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MAIL BAG  LETTERS FROM READERS

February 15, 2009

MAIL BAG  LETTERS FROM READERS

Judges deserve no soft treatment

Now that his “dis”honor Judge Michael Conahan and his “dis”honor Judge Mark Ciavarella are to be sentenced, the question is not only how long the sentence will be, but also where it will be served.

When Senior U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik sets sentence he should have the opportunity to determine in which federal detention center the sentence will be served. Let us hope he doesn’t choose a country club-type atmosphere such as Allenwood, but rather a more austere atmosphere such as the “Brooklyn Detention Center.”

One might argue that because of their past positions as judges, they should not have to come into contact with hardened criminals in general population in a place such as the Brooklyn center, since what they are accused of is a white-collar crime.

On the other hand, one could argue they deserve punishment similar to what they imposed on the juveniles they placed in detention.

The voices of the unjustly detained juveniles cry out for justice.

Dismantle Huber, dismantle history

I am completely appalled at the possibility of not restoring the Huber Colliery in Ashley. Here sits a true American treasure, a coal breaker that is one of the last in the entire country and one that should be renovated even to some small extent.

Years ago, crews dismantled the historical Fell House in Wilkes-Barre, a tragedy to say the least. If we can spend millions to create seating along the Susquehanna River, which is nothing more than a great viewing of a cesspool, we must keep the Huber!

The demolition of the Huber would be a grave insult to the souls of the hardworking and brave men who mined.

Catholic teachers union is needed

Once again Bishop Joseph Martino has shown why the Catholic teachers in the Diocese of Scranton need a union.

An announcement about the introduction of Pennsylvania House Bill 26, which would give teachers in religious schools the same rights as other Americans, prompted a response from the bishop that would make the union busters at Wal-Mart blush.

The diocese announced that if the teachers get a union, all the Catholic schools in the diocese will close.

If any other employer did this, it would be slapped with an unfair labor practice charge and heavily fined. The teachers also were referred to as defiant – exactly the way King George referred to the cheeky colonists who demanded their rights.

This is exactly why the teachers need a real union, not the bishop’s phony employee relation council. The bishop pretends the employees have representation through the council, but he still makes all the final decisions.

After attending a rally in support of a teachers’ union, I went to Mass at my home church in Swoyersville – to which my family has belonged since my grandfather helped to build the church a hundred years ago.

While waiting for Mass to start, I couldn’t help but think how Bishop Martino has taken the diocese backward.

My grandfather was a miner and was at the rally in Scranton a hundred years ago when Bishop Hoban and Teddy Roosevelt joined to support union rights.

I was at a rally in almost the exact same place a hundred years later at which Bishop Hoban’s successor Bishop Martino is trying to take away these rights.

What a shame!

Terrorism fight takes a silly turn

When I first heard about it, I thought it was a joke – through executive order President Obama has outlawed any interrogation techniques beyond the U.S. Army Field Manual and the Geneva Conventions’ name, rank and serial number. Even the good cop/bad cop routine is verboten.

Obama’s interrogation policy is so wacky it reminds me of Monty Python’s interrogation policy.

I’m referring to the British comedy troupe’s famous “Spanish Inquisition” skit, in which Michael Palin plays Grand Inquisitor Cardinal Ximenez of Spain. Ximenez and his fanatical papal henchmen burst into the home of a sweet old lady and order her to confess to heresy.

When she doesn’t, they resort to torture – they force her to sit in a “comfy chair” and poke her with pillows.

With a pen stroke, Obama has reduced U.S. anti-terrorism policy to a joke, and he’s put us all in danger.

You know you’re in trouble when Monty Python is more realistic than your president.

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Ken Turley Lake Silkworth Robert Phillips Kingston Eugene Gowisnok Swoyersville Mark Fritz Bloomsburg