Sounding off: TV’s influence on conspiracy theories
TV may be at fault with the problem we have today with QAnon and other conspiracy theories. Once upon a time, History and the Travel Channel were my favorites. Now they should be renamed Pseudoscience Channels 1 and 2, as they are filled with programs about UFOs, Bigfoot, ghosts, ancient aliens and so on.
It’s OK to watch these programs for their entertainment value, but the problem is that people with “low science aptitude,” to say it mildly, believe this nonsense and thus may begin the slippery slope down the rabbit hole to lizard people, a flat earth and Jewish space lasers.
One UFO program had a military jet chasing at high speed a UFO that was violating U.S. air space and was near a major military base. My answer: You want evidence? Shoot a missile at the sucker! As an outdoors man, I watch the Bigfoot programs for the scenery .
There have been almost 200 episodes of “Ancient Aliens.” I guess aliens, not Egyptians and certainly not Jewish slaves, built the pyramids by levitating the million 2-ton blocks. Personally, if I went to an abandoned prison to look for ghosts, I’d go during the day so I could see them.
To religious people: Aren’t souls/spirits supposed to immediately go to heaven or hell upon death? Why would they escape God’s judgment and then wander the earth for eternity instead?
Lawrence Josephs, Penn Township, Westmoreland County
Billionaires’ climate hypocrisy
So, billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are off to space! Wow! Isn’t that special! Or is it?
I thought these two “philanthropists” were on the “cutting edge” of stopping man-made greenhouse gases with all their “foundations” and “initiatives.” But I guess getting your kicks by going to space is just too much fun to pass up if you are a billionaire.
I am guessing that just one flight creates a larger carbon footprint than a small town makes all year. Where is the outrage from the climate Nazis? Why aren’t they protesting and boycotting Bezos’ and Branson’s businesses? Are the billions in foundation money silencing them?
And where is our “special envoy for climate” John Kerry? Why isn’t he speaking out about the huge unnecessary amount of greenhouse gases that Bezos’ and Branson’s “pleasure trips” are spewing? Are those rockets fueled with some secret sun-powered electricity or something? No, they are fueled with the same fossil fuels that these two clowns claim are bad for you. And what is the benefit to the taxpayers who helped to fund these joyrides?
It is hard to find two bigger hypocrites than these guys. Their cunning and deception is matched only by the ancient Greek god Dolos, the master of trickery.
They make you feel like their amusement, at your expense, is OK by putting some spin on it, like showing everyone how much fun they had in space.
Don’t know about you, but I found the video of Branson’s fun at the expense of polluting the atmosphere disgusting and hypocritical.
Michael J. Kardell, Murrysville
Biden, not bishops, should make his Communion decision
I would like to ask the United States Catholic Bishops something concerning the possibility of denying President Biden Communion at a Catholic Mass. Section 1415 of the Second Edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic Communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive Communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.”
Doesn’t this passage clearly state that the person who wants to receive communion is the one who decides whether or not they are worthy to receive it? That was what I was taught many years ago. There are no outside judges who determine whether anyone is worthy or not. The communicant alone makes that decision.
Please focus on many of the more important earthly matters like parish mergers, getting more priests, poverty, social and racial injustice, homelessness, hunger, and so on. It seems to me there is already enough on your plate.
Richard Patton, Franklin Township, Beaver County
Don’t want Reschenthaler’s nonsense
I recently received an unsolicited email from Rep. Guy Reschenthaler accusing Democrats (I am registered as nonpartisan) of having far-left policies that hurt working people. This mail included the usual right-wing nonsense.
But what stood out to me was his claim “Republicans Back the Blue.” It didn’t shock me that he said that, but I am sure that most of his email recipients are well aware of the insurgency Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. And, in spite of the now very common right-wing denials, they also know that those were “Trumpers” who attacked the “Blue.”
C’mon, Guy, just send your silly emails to your base. It should be embarrassing to you if anyone other than your followers would read your tripe.
Frank J. Boch, Irwin
Biden disaster gets worse every day
Kudos to letter-writer Ray Schratz (”Biden’s policies are destroying the country.”) Under Biden, we are seeing the results of what can only be described as a national disaster getting worse every day.
This administration seems bent on destroying everything the former president did that was positive for this country. It seems that hatred for a man who tried to do the right things led to our having someone who is willing to bring America to its knees.
The Biden voters are now seeing their worst nightmare unfolding. There’s no joy in rubbing it in, as they say, but we must accept that our actions bring consequences in one way or another. Let us have compassion for our fellow citizens even if we don’t always see things the same way.
Stephen Santroni, Butler Township
Beware of mail-in ballots
Democrats want us to believe that the record voter turnout in the 2020 election was caused by mail ballots that made it much easier to vote, thus allowing many more people to vote than ever before. But is mail voting so easy?
What is easier to do if you are healthy and not out of town? Is filling out a mail ballot application form, mailing that form to the election department, getting the ballot through the mail, filling out the mail ballot, and then mailing it back to the election department easier than just going a short distance to your local polling place and voting in person? Why would those who in the past were too lazy or uninterested to simply vote at the polls embrace the more complicated mail-in process to vote?
Why was there a record turnout in 2020 due to mail ballots if voting in person is so much easier? The obvious answer, to me, is that mail ballots make it much easier to cheat since the mail voters aren’t there in person to identify themselves.
That’s why Democrats shamelessly shout voter suppression when Republicans propose commonsense legislation to stop cheating.
Dave Majernik, Plum
Biden’s energy stance
For once, just once, could you Trump cultists please try not to be so gullible? I know this is like asking the Pirates not to stink, but try anyway. Why am I pulling my hair out (this time)? It’s all the wailing and gnashing of teeth on the part of Trump supporters who are claiming that President Biden is compromising our energy independence by suspending the federal leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The truth about these leases is that they didn’t generate much interest when offered. No major oil or gas producers bid on them. Only three companies showed any interest at all, one of which was Alaska’s state-owned development corporation, and most of the leases went for the minimum bid of $25 per acre. This was not exactly an oil bonanza in the making that Biden closed down.
And if Biden is so anti-energy, why did his Energy Department file court briefs supporting the controversial ConocoPhillips Willow project in lawsuits filed by Earthjustice and other environmental activist groups?
I suppose you want to know how I came by this “fake news.” I got it from real news sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, the BBC World Service, Investors’ Business Daily, etc. No surprise that not a peep about this came from Faux News. I mean, how could Tucker Carlson foam at the mouth about this?
Don’t yinz guys think it’s about time to come home from your extended vacation from reality?
Russell Schmidt, New Kensington
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