Letters: Another war to protest; Offer gratitude on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Another war to protest
I went to one demonstration against the Vietnam War and many against the Iraq War. I do not want another war to protest.
If to paraphrase Robert Kennedy, Sr., we continue to use war to make peace and, like Rome before us, make a desert, then we will have more war to protest.
If to borrow from Jimi Hendrix, the power of love has not overcome the love of power, we will have more war to protest.
If we continue to think of energy as something we must fight wars over, then we will have more war to protest.
If we build walls to keep out refugees but are indifferent to the climate disruption and devastation that makes people into refugees, then we will have more war to protest.
On Jan. 3, 2026, after bombing several Venezuelan fishing boats that allegedly carried illegal drugs and taking their oil tankers off the high seas in acts of piracy, the Trump administration decided it was time to perform airstrikes on Venezuelan territory and to kidnap President Nicholas Maduro and his wife, Cilla Flores. Maduro was a terrible autocrat who probably lost his last election but rigged it so that he did not. But, suddenly, the USA, my country, is running Venezuela and this is about, in Trump’s words, “taking the oil.”
We have another war to protest.
And, since we have another war to protest, we should protest, contact our Congressman and our senators, and make our voice heard.
Jesse Barlow, State College
Offer gratitude on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Law enforcement officers are often seen only through the lens of the uniform they wear. Before the badge is pinned on and the shift begins, they’re people just like everyone else. They wake up early, tie their shoes and drink coffee before heading out the door.
The difference is that when law enforcement officers leave for work, they do so knowing there’s a chance they may not come home. They step into uncertainty by responding to unpredictable situations and placing themselves in harm’s way to protect others. It’s a reality that demands courage, strength and sacrifice.
Jan. 9 marks National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It’s a time to pause and recognize the individuals behind the badge. It’s an opportunity to remember that those who serve are not just law enforcement officers but parents, spouses, children, friends and neighbors.
There are many ways to show appreciation for law enforcement officers in your community, including:
● Sharing a positive story about the role of law enforcement in your community.
● Posting on social media using #BackTheBlue or #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay.
● Sending thank-you cards or notes to your local department.
A genuine thank you, a kind word or a brief conversation can go a long way in reminding law enforcement officers that their service is seen and appreciated.
On behalf of Pennsylvania’s law enforcement community, we encourage everyone to take a moment on Jan. 9 to recognize the people behind the badge and thank them for the risks they take to keep our communities safe.
Joseph Regan, president, Fraternal Order of Police, Pennsylvania State Lodge
New year brings new representation
As 2025 came to a close, there were many things to be thankful for and to celebrate. This year, 2026, I begin a four-year term on the Bellefonte Borough Council. My successful bid was made possible by the encouragement, support, and advice of many people. Other people opened their doors to meet a stranger and shared their ideas, concerns and laughter. Most importantly, were the people who cast their vote affirming their trust in me to represent them.
This year, I hope to open more doors, listen carefully and respectfully to everyone and actively support our vibrant community.
Many thanks to all.
Claudia Wilson, Bellefonte
Avoiding the Epstein ‘public media circus’
In spite of the onslaught of invitations to read “news” related to Jeffrey Epstein, I seldom acknowledge them because I view the national fascination with his endeavors as a world class example of how a country that views itself as a democracy “panders to the crude and mindless whims of the masses.” However, when the clickbait title also included the DOJ, I took the bait.
This particular article contained a drawer full of photos that displayed many renown public figures, and also a separate photo of an award-winning and now deceased pop star. There were probably others I may have recognized if I had wanted to take even one second more time to look thoughtfully or thoroughly, but the person who stood out immediately was a leader of the Catholic empire and possibly even a former supreme pontiff.
The presentation of images the article provides offers no opportunity to evaluate the circumstances or motivations that may have prompted the photos, begging for them to be interpreted by jumping to the worst possible conclusion because of the financier and registered sex offender with whom the article was associated. My interpretation is that this widely publicized witch hunt is a far-reaching injustice that demands dedicated, discreet and objective investigation, rather than the current public media circus which has inappropriately prioritized and sensationalized this sordid saga, disguising it as news so it can be continually served to us as distracting and mind-numbing fodder. I will gratefully avoid any future Epstein snares.
Della Chuderewicz, State College