Letters: Competent, compassionate care at Mount Nittany; DHS not following the rule of law

Competent, compassionate care at Mount Nittany

Again, again, and again. No less than seven times during the past several years Mount Nittany Health was called upon for our visits to the emergency room, admissions to the medical center for evaluations, treatments and surgical procedures.

Again, and again and again we found excellent physical, emotional and social treatment whether it came from skilled surgeons, quick-to-diagnose ER staff, floor nurses, culinary services, social services, housekeeping and administration.

We found that we were treated with respect, our physical and emotional needs, opinions and even the rare complaints were received and handled with skill and compassion.

In particular, the nursing staff are to be commended. Their quick response when needed, their skill, kindness in attending to our needs as well as their professionalism all contributed to feelings of safety, security and comfort.

We evaluate medical care using our own little “4-Cs” model: We ask for Competency, Caring, Compassion and Class. Mount Nittany Health has all four!

Betty and David Dimmick, Bellefonte

DHS not following the rule of law

ICE is an obscenity brought to us by the current administration. There is no attempt at de-escalation. Within an hour of the Minnesota incident that resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good, and absent an investigation, Kristi Noem pronounced her verdict: ICE was justified and the victim was labeled a “domestic terrorist.” The videos that captured the incident do not support that conclusion. She was shot at point-blank range. This administration is corrupt and hostile. DHS is corrupt and hostile.

The DHS is not following the rule of law and it is being applied in a partisan manner. Blue states are being targeted, judges who do not rule in favor of the president’s agenda of retribution are being targeted, protesters are being targeted, U.S. citizens are being kidnapped. Doors are being smashed. Warrants are not provided. ICE agents wear combat gear, look military, are armed, and display and provide no identification. Most of them just wear tactical vests that only say “Police.” Standard law enforcement practices are not being followed. Forceful apprehensions are not being addressed. DHS has hired a former J6 rioter, pardoned while on trial for felonies and misdemeanors committed on J6.

Americans want borders enforced. They want foreign criminals apprehended and deported. They want unfounded asylum claimants to be removed promptly. But most Americans don’t like the acts of violence aimed at individuals based on racial profiling. How does someone “look like” or “sound like” they are an illegal/undocumented immigrant?

This is just the beginning.

Christine Coleman, Boalsburg

Two-party system can and must work

Voting still matters. Think about these quotes from our President: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” “We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military ... for fighting the war from within.” “He who saves his country does not violate the law.” The Free Press is “the enemy of the people.”

We now see all too clearly that voting in elections is no guarantee of democracy. So, now what do we do? Can we rely on our political parties to fix our problems? Our government began without political parties. Our Constitution, intentionally, does not mention political parties. There was great concern that partisan loyalties could become stronger than institutional loyalties. But, there was also the opinion that a two (major) party political system could lead toward an area of “centrism,” where political parties could find some common ground that appeals to voters. The result would be political stability, and economic growth. We appear to have lost that. We now face retributions for any perceived disloyalty. This is not compromise; it is dictatorship. So, come on Congress, get involved. Our two-party system can and must work. We, as voters, must work to understand the issues. Congress must listen, understand, discuss and act now.

Carl Evensen, State College

Pennsylvania Wilds region has much to offer

Just a little north of the bustling streets of State College lies a region that has been dubbed “The Pennsylvania Wilds.” This region spreads across much of Northcentral Pennsylvania and covers over 2 million acres of public land. This region is one of the largest contiguous tracts of public land in the Eastern United States.

As a Penn State alum, I grew to appreciate the region as a marvel of conservation success and an excellent example of Appalachia’s natural beauty. My time there let me unplug from classes and gave me a break from living in my cramped apartment.

However, when I would relate my time spent just a short drive outside of town, many students and residents of State College would act surprised, completely unaware of the vast recreational opportunities in the region.

Despite State College’s close proximity to the largest tracts of public land in the state, most people’s outdoor experience in State College consists of a jaunt out to the Arboretum or Mt. Nittany. People from outside of Pennsylvania often don’t know about these places.

The State College community has been doing a disservice to students by not promoting these opportunities. If State College leaned into its status as a gateway to this region, it could deepen its ties to the rest of central Pennsylvania, promoting local economic growth, conservation awareness and regional cohesion.

Penn State is a great school for the outdoors, it is up to the community and university to promote it.

Luke Webb, Conneaut Lake