Daily Star
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Put the pressure on to stop the wars
On Saturday morning, Aug. 21, I was at a vigil at the Village Square in Delhi with a few other people holding a sign saying, "Stop the Wars." I've been attending this vigil for years now on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
That day, the response from passers-by was much more positive than it has been for the last several years.
We received a surprising number of friendly waves, beeps, thumbs-up and positive remarks, and we wondered why. Perhaps it was the absurd news of getting out of Iraq _ at the same time as leaving 50,000 troops there _ not to mention mercenaries to guard our embassy _ our largest in the world.
Perhaps this news has reminded people that we are still at war _ a reality that isn't mentioned much in the press or on TV. Our local press concentrates on local news. TV seems to focus on reality shows that are not really real. The reality that we are at war and that we may be in Iraq and Afghanistan for another 10 years may have finally rung a wake-up call in some people's heads. Maybe more people are realizing what this war is costing us _ in lives lost or damaged (those of our soldiers and of many, many Iraqi and Afghanis) _ and in terms of our fiscal stability.
These wars have cost us more than $3 trillion ($3,000,000,000,000) thus far. Maybe people have decided that our deficit should not be solved by cutting Social Security but by cutting out the wars!
I hope this positive reaction is followed by letters and calls to the president and members of Congress against war. We the people have to pressure those in power to return to the reality that makes the most sense!
Kate Ryan
Delhi
Pacherille deserves mercy, understanding
I am not a political person, but I was upset a few weeks ago when I saw the Otsego County district attorney on WKTV News attacking St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cooperstown, for supporting Anthony Pacherille. I don't believe it is the district attorney's job to be monitoring or censuring churches.
I have known Anthony Pacherille for many years through St. Mary's church. Anthony has never been in any trouble his entire life. Cooperstown High School Principal Mike Cring has stated publicly that he has never had any disciplinary problems with him. Anthony, is a kind, quiet young man who is devoted to God, his church and his family. He is a very gifted concert pianist and plans on becoming a clergyman.
Very sadly, on April 2, Anthony had a psychiatric breakdown. He left his home to commit suicide, and, along the way, apparently tried to harm a fellow classmate. What a frightening thought that an otherwise ideal teenager should snap and bring such violence upon himself, Wesley Lippett, and the community.
I am not condoning violence in any form, but I am asking the community and the legal system to show understanding and mercy. If a teenager is suffering from mental illness, how will a prison help? Will it make matters worse? Is it possible to put aside feelings of revenge to allow both of these young men, their families, and the community to heal?
Penny Gentile
Cooperstown
