Letters to the Editor | Nov. 3, 2022

Rather than showing any sympathy for the attack on House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin used it to campaign against her reelection. Fox News tried to sell the attack as an example of random violence and promote the Republicans’ emphasis on the rise of crime under President Joe Biden. But this callousness is not unusual for Republicans. There was the attempt to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The numerous convictions in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The chants of the rioters there to hang former Vice President Mike Pence. The violence at Charlottesville, Va., Walmart, synagogues, and Black churches. And Republicans are using the Big Lie to campaign for office, which is leading to alleged voter intimidation occurring in Arizona. While Donald Trump has played a role in stoking such violence, Republicans have made efforts to whitewash, ignore, blame the left, or cover up what is happening. And there continues to be no condemnation of the political violence on the right by leading Republicans.

George Magakis Jr., Norristown

Ashton Carter died last week. People might think, in passing, “That’s a shame.” I was stopped in my tracks. I did not know Ash as secretary of defense, nor as a professor or amazing contributor as an adult. I do remember him from high school. He was already destined for great things. He had a lot of nervous energy; he would always click his pen and couldn’t sit still. His mind was always thinking. Ash was nice to everyone. I was a wallflower and he was even nice to me. We sat near each other in French class, helping each other. I wasn’t a cheerleader, club leader, or any leader. I was just a classmate. That’s the lesson I remember from Ash. He had a great laugh, a great attitude. Nice to everyone. A leader way back when. He smiled a lot, and he walked with energy in his step, always dressed like the professional he would one day become. When I read that he passed away, I thought of the Ash I knew 50 years ago, and I reminisced. He died too soon; he wasn’t yet finished with his contributions to society. That’s sad.

Beth Chaville Fuller, Philadelphia

Anthony B. Wood’s fine piece (Oct. 31) on the arrival of William Penn to Chester in October 1682, and his subsequent choice to settle in Philadelphia, deserves a close reading. A major point, but mentioned only once, is that on the 57-day voyage from England, Penn’s ship, The Welcome, carried 100 passengers, and 30 died of smallpox. We can only imagine the horrors that Penn and his fellow passengers experienced. Smallpox vaccination was, even in primitive forms, 100 years in the future. We should look at our health care with an always critical eye, but also with an appreciation of how our vastly improved health care has transformed our lives.

Harvey Boulay, Philadelphia

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