Letters to the Editor | Nov. 6, 2022

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln saw that the deep political divisions of his day posed an existential threat to this experiment in democracy. In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln raised the sights of the American people above the partisan fray by inviting his audience to join in “the unfinished work” of creating a nation “of the people, by the people, and for the people” that demonstrates to the world that all persons “are created equal.”

Today more than ever, we need what Lincoln called a “new birth of freedom,” and as the midterm elections of 2022 approach, I urge all voters to test the spirits of persons running for political office. Candidates who create division and distrust, engage in heated rhetoric that promotes hatred of and violence toward those with whom they disagree, seek to win even if it means forgoing the truth and promoting lies, may use Christian language to justify their positions, but they are not representing accurately the historic Christian faith that Jesus taught and lived. Now is the time for Christians of all persuasions — along with persons of all faiths and no faith — to unite and elect to political office those who are upright in character, faithful in behavior, and moral in their decision-making. Those persons are best equipped to help us finish what Lincoln called our “unfinished work.”

The Rev. Dr. Charles D. Myers, emeritus professor of religious studies, Gettysburg College

Kudos to Sam Katz. He doesn’t buy the hype. He knows how this arena/ stadium development Ponzi system works, and tells the truth about it. His op-ed published Oct. 23, “I don’t trust the process (or concept) of the downtown 76ers arena” provides financial reasons why Philadelphia should not support this boondoggle. It is a plan designed to enrich developers and team owners at the expense of Chinatown and ordinary Philadelphians.

Philadelphia’s Chinatown is a vibrant community, the sole surviving community of color in our city. The proposed stadium will disrupt the community and extract resources and needed space from Chinatown. The op-ed shows that there will be no positive return.

Marta Guttenberg, Philadelphia

Reports indicate that President Joe Biden is quietly preparing for a potential bid for reelection. Sources say that he and the first lady have been meeting with senior advisers to prepare a potential 2024 reelection campaign. In November 2024, Biden will be turning 82 years old and would be 86 by the end of a second term. It is not ageism to observe that few of us have the same physical stamina and mental acuity in our 80s as in our earlier lives.

President Biden should not be seduced by the power of his office, nor by the allure of his ego. The time is coming for him to “pass the torch” to a younger generation. Defeating Donald Trump and saving the country from a disastrous second Trump presidency was a triumph and a legacy-defining event. Biden said he would be a transitional leader — now it’s time for him to do the right thing and allow that transition to take place.

Ken Derow, Swarthmore

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