Letters: Accept defeat like football fans; Concerning letter of ‘magical thinking’

Accept defeat like football fans

For true football fans, last weekend was nirvana. Eight strong teams competed in four playoff games. All played hard, without resorting to targeting, cheap shots or trash talk.

The first three games came down to the final play, with each being settled by a successful field goal attempt. In the 49ers/Packers game, former Penn State kicker, Robbie Gould, booted a 45 yard field goal to propel the 49ers into the next round. Neither Green Bay or the Green Bay Sweep were successful. In the final game, a field goal tied the game, so Kansas City could come back and win in overtime. Special teams indeed!

Three of the home field football teams lost. Although their devoted fans were disappointed, none charged the field, or destroyed property. As their dejected players congratulated the winners, none yelled out, “stop the steal”; or seized the scoreboard and changed the final score in their favor; nor did they assault the officials, or replace them with “alternative officials”; much less throw a rope over the crossbar and chant, “hang the defense!” No, in each game, these true fans, although disappointed with the outcome, knew it was a fair contest, accepted the results, and moved on.

The Hindus believe, “suffering ends, when you accept what you can not change.” I anxiously await the day when, like the Green Bay, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Buffalo fans, true Americans will accept defeat graciously and move on, and the “divided” states can again become the United States.

Letter of ‘magical thinking’

I read, with equal amounts of amusement and concern, the letter written by Terry L. Kordes, of Port Matilda, which appeared in the Jan. 27 issue of Centre Daily Times. The letter ends with a call for the impeachment of the current President.

Mr. Kordes is certainly entitled to his opinion regarding President Biden’s performance, but his letter makes several blatant errors of fact.

We do not impeach our Presidents for poor job performance or incompetence. We impeach them for committing crimes.

Nixon was impeached (or would have been had he not resigned first) for obstruction of justice. Clinton was impeached for perjury. Trump was impeached (twice) for illegal election interference.

We don’t impeach a President because the nation experiences inflation, a pandemic, or supply-chain disruption, and certainly not for falling asleep during a conference.

Mr. Kordes criticizes President Biden both for not halting COVID and also for making efforts to curtail it, which fall short because too many people won’t follow his good advice regarding masks and vaccinations. You can’t have it both ways, Mr. Kordes.

And the Attorney General’s memorandum was not “to intimidate concerned parents speaking out at school board meetings,” as Mr. Kordes asserts. It was to restrain them from sending death threats to school board members.

The letter is pure magical thinking (believing that one event happens as a result of another without a plausible link of causation) and it reveals a level of misunderstanding and ignorance that literally threatens American democracy.

Remember infrastructure bill votes

Congresspersons Keller and Thompson and most of the rest of the Republican Caucus proudly voted against last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill. Pennsylvania ranks fifth worst in the nation for bridge maintenance with more than 12,000 of the state’s bridges in need of repair. Keller and Thompson, apparently in the firm grip of “party-above-all,” just don’t seem to be able to vote for things Democrats or Independents propose. After all they are self-proclaimed warriors for the tribe rather than representatives of the constituents. On Friday a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh, one listed in poor condition for years. Ten people were injured; 14,500 vehicles per day will need to be rerouted.

Thankfully, in spite of no votes of warriors Keller and Thompson, Pennsylvania will soon be receiving nearly $18 billion to repair and improve infrastructure. $1.6 billion is set aside for bridge repair; repairs obviously needed across the state. This fall, when it comes time to elect Congress persons, we should look for Representatives that can work with others and represent constituents to replace our current tribal warriors.

This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 5:00 AM.