Are cop protests really about justice?

Are cop protests about justice or self-promotion and revenge?

In a letter four years ago, after the deaths of Angie Fimognari, Tom Repchic and Vivian Martin, I stated that any violent death is a tragedy. You see, “all lives matter.”

On Dec.20, I attended a forum at New Bethel Baptist Church, and I left disturbed. I sat as former Youngstown police Department Sgt. Anita Davis told us that “any officer that lived outside the city was an occupying force, like in Ferguson”, and her Facebook page invited all to a peaceful protest by referring to “the murders by law enforcement.” That wasn’t inciteful. Yet, her fellow organizer lives in Ausintown, but that doesn’t cause her an issue.

May it be pointed out that in my city, where I was born and still live, we are averaging 18 homicides a year. Not one was committed by “law enforcement.”

For years we lacked focus on the fact that our young people keep killing one another. There’s my friend, whose beautiful grandson will someday know that his dad died in a driveway of a gunshot. Another friend whose young brother died recently by gunshot, Where is the outrage over this? Where is the proposal or action to change this? When will you take it to the streets with egos set aside?

To Clarence Boles, thank you for telling the young people in attendance what they truly need to know. To know their rights, to be respectful, that there is a complaint process, and most importantly that their first priority is to get home safe every night.

May it also be pointed out that two-thirds of the YPD is the Patrol Division. It is comprised of all races, ethnicities and sexes. Their union president, Officer Anderson, wasn’t elected because he is of a religious bearing or because he is black. He was elected to represent his members because he is respected.

Watching and listening to some involved in recent protests, I wonder if it is about diversity and justice or self-promotion and getting back at Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras. Pity.

Maggy Lorenzi, Youngstown

‘Year of transparency’ in Canfield

Kudos to Mr. de Souza for his column, “No place to hide for government” in the Dec. 28 Sunday Vindicator. His comments reflect the sentiment of the times.

2015 will be a “Year of Transparency” in Canfield. In the November 2014 election, voters overwhelming approved a charter amendment requiring the city staff personnel to attend council meetings and report on their area(s) of responsibility. They have been absent in the past.

In addition, another charter amendment was approved specifying that the session must be open for comments by any resident before any final vote on any ordinance or resolution, and while the issue is on the floor. In the past, no comments were accepted once an issue was on the floor.

Yes, transparency, accountability were mandated by the voters. The administration works for and is paid by the citizens. The city’s business should be visible to the citizens. Hopefully, city council and staff will embrace the spirit of the charter amendments and open up the windows to the workings of the city government.

Frank A. Micchia, Canfield

True meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus

This letter is in response to a letter in The Vindicator on Dec. 25 about the true meaning of Christmas. First of all, Jesus wasn’t born on Dec. 25. No one knows his real birthday, but historians say he wasn’t born in the winter. Second, Dec. 25 was celebrated long before the birth of Jesus. It was a pagan holiday in honor of a sun god and the winter solstice. The Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and other Christmas customs have pagan origins.

The holly, ivy, mistletoe, and evergreen were considered as symbols of immortality, and fertility by ancient pagan societies because they didn’t lose their leaves or turn brown in winter. Therefore, they were held in reverence. It was customary for people to decorate their homes with them. The early Church forbade this custom because they knew it was pagan.

The early Christians didn’t celebrate it at all. It was considered an abomination.

It became a Christian holiday when the Catholic Church couldn’t get people to give up the winter solstice. At first the church wanted nothing to do with the celebration, but to get the heathens to join the church, the church accepted the celebration and its customs and renamed it “Christ-Mass”. In the 5th century, the Catholic Church commanded the birth of Jesus forever by observing on Dec. 25 the day of the old Roman feast of Sol, one of the names of the sun god.

In 1644, the English parliament banned Christmas and in 17th century America, it also was against the law.

So the early Christians must have known something about it that today’s Christians don’t know.

I’m not criticizing people for celebrating Christmas. I’m not even criticizing Christians for using it to celebrate Jesus’ birth. My point is that Christians say that people don’t know the true meaning of Christmas when they don’t know its true meaning either, because the true meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus.

Steve Blessing, Warren

Watch as Republicans destroy US economic recovery in 2015

Well here we go! Another year has come and gone. We welcome in 2015 and hope that it’s a whole lot better than 2014, but how can that be?

In 2014 we had record growth, unemployment at 5.8 percent, the stock market at an all-time high, etc. And that’s no thanks to the tea party Republicans. Now they control both houses, and they will continue their quest to bring down the recovery.

On their agenda we have the same old, same old. More tax cuts for the richest 1 percent, completely destroying Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, still trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, eliminating the EPA, OSHA and unions, trying to destroy the environment with passage of the Keystone Pipeline, and eliminating thousands of American jobs by installing the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership).

These are the people who the American voters put in office, and a lot of them know just exactly what this bunch of corporate owned Republicans have in for them. If you were 65 or older you should have never voted Republican and if you are a union or non union worker you shouldn’t even think about voting Republican.

Women, blacks, Hispanics and teachers are all on the Republican hit list, so if they voted Republican, one must question, why?

Hopefully all of those groups will see the error of their ways in 2015 and do the right thing because the Republicans will do their dirty work on you. When they come around again and ask for your vote, what will you tell them this time?

Bud McKelvey, Hermitage, Pa.

Selling Mill Creek mineral rights would help park for years to come

A new year is at the doorstep, and a new leader has been hired to take Mill Creek MetroParks into the future. This may be a great opportunity for the new director to explore the possibility of leasing the mineral rights in the park to capitalize on the revenue it would generate for the park’s general fund.

This windfall would give the park the funding to improve the infrastructure and improve the park’s financial stability in the coming years. Although there has been a lot of opposition to this action, it would help secure the park’s continued growth and prosperity for many years to come.

Jim Eidel, Poland