Letters to the Editor | Jan. 23, 2023

By signing an executive order eliminating the four-year degree requirement for thousands of state jobs, Gov. Josh Shapiro has taken a monumental step forward. Our young people will be able to start life without being buried in tuition debt. If only the federal government could be persuaded to follow suit and encourage private industry to do the same through tax deductions or credits. An employer’s only concern should be whether a potential candidate has the necessary skill to do the job, not whether he or she possesses a gold-plated, platinum-trimmed, diamond-studded go-to-work certificate. If a young person feels the need to imbibe medieval poetry, film history, or urban studies, the opportunity will always be available. The universities will just have to convince young people that getting to know Chaucer is worth the money.

Mike Egan, Plymouth Meeting

Please give Flyers player Ivan Provorov a break. All religions are discriminatory. They are exclusionary by definition. The basic tenet of Christianity is that only through acceptance of Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and savior may one enjoy everlasting joy in the kingdom of Heaven. Thus, about 70% of the world’s population is doomed to eternal damnation. Say it ain’t so Buddha! What Provorov did, or refrained from doing, is the equivalent of not taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Why must we all be held hostage to the cause d’jour?

Harold K. Lloyd, Philadelphia

My respect for the NHL and Inquirer sports columnist Marcus Hayes has dropped precipitously over their reaction to Ivan Provorov’s refusal to wear a jersey in support of the LGBTQ community. It is one thing to recognize Pride, but to ask the players to wear Pride-themed jerseys prior to a game is over the top. His reason for not wearing the jersey is that the Russian Orthodox religion does not condone homosexuality or gay marriage. Is that not his right as an Orthodox Christian to not participate in an event that is antithetical to the teachings of his church? What happened to freedom of religion and freedom of expression?

I have always enjoyed Hayes’ columns, but in my opinion, he has stepped over the line. His stating that Flyers coach John Tortorella should have benched Provorov for his religious beliefs is outrageous. Tortorella’s response to the question could not have been more perfect: “With Provy, he is being true to himself and his religion.” As someone who has a same-sex marriage in my family, and who likes and respects both individuals, I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion as it relates to this manufactured controversy. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion trump all other aspects surrounding this issue.

Joe Pasquarello, Medford

A recent op-ed, “NFL players are not paid enough, given the danger of football,” has the issue totally backward. The problem is not that they are insufficiently rewarded by contracts should they be injured, it is that players are paid too much in the first place, thus making the danger seem worth the risk. As noted in the piece, playing football is a choice. In the mind of America, if a skill produces profit, it is a valuable endeavor. The writer correctly noted the huge amounts of money pro football generates, much of it going to those who are not on the field: the ones who do not endanger themselves. It is standard practice in our country to reward any skill that makes a profit. However, if an individual’s skill involves the care of people, it may be considered “essential” but never worthy of commensurate financial reward, even if it involves danger. Do we reward the police officer who faces danger on a daily basis? Do we reward the teacher who is becoming a target (literally) in today’s schools? Do we reward nurses who face diseases on a daily basis? Do we financially reward our nation’s military? Do we reward firefighters for the dangers they face? If danger is truly the issue, then pro athletes are grossly overpaid for the choice they made, and we are guilty of encouraging it.

Jeff Heim, West Chester

I was saddened to read of the death of Villanova basketball legend Chris Ford. As a Villanova alum, I knew of his amazing college career, taking the Cats to a near upset of mighty UCLA in the 1971 NCAA championship. As a nephew of legendary Villanova athletic trainer Jake Nevin, I also had the rare opportunity to shoot hoops with Chris and his teammate Hank Simiontowski in my parents’ Lafayette Hill driveway, circa 1970, when Mom invited Uncle Jake and the guys over for Sunday dinner. Rest in peace, Chris. Nova Nation will never forget you.

Frank Keel, North Wales

Thursday’s editorial, “Arm against falsehoods,” got me thinking about how we can cut down on the damage to society due to misinformation and disinformation. Texas passed a law allowing private citizens to sue anyone who aids or abets an abortion, dangling a bounty of $10,000 as a “reward.” That was apparently legal. States need to pass laws against the willful spreading of lies and disinformation that causes harm. So when someone knowingly spreads a lie or disinformation that causes harm, he or she can be turned in with a $10,000 bounty as a reward for civic duty. Pretty good, huh?

Steven Schwartz, Springfield

Fair elections, acknowledged by all, are a core of any democratic republic. Columnists Jennifer Stefano and Solomon Jones disagree on whether a GOP-proposed constitutional amendment that would require voter identification accomplishes that. We want fair elections. We should not want to disadvantage any citizen, certainly not any group of citizens, as Jones argues. There is a simple way to solve this: issue IDs with a name, picture, address, and signature at state expense for every citizen of voting age. Make it easy for everyone to get one. Then all those people should automatically be registered to vote. They can then show their ID at the polls, or include a copy with their mail-in ballot requests. Problem solved.

Mitchell Rothman, Merion Station

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