Our vision for America?

How can citizens of a free democracy use verbal threats and obscenities to insult a peaceful group of protesters? Recently in Milford, silent, peaceful demonstrators marched down the main street to express their views of what they feel is a government opposing the people. To greet them were groups of adults yelling obscene and grotesque remarks. I feel this is not only uncivil, but out of place in the democratic process. It was uncalled for, and instilled fear in those present.

Our founding father George Washington feared the destruction of our political system by such degrading behavior, and he wrote a booklet listing 110 rules and guidelines for all to follow if we are to enable constructive congressional debate. If such unruly discourse is allowed to prevail, participation in the democratic process will waiver, putting a few demagogues in charge of the masses. Is this our vision for our democracy?

Lynn Rideout

Milford, PA

Against a two-state solution

A written notification dated January 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office. In addition to giving $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate-change programs and $1.25 million for UN organizations, the congressional aides said. This is the kind of stuff the USA needs to stop doing, and this and pro-life are two of the reasons I voted Republican in this last election.

Land concessions promoted by past U.S. presidents have only brought death and violence to Israelis and no peace.

The Obama administration pushed for a two-state solution in Israel. Education minister and Jewish Home Party head Naftali Bennett said back in December, “If it depends on me, we will not establish another terror state in the heart of our country. The citizens of Israel have paid with thousands of victims, tens of thousands of rockets and innumerable condemnations for the utopian idea of a Palestinian state. It’s time for a new policy and we will lead the way.” Bennett sent a sharp message to then Secretary of State Kerry on the eve of his policy speech regarding the Arab-Israel conflict.

“A few days ago the UN Security Council voted for a shameful resolution stating that Jerusalem is occupied territory,” the minister said. “Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for 3,000 years. That is in the Bible, open it and read.” I suggest that we too, in 2017, “Open our Bible and read.”

John “JP” Pasquale

Livingston Manor, NY

Making light of mental health issues?

After reading Mr. Fox’s two articles in the January 26 issue (“Does winter make you SAD? You’re not alone!” and “In My Humble Opinion”), I was absolutely outraged. Mr. Fox speaks about the anxiety and depression that can befall a person during the “winter doldrums.” He jokingly provided a step-by-step summary on what he could find on the Internet about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

I have no problem with someone trying to make sense out of a personal dilemma and reporting it with a sense of humor. But I bear tremendous umbrage, when Mr. Fox’s query’s led him to a site that suggested “seeking treatment with a psychiatrist, psychologist or licensed counselor, can help prevent your symptoms from becoming worse.” He stated he was, “Less than thrilled with the response and dismissing (at least for now) prescription medication and psychotherapy. I wondered if there might be a more practical solution.”

A more practical solution? How dare he dismiss the option of seeking out a mental health professional in order to tackle these real problems? And to add insult to injury, he reiterates his same Neanderthal thinking toward mental health in his In My Humble Opinion column, by stating, and I paraphrase, “I’ve often found myself stuck in one place and I don’t like it.” Yet he does nothing to alleviate his problems except to go to local happenings and openings in our area, while never honestly looking at his personal problems.

Mr. Fox, I am not embarrassed or ashamed to admit that I have spoken with a psychiatrist when certain conflicts in my life seemed to overwhelm me. And I have taken and still take the drug Lexapro, in order to ease my anxieties. Please, in the future, do not make light of mental health issues in your columns. And please don’t ever use the word “Oopsie” again.

David Skovron

Cochecton, NY