Letters: When did we lose sight of patriotism?; Priorities are shifting

When did we lose sight of patriotism?

How in the world did we get here? Despite the growing body count, hospitalizations and cases, the rapidly deteriorating economy, the near universally agreed-upon science and recommendations for slowing the spread of this disease and the experience of almost every other nation on the planet, we have become a nation so twisted up on ourselves that the simple act of wearing a mask has become political and the president refuses to either acknowledge the basic evidence or, until recently, even set an example. We have 4% of the world’s population and 25% of its deaths (not to mention the agony these number don’t capture) and yet we’re embroiled in a mindless mask fight. Rome burns and we fiddle it appears.

When did we lose sight of patriotism as meaning a love of country strong enough to rise above our individual wants for the good of the nation? How is it that we’ve come to the point where we celebrate our veterans for giving the full measure of themselves while we can’t even bring it upon ourselves to accept that with the freedoms they so valiantly fought for come a few basic responsibilities? How is it that we’ll all salute the flag and recite the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and feel just fine about our patriotism, while so many suffer and we’re so unwilling to lift even the slightest hand to help get us out of this mess? History won’t and shouldn’t be kind to us!

Priorities are shifting

Last week, the Labor Department reported 1.4 million people have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, the first increase since early in the pandemic 3 months ago. Now, more than 4 million people are known to be infected with the coronavirus, and Penn State counts one student-athlete among them, even as we mourn the passing of one of our students from the illness.

Also last week, lawmakers in Washington voted down an amendment to shift 10% of the military budget to meet human needs like fighting the coronavirus and funding education, healthcare, and housing. Understand that this year’s proposed National Defense Act will provide $740 billion for the Pentagon, whereas $660 billion of federal spending goes to everything else. That’s a lot of your tax earnings funding the military. In fact, the United States spends more on its military budget than the next 10 countries combined. Last year, half of that spending enriched private contractors, which is not the most economical way to go. Nor have these endless wars for foreign oil made us perceptibly safer.

The good news is that this sensible amendment got the support of 40 percent of the Democrats in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, almost half of the Democrats supported the tithe for life. Priorities are shifting. Have you sensed it? Let this be the start of our collective choice to prioritize the needs of our fellow citizens over the profits of corporations like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing.

Who restores reputations?

Cynthia Baldwin has now been formally reprimanded for her shortcomings as Penn State’s legal counsel during the Sandusky scandal. A disciplinary board ruled that she violated four provisions of the state ethics code for lawyers. For one, she improperly revealed confidences of Penn State administrators Graham Spanier, Gary Schultz and Tim Curley. According to the board, that led to criminal charges being filed against the three, many of which were subsequently thrown out in Superior Court. I can only imagine the physical, mental and financial toll that the three men suffered. And then there’s the damage to their reputations.

I recall when Ray Donovan, U.S. labor secretary under President Reagan, was acquitted after being charged with larceny and fraud. He famously asked: “Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?”

We should ask the same question on behalf of the much maligned Spanier, Schultz and Curley. Maybe Baldwin would like to fund an Office of Reputation Restoration.