If 18-year-olds can serve, they should be able to vote

If 18-year-olds can serve, they should be able to vote

EDITOR:

As a veteran, I strongly disagree with the gentleman’s proposal in an Oct. 19 letter that the voting age be increased from 18 to 21.

Even though some 18-year-olds may not seem to be mature enough to make many decisions, the same can be said for individuals over the age of 21.

In the past, some states required a person own property to be permitted to vote. To this day, there are some states that prohibit the “feeble minded” from voting.

Federal law requires that all males register for Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Failure to do so can result in fines, disqualify them from obtaining student loans and other penalties. Our government has a pool of 18-year-old adult males to call upon in case of a national emergency. If they volunteer, or are called up, the oath these individuals take is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Would you permit a service member to serve and possibly die to protect your constitutional rights while denying them of the same? Think about it.

LARRY TROPEPE

Austintown

The crime isn’t Chip’s

EDITOR:

The threatened deportation of Chip Gilea is a perfect example of “money talks and middle class walks.” This is a disgusting exhibition of gross incompetence by ICE and related bureaucracy and judges.

Explain to me how it would take someone in authority more then 30 minutes to review the facts and make this go away — and I don’t mean by deportation. Your article seems to cover all the bases and it took me only 10 minutes to review and understand the problem and conclude Chip has acted in good faith and was poorly served by his attorneys and the “system.” Shame on our elected representatives who will pay no attention to the pleas for assistance from a constituent whose letter didn’t include a big check. Maybe half the legal fees in the form of a campaign donation to the right politician would have gotten attention and resolution that would also give bragging rights to the recipient for his next campaign.

The ICE spokesman, Mr. Gilhooly, said “It’s a crime...” If Chip committed a crime, how about running down and deporting the millions of illegals who are really committing a crime.

My prayers go with Chip and his family. Maybe your article will get someone’s attention.

DANIEL VICTOR BIENKO

Canfield

Halloween is just good fun

EDITOR:

I am responding to last Sunday’s letters saying Halloween is anti-Christian.

Halloween was not started by a “satanic cult” but rather started in Europe by Celtic tribes before Christianity came to the West. They celebrated the festival of Samhain, the Lord of the Dead, by scaring away the evil spirits, which were among the souls of the dead, by wearing masks and lighting bonfires. The persons who created the festival didn’t demand the contents of a house, but they asked to pray for the relative or friend that has died.

Additionally, when the Romans conquered the Celts and brought them Christianity, they added bobbing for apples and drinking cider to the festival.

Today children of all ages go door-to-door asking for candy, not the contents of someone’s house.

The word Christian means “to be Christ-like” and when you are Christ-like there is no room in your heart for the word hate.

TORI LEHN, 7th grade

Austintown Middle School

Give a guy a break

EDITOR:

Journalists traditionally portray themselves as those who comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. But Bertram de Souza’s column last Sunday was unworthy of that tradition. It was simply a shameful cheap shot.

De Souza devoted his column to berating Atty. Martin Yavorcik, a candidate for Mahoning county prosecutor, for contracting with Richard Goldberg to provide consultation services in his office. Goldberg, as de Souza relished in explaining, is a disbarred attorney, a convicted felon who spent years in prison as punishment for his crimes.

Is the ex-felon or the disbarred lawyer never to be able to earn a living again? Is part of his punishment to be forever precluded from making any contract to provide goods or services? Like any man who has made mistakes in life and paid the penalty, Goldberg should be allowed to make his contribution to society and earn an honest living as best he can.

Bill Clinton is a disbarred lawyer. Nelson Mandela was a convicted felon. Are they too anathema in de Souza’s eyes?

ERIC CHEVLEN, MD

Youngstown