Letters to the Editor | Dec. 30, 2022

Over the years, there seems to be less attention paid to Kwanzaa by the media and advertisers, but my family’s celebration — now in its 25th year — continues. In the past two years, the pandemic pared down the occasion. Some family members in other cities connected only via their phones. Cautiously this year, we will hold a small family gathering in person and we will light the candles representing the Kwanzaa principles: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). We will gather to tell the story of the great-grandparent who was a buffalo soldier and his wife who was a Jacobite. We will also recognize the accomplishment of a family-connected Tuskegee Airman. We will share the pain of the life of the great-great-grandfather who was enslaved in North Carolina. He went blind and we have no name for him, but he will be remembered.

Everything is not about the past, though. We will welcome the newest addition to our family: 2-week-old Kenya. We will congratulate our most recent college graduate, a graphic arts major at Cheyney University. He was only a few weeks old at our first Kwanzaa fete in 1997 and he has designed our signature Kwanzaa cake for this year’s event. Much of the history, legacy, and accomplishments of Black people have been lost and overlooked, but within our families, we must search out our stories and tell them with pride to the next generation.

Karen Warrington, Philadelphia

A recent letter writer, in his capacity as president and CEO of the National Association of Water Companies, chastised the Editorial Board for opposing the sale of the Chester Water Authority to Aqua Pennsylvania and praised the “independent” experts at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission — of which he is a former commissioner. To go by the rate increase approved for Aqua this year, the PUC is in fact very “independent” — as in, it rules without consideration of the impact of rate hikes on Pennsylvania families, it dismisses rulings from state judges urging smaller rate hikes, and it ignores unflattering perceptions of the commission based on decisions which provide private water companies incomprehensible performance bonuses. The Aqua increase shows the PUC is independent to our detriment.

Mary Kay Owen, Downingtown

I can sympathize and respect both sides of the Christopher Columbus statue issue. What I cannot fathom is the universal silence of Americans and some of our most prominent institutions who honor Nazi war criminals. Buildings, professorships, etc., bear the names of those responsible for atrocious acts. For example, the University of Alabama in Huntsville honors Wernher von Braun, whose name is on the performing arts center; Harvard honors Alfried Krupp with a professorship. NASA, Stanford, and the United States Army all “celebrate” these criminals who committed unspeakable acts against humanity. How can we recognize these people, who caused the deaths of thousands of civilians through their scientific inventions? How can we remember Columbus’ misdeeds but forget those who were vital enablers of Holocaust purveyors?

Lita Indzel Cohen, retired member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Philadelphia

I listened to King Charles’ first Christmas address and also Pope Francis’ Christmas message for peace from the Vatican. Both referred to Bethlehem, where Christianity started and which both have visited. Charles quoted lines from the famous carol about Bethlehem, “Yet in the dark street shineth the everlasting Light,” alluding to the efforts of volunteers and service communities to help others in distress. Later he described his reverential presence in the cave under the Church of the Nativity, standing next to the silver star inlaid on the ground that marks the place of Christ’s birth. The pope pleaded for an end to conflicts around the world. “If we want it to be Christmas, the birth of Jesus and of peace, let us look to Bethlehem and contemplate the face of the child who is born for us,” he said. I found it strange that neither man remarked on the situation in the Bethlehem of today. The small town is subject to frequent incursions of Israeli soldiers and tanks and is hemmed in by a high wall that inhabitants have to get permits to cross. People lack livelihoods because of the Israeli occupation, which is now 55 years old. International law condemns Israel’s settlements and land grabs. Upholding the rule of law seems worth supporting for any world leader.

Joan Hazbun, Media

Pennsylvania already has the highest gas taxes. The impending increase seems to kick us when we’re down, barely beginning to crawl out from under the economic hardship imposed by the pandemic, supply-chain issues, high inflation, and high gas prices. In January, $0.611 of every gallon of gas we buy will go out of our pockets and into Pennsylvania tax coffers. We cannot afford it. To add to the insult of this increase, the legislature is sitting on big bucks in various slush funds, money that seems subject to little oversight and accountability. Examples? Outgoing Speaker Bryan Cutler moved more than $52 million into the Republican Leadership Account, whatever that is. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced a deposit of $2.1 billion into Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund. The calculus embedded in the 2013 transportation law heartlessly locks us into increases, no matter how the rest of us are weathering all of these financial storms. No matter their political leanings, elected officials need to take a good look outside, look beyond their gilded political offices, their government vehicles and travel allowances, and see that for many of us, it’s still pouring out. We do not need, nor can we really afford, yet another tax. Take some measure to mitigate this new sting. Enough is enough.

Deborah DiMicco, Newtown

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