Donald Trump, whose main fuel has always been division and derision, is being celebrated? A hero is not someone who has always appealed to the lowest aspects of human nature. Heroes are not convicted felons. They do not pay off adult film stars and disparage women, veterans, and the disabled. They do not deny elections or incite insurrections. Clearly, the former president and his movement are not at all about heroism.

We know what real heroes do: They tell the truth, lead honorable, selfless lives, and take responsibility for their actions. Heroes are veterans, teachers, police and firefighters, doctors and nurses, and caregivers. Heroes are young and old, and of every ethnicity. We all know heroes. They bring their best selves to the table every day. Sorry, but when I think of heroism, I can’t and won’t think of the former president, not now, not ever. Don’t let that little bandage on his ear, or the sycophantic patronage of his pals at the Republican National Convention, fool you.

Maggie Nerz Iribarne, Syracuse, N.Y.

Every child needs a chance at a rewarding, informed life. As a teacher and school psychologist, I know that starts with education. Without public education, do we want this country to be the country of haves and have-nots? This debate over diverting funding from public to charter schools gives the public a sense of having false choices. We should be investing in public education now rather than pay social consequences later.

Cyber charter schools should be under the most scrutiny. They consistently report negative results, yet there is a constant lack of oversight as these schools ask for more and more autonomy without accountability. Some cyber charter schools were under recent investigation for buying property with their funding when no brick-and-mortar property was needed.

Many charter applications lack information concerning applicants’ past performance and operational ability. Charter schools are only 6% of public schools under new state standards, but are 25% of the lowest-performing schools. Once again, is the future of public education to have an uninformed, uneducated public? Diverting the already limited resources for public education to charters, religious, and private schools would be disastrous. Such a decision would further decimate public education, creating more inequity and inflicting damage on children like English language learners, and children with disabilities and other physical, intellectual, and social limitations who are cut off from options.

Public education was designed as a public benefit to every person despite social or specific needs and limitations. Rather than improving public education, there is an effort to abandon it. Replacing public education with charter Schools is not the answer.

Antoinette Higman, Philadelphia

How about this: President Joe Biden agrees to take a cognitive test and Donald Trump agrees to take a polygraph test, and then both results are made public.

Stefan Keller, Huntingdon Valley

Why does The Inquirer keep giving Jennifer Stefano a column? In her latest piece, she takes President Joe Biden’s comment during an ABC News interview that he “wasn’t in control” completely out of context, trying to make us question who is in control of the government. Biden said he was rattled during the debate by Donald Trump continuing to make remarks when his mic was turned off, and, partially because of that, he “wasn’t in control.” He was never referring to not being in control of the executive branch.

As everyone who has worked with him has said, Biden has a firm grasp on the issues facing the country and continues to direct the executive branch on what should be done. What is happening because of lies like Stefano’s and Biden’s poor debate performance is that many are starting to think the president has “lost it.” Because of that, the polls are not looking good. And because of that, some Democrats fear the president cannot beat the biggest danger to our constitutional democratic republic (other than five of the conservative members of the U.S. Supreme Court): Donald Trump.

Jules Mermelstein, Dresher, jules.mermelstein@gmail.com

The updated breast cancer screening guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which recommend biennial screening begin at age 40, continue to leave Black women behind. Black women are more likely than other groups to be diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40 and at later stages, yet the guidelines fail to address this. The disconnect lies in the lack of research: there has never been a longitudinal breast cancer study among Black women.

We know economic, social, and geographical differences in the lives of Black and white women affect their health outcomes and access to gold-standard diagnosis tools, treatment, and support. However, the new guidelines fail to recommend research specifically addressing these lived experiences and exploring why Black women are more likely to develop breast cancer at younger ages. We cannot continue to base recommendations on research not representative of the whole population. Without breast cancer research that centers Black women, we cannot accurately determine whether we need different guidelines. And with this research, we might find lifesaving insight that Black women should begin annual screenings before 40.

When breast cancer is detected early, it is extremely treatable or even curable. We know that when given the same access to timely treatment for the same breast cancer stage and diagnosis, Black and white women have the same outcomes. But as long as recommendations neglect Black women’s lived experiences, they will continue to face higher mortality rates. We must demand funding for vital breast cancer research focused on Black women. Otherwise, breast cancer screening guidelines will never give Black women the evidence-based standard of care they deserve.

Linda Goler Blount, president, Black Women’s Health Imperative

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