Letters: Stand against rewriting history; Vote to end ‘Trumped up disruptions’

Stand against rewriting history

On the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at our nation’s Congress, the White House put out a new webpage in an attempt to rewrite history, basically saying it was caused by the reaction of the Capitol police and inability of Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the House, to protect Congress. The White House is asking us to deny what we saw with our own eyes.

We all know it was not the Capitol police who smashed doors and windows to gain entrance to the building. They did not bring a gallows to Congress and chant: “Hang Mike Pence.”

The Capitol police did not stand by for hours doing nothing as Donald Trump did, then finally imploring the insurrectionists to go home, saying: “We love you all.” They were not instrumental in offering pardons to 95%+ of those convicted of crimes committed that day. The Capitol police did not embrace the insurrectionists as “patriots.”

So what option does each citizen have? In 2026 each of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives is up for election, as are a third of the seats in the Senate. Listen to the silence of the current (mostly Republican) elected officials who sit by at this affront to history and our dignity by saying nothing, while being afraid to cross Donald Trump in their bids to be re-elected.

Vote for what you know to be true with your own eyes, and what you know in your hearts.

Leigh D. Wheeler, State College

Vote to end ‘Trumped up disruptions’

Since the 2026 New Year began I have been looking for the United States of America, but I can no longer see the “Shining City on a Hill.”

I know my father did not fight oppression during World War II only to find the U.S. now acting as an oppressor. Dad, although a staunch Republican, would have been disgusted to see our President calling for the invasion and take over of neighboring democratic countries.

Trump’s threats to annex Greenland are outrageous and extremely disruptive to world peace and security. Such actions only encourage Russia and China in their schemes to invade and control the democratic countries of Ukraine and Taiwan.

There seems to be only one way to stop Trump’s mad plans of world domination. Vote for a Democrat Congressional Representative this fall.

Congress has allowed Trump to usurp vital constitutional authorities of Congress and destroy the guardrails of Democracy.

Enough. Rescue America from this insanity and vote out the Republicans.

The Shining City on a Hill is still here buried under the vile rhetoric of Trump and his acolytes.

The light of a true democracy must shine again for the sake of our children’s children.

Vote this fall to end the Trumped up disruptions and hatred that have poisoned our democracy.

David Roberts, Bellefonte

Learn about Title IX’s past, present and future

The mission of AAUW is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. As part of that mission, the AAUW State College Branch is pleased to present a program entitled “Title IX: Look-Back & Challenges Ahead,” featuring Peg Pennepacker, a retired high school educator and a nationally known Title IX consultant.

Peg served as SCASD athletic director from 2011-2017 and is the founder of High School Title IX Consulting Services, as well as being an advisory board member of the Association of Title IX Administrators. She has been “a student of Title IX for over 40 years” and is an authority on Bernice Sandler, who is known as the “Godmother of Title IX.” Her presentation will include the history of this legislation as a response to sex discrimination in education and employment, its impact on athletics, and its role as the most important law to benefit women since the right to vote.

The program will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Council Room at the College Township Building, 1481 E. College Ave., State College. Registration is requested: https://bit.ly/1-14-26TitleIXProgram. The meeting will be available via Zoom. Contact: education@aauwstatecollege.org for more information.

Jayne Cawthern, Boalsburg. The author is a member of the AAUW State College Education Committee.