Letters: Election sign vandalism is concerning; Celebrate direct support professionals this week, and more

Election sign vandalism concerning

I recently returned home from taking my husband for cancer treatment to find my Biden/Harris yard signs ripped up and thrown in the bushes. These signs were on our private property. There are many Trump signs along Whitehall Road, and I would never dream of entering someone’s property to vandalize these.

As American citizens we all have the right and civil responsibility to vote for whatever candidate we choose. It must be the sign of the times that someone would feel they have the right to destroy someone’s private property as we have displayed signs in past elections, and never had this treatment. I worry what will happen after Nov. 3. Please vote, in person or by mail.

Leadership

Thanks to President Trump for reminding us of the words of FDR to the American people after Pearl Harbor, “It is what it is. Don’t worry, it will just go away.” That’s leadership.

We must be united against Trump

President Donald Trump said in his own words he knew the pandemic was deadly for children and the general public, he knew it was easy to spread, he knew the lockdowns were necessary, he knew he needed to do more, he knew that tens of thousands of Americans would die. But instead of being a true leader and telling the truth and providing a plan forward, he lied because he “didn’t want to create a panic.”

While attempting to stop a panic, nearly 200,000 people have died. He never cared about those lives. Don’t believe me, listen to the tapes. As for why Bob Woodward didn’t release them earlier, that makes me angry, and he is almost as bad as Trump. But that isn’t the point, Trump has the executive power to stop this, not Woodward.

Joe Biden wasn’t my first choice, personally I dislike him, but I know Biden can do a better job than what Trump has been doing. Trump acts like a fascist. That meme that has been going around saying “The Signs of Fascism” wasn’t a display at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, instead it was an item in the gift shop. But as someone who loves history, I know that list is accurate, and only two of them — state control of the media and fraudulent elections — he hasn’t accomplished, and he’s working on the latter by slowing down mail-in ballots. We must be united against Trump. Our democracy depends on it.

Happy 100th birthday to Professor Rao

I wish to remind your readers and the community that the eminent mathematician and statistician from India, Professor C.R. Rao recently celebrated his 100th birthday in State College. Known the world over for the Rao Cramer Inequality, the Rao Metric and Rao Blackwellisation, he is the author of over 450 seminal publications in his field.

I would have expected the State College community to have recognized this milestone but I did not see it.

We felicitate this humble but genius scholar and wish him many Happy Returns.

Playing right into the fascism playbook

“You can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” So you divide the populace into factions, get them to hate each other, whites against Blacks, Republicans against Democrats, the North against Old Dixie, protesters against authority, gun lovers against any kind of regulators, demonize a certain minority, Blacks, Jews, immigrants legal or not, and blame society’s problems on them.

Fragment society, make everyone find someone or something to hate and fear. Then take charge of the mess you’ve made, pose as the savior. Sound familiar? “Divide and conquer.”

This is how fascism works. Hitler’s playbook.

Celebrate Direct Support Professional Recognition Week

The week of Sept. 13-19 is observed nationally as Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, and for good reason. Direct Support Professionals, or “DSP’s,” as they’re often called, are the front-line workers at human services agencies who support people living with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

DSP’s assist people with disabilities in daily living activities like personal care, feeding, cooking, cleaning and medication management. They help people manage their finances and appointments. They transport and accompany people in the community so they can participate in recreational and social opportunities. They support people so they can find and keep a job. They help keep people safe.

In addition, DSP’s are considered essential workers, so they’ve been working quietly behind the scenes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep people safe and healthy. Whether teaching hand washing, showing people how to make and wear facemasks, or teaching proper cleaning and sanitizing practices, DSP’s have been hard at work protecting some or our community’s most vulnerable members.

Please join me in thanking all of the Direct Support Professionals in our community. Thanks to their tireless work, people living with intellectual or developmental disabilities receive the support they need to live everyday lives full of meaning and connection.

The writer is president and CEO of Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.

Borowicz the better choice for the 76th

I have seen a number of letters supporting Joe Waltz describing him as a nice guy with a solid work ethic. But I have not seen any of these supporters mention Waltz’s prominent role in the local Democratic Party, or how his admirable work ethic over several decades has benefited federal, state and local candidates who oppose everything important to our district.

A good state representative reflects the same values as the majority of their constituents. Stephanie Borowicz is a much better choice for the 76th District.

Give Trump a dishonorable discharge

My father enlisted in the Army in World War II. He understood “what was in it for them,” just as Gen. John Kelly’s son and thousands of others did when they served and gave their lives — choosing to face danger for our country. He was stationed in London during the German Blitz of that city. When we asked him about it, he would only say, ”Horrible!”

President Donald Trump thinks Americans who died in the service of their country were “losers” and “suckers.” His own father paid a doctor to find “bone spurs” so that Trump was “unable” to serve in the military. His cowardice continues to reveal itself in his actions today. When it comes to defending our country and those who serve us, our so-called Commander in Chief does nothing when Russian jets harass and endanger our B-52s in international air space. When Putin pays for assassins to target our troops in Afghanistan, Trump does nothing. When Russian troops attack and injure our troops in Syria, Trump does nothing.

We don’t have a Commander in Chief. We have a Coward in Chief! Give Trump the dishonorable discharge he deserves in November!

A Biden win is a loss for pro-life policy

Electing Joe Biden would turn the calendar back 47 years, to the time when the U.S. Supreme Court first handed down the tragic abortion ruling Roe v. Wade.

Biden has flip-flopped and now opposes the time-tested Hyde Amendment, which bans taxpayer funding of abortion except in the rare cases of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. Research clearly indicates that abortions rise dramatically when they are funded by our hard-earned tax dollars.

In sharp contrast, President Donald Trump has consistently and courageously fought against tax dollars being used for abortion. He has also appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court justices who will fairly interpret the Constitution, rather than making pro-abortion law from the bench.

For the health and safety of preborn babies and their mothers, America needs to re-elect President Trump.

The writer is the PAC director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation