Give back pay raise
by Sean Carpenter
Daily Local
Monday, December 29, 2008
There is nothing restricting Barbara McIlvaine Smith and Andy Dinneman from returning their COLA pay raise to the Pennsylvania Treasury. In fact, this is exactly what Rep. Curt Schroder, R-155th, is doing. Hopefully all our other representatives will be so concerned about our deficit to do the same thing, and finally see fit to repeal the COLA pay raise entirely.
They are simply performing another political trick with our taxes.
Why can’t McIlvaine Smith and Dinneman give the money back to the Pennsylvania Treasury, and back to the taxpayers of this state?
Please, let’s focus on the message
by Jane Gilvary
Daily Local
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
In response to Ms. Karen Porter’s recent letter to the editor citing how the cré�che outside of the Chester County Courthouse is offensive because it portrays Jesus as non-Middle Eastern, I’d like to point out that Ms. Porter, who claims to be a lifelong Christian, is indeed correct. Jesus was a Jew from the town of Nazareth, which is located in the Middle East. Ms. Porter’s accuracy ends there.
Nazareth’s first inhabitants were Canaanites, Israelites, and Galilean Jews, all of whom were primarily white. And while many Middle Easterners are indeed darker skinned, most ancient and modern depictions are of Jesus as a white male. While definitive proof of Christ’s skin color might never be proven until He comes again in glory, riding on a cloud, shining like the sun as the trumpets roar, I hardly think it offensive that a manger scene portrays him as white. Are we about changing history for the sake of political correctness? True Christians know that Jesus died for everyone, not just white people.
As a “lifelong Christian” perhaps Ms. Porter should direct her spiritual and editorial energies to praying for the folks behind the “atheist tree” that looms over the cré�che, obscenely proclaiming that both God and Christ are frauds. At Christmas, nothing could be more offensive than to mock the faith of devout believers by placing a “Tree of Knowledge” next to the infant Savior.
More important than Christ’s ethnic origin, however, is his message to “love one another” and it is God’s greatest commandment. Taking the focus off of that message by complaining about a couple of statues is just plain wrong.
Be fiscally responsible
by Denine Brosius
Daily Local
Thursday, January 1, 2009
We are living in bad economic times. Many are losing jobs and not getting raises or bonuses this year, mainly in part because of the fiscal irresponsibility of our national government and banking system.
In Pennsylvania, why can’t the House Democrats from Chester County be fiscally responsible by returning their COLA to the state treasury? By donating it to charity, they are still taking it. Does this really make them look good? Giving to charity is a good thing, but not at the expense of taxpayers.
Rep. Curt Schroder is returning his COLA to the state treasury and I think other House Democrats should do the same. This would help ease the projected $2 billion deficit that has been created by them. It would make me angry if those who took the COLA ended up voting to raise taxes next year in order to make up for the deficit.
They should get their own holiday
by Rosemary Boyce
Daily Local
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Can someone give me a reasonable explanation as to why the Freethought Society has a right to put up a so called “Tree of Knowledge” at Christmastime? Or, why they want to? Is the Freethought Society a religious organization? No. What does a “Tree of Knowlege” erected by atheists signify? Does it signify that religious people are stupid because they believe in God?
It’s interesting that the Freethought Society always chooses Christmastime to erect this tree. It is, in fact, because they are anti-religious that they choose this time of year to demand their rights to have a symbol right next to the creche and the menorah, religious symbols. Why our society and the county commissioners tolerate this blatant insult to those who believe in God and celebrate a national holiday commemorating the birth of Christ is indicative as to how political correctness has poisoned our society. Now, the most important thing is not being sued by the ACLU so all is tolerated, no matter what.
I would challenge the Freethought Society to get their own holiday so they don’t have to infringe on religious holidays and insult those who believe in God. No one makes these anti-religious citizens go to church or worship in any way. They are free to believe whatever they want and it is telling that they feel such a need to insult those who think differently from them — free thought, indeed!
