Dr. Morris Lee always had profound message

Dr. Morris Lee always had profound message

Ironically, as Youngs- town is losing The Vindicator, an icon for the community, we lost another icon in The Rev. Dr. Morris Lee, known to many as a “preacher’s preacher” and a “bridge over troubled waters” in the African-American community.

I still have memories of Dr. Lee speaking on the theme “You Can Make It If You Try” at my high school baccalaureate ceremony at East High School in 1962.

He used the popular R&B song of Gene Allison to relay the wonderful religious message that God has provided us with the necessary tools to do great things for ourselves and others, if we make the effort to do so.

After growing up in extreme poverty in Arkansas and moving to Youngstown in 1961, just one year after Dr. Lee (1960), I found Dr. Lee’s message to be profound, uplifting, and needed, so I have tried to heed it.

He will be greatly missed. I wish the very best of God’s blessing for his entire family during their period of bereavement.

Dr. Leon Stennis, Youngstown

Leon Stennis is the former religion editor of The Vindicator and former adjunct professor of English at Youngstown State University.

Information in story on airline security disputed

Your recent story (“U.S. issues hacking security alert for small planes” – Associated Press, July 30) missed or mischaracterized some key points about small-airplane security.

First, the article pointed to a recent Department of Homeland Security notice, inferring it was focused only on cybersecurity concerns for small, “general aviation” aircraft, when the fact is, the notice applies to all aircraft, from airliners on down.

Second, the story – which included not a single aviation-industry source – arguably misrepresented the nature of the potential security breach involved. For example, the piece failed to fully explain that for the scenario to occur, an individual would need to actually board an aircraft, dismantle its avionics system, locate a certain, small piece of technology and effectively disable it.

The reason such a relatively complex scenario hasn’t unfolded – the reason TSA audits have never found general aviation airplanes to be a security concern – is that the industry has always made security a top priority, with a host of measures that harden aircraft from threats.

Ed Bolen, Washington

Ed Bolen is president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association.