Letters: Ashamed right now to be a Pa. Republican

THIS IS one of the days on which I suffer embarrassment in identifying myself as a registered Republican, as the Pennsylvania General Assembly is up to its old tricks with the GOP solely to blame this time.

I had the benefit of attending excellent Pittsburgh public schools, staffed by qualified, exceptional teachers. I would have been puzzled and dismayed as a child if my mother had ever told me that the opening of our schools was in doubt or that there might have to be massive layoffs to balance the budget for education. Yet, this dilemma now faces the city of Philadelphia and its public-school students and parents because of inaction in Harrisburg.

Because there is not enough funding to keep the Philadelphia schools operating without a serious wave of additional cuts, a special session of the House was slated for Aug. 4 to take up a "lesser of evils" approach to secure funding: the imposition of a $2-per-pack city cigarette/sin tax, which would raise about $80 million per year. Democrats are united in support of the bill, but the legislative session was canceled because Republicans in the House are not able to provide the small number of votes that are needed to carry the legislation to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

Many Democratic House members assembled at a rally in Harrisburg on the day the special session was to convene, asking where Republican Speaker Sam Smith and Leader Mike Turzai are. There were plenty of cries of "shame on you," appropriately directed at members who tell the public that funding the Philadelphia schools is not their problem.

There are few profiles in courage and decency among our state "leaders" who engage in various types of shenanigans that result in the public getting the short end of the stick, but today House Democrats can hold their heads high because they refuse to hold children seeking basic education hostage to politics.

I empathize with the people of Philadelphia, who have a front-row seat to a General Assembly known far and wide for dysfunction and contempt for those it would purport to serve.

Oren M. Spiegler

Upper St. Clair, Pa.

An easy cell

Instead of a cigarette tax, Philadelphia should start fining cellphone drivers. Then they could not only run the schools, but also build six new ones.

Kenneth Drach

Bensalem, Pa.

Signe out of toon

Signe Wilkinson's editorial cartoon depicting Israel next to the rubble of a U.N. building as well as individuals wrapped in body bags is offensive and profoundly unfair.

Wilkinson's cartoon plays into common misinformation about Israel, particularly the idea that Israel is cavalier about the suffering caused by this conflict. This utter disregard for what is actually occurring in Gaza only serves to fan deep-seated bigotry and hatred.

Israel goes to remarkable lengths to avoid harming civilians through a variety of measures that would do any country proud. Hamas uses children and other innocents as human shields, and stores and fires rockets from schools, hospitals, mosques and homes.

Civilian injuries and deaths in Gaza are regrettable and tragic. The moral responsibility for the deaths of Palestinians and Israelis alike lies in one place only: with Hamas, and not with a country that does not wish, nor benefit from, conflict.

Nancy K. Baron-Baer

Regional Director

Anti-Defamation League

Are we not men?

As we stand by and watch the most vulnerable people of our society - kids and the elderly - being robbed, shot and raped, we as men must step up. As the providers and protectors, we have allowed our communities to be pillaged by criminals. We must take our neighborhoods back.

Men must get involved with grass-roots organizations, volunteer in a school, form meetings with neighbors and share information. If we all give as little as two hours a week, we can make a difference.

We cannot continue to let our communities fall prey to the criminal element.

Timothy R. Young

Philadelphia

Are we not men II?

I pick up the Daily News and look at the front page, think the baby's so adorable and look at the lucky parent . . . but what? They're guys!

What are you trying to do? Promote Sodom and Gomorrah? God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Adam, Eve and Eve. We need more straight couples with babies, not like that. That's so insane!

Robert F. Schaffer

Philadelphia