Letters: We're not the 'dirtballs'

IN RESPONSE to A.J. Thomson's op-ed

"Generation of Dirtballs":

We are not all "dirtballs." Please don't include those who work diligently to keep their streets clean. We get our flowers torn out of their pots, we pick up much more than Artic Ice Tea containers. (Maybe we should get in contact with Artic and see if we can return them for a refund.)

I was home last year recovering from minor surgery and daily saw the kids walking down my street at exactly 2:30 every day. They had public-school uniforms on, which prompted me to call Penn Treaty School. I reported the kids that come down my street and try to steal flags from my senior-citizen neighbors' window, and if no one is watching, they rip branches off the trees.

When I see it, I say something - and when I say something, they look at me like I had snakes crawling out of my head! I don't back down easily, and I fight for what I believe in.

With all that said, Mr. Thomson, your final statement in your article declared "We are all dirtballs." Correction - we are not all dirtballs. The dirtballs are "dirtballs."

Katherine M. Rhoads

Philadelphia

Out-of-control priest

At a time when the Catholic Church is being indicted for the conduct of some of its clergy, the last thing it needs is for a priest to make a public spectacle of himself.

I am referring of course to the overwrought Rev. Michael Plfeger, a recent guest preacher at Barack Obama's former church in Chicago. In a histrionic, racially charged and sexist attempt to mock Hillary Clinton, he revealed himself as yet another of Obama's bigoted, wacky mentors.

Father Pfleger also violated a clear church prohibition on making political statements from the pulpit. As a Catholic, I'm appalled by his misogynist attitude and embarrassed by his ludicrous behavior.

Gloria C. Endres, Philadelphia