Awarding Hollywood haters
President Obama presented the Freedom Award to various Hollywood personalities, who happened to be the same vocal adversaries against Donald Trump during the election. Obama’s “winners” included all Democrats such as Tom Hanks, who called Trump “despicable,” Bruce Springsteen, who called Trump, “flagrant and toxic,” and Robert DeNiro, who wanted to give Trump, “a punch in the face.”
And this is worthy of the Freedom Award? According to Obama’s press release, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to “individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to significant public or private endeavors.”
So I guess the whole award ceremony was Obama’s celebratory “high fives” with his fellow Hollywood Democrats to a job well-done by bad-mouthing Trump. But nothing that was worthy of the meritorious contributions to the security of the United States, as much as our military or law enforcement has provided to this country.
How quickly these personalities have forgotten and dismissed the July 2016 ambush of Dallas police officers that left five officers dead, while they shamelessly frolic with glee in the White House. The award should be for those courageous lawmen who provide the constant security for the citizens of the United States.
While praising the high-fives of insults toward Trump, the president has quickly ignored the real individuals who sacrifice their lives everyday for our safety, unlike the phony actors who think they are tough on the Hollywood screen.
Since Obama’s legacy has been derailed by the defeat of Hillary, I guess Obama has to feel accomplished by hobnobbing with the stars that he envies and strives to emulate. The Freedom Medal should go to those Dallas policemen who died in the line of duty and not to Obama’s pretentious love affair with pop culture idiots.
Al Ulus
Somerton
Racist voters out in the open
It was very sweet to see the 11-year-old holding the Trump sign on the Northeast Times cover on Nov. 16.
But I wonder how some African-American, Hispanic, Jewish and Muslim children are feeling about the election results? Hate crimes are up by racist, bigoted Trump followers who see his victory as an excuse to display their hatred openly now.
How about a story about those kids? I just bought a shirt that says “Make America Tolerant Again.”
Marilyn “Mattie” Brahen
Oxford Circle
Wolf betrayed police force
Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed HB 1538, which is a bill preventing police officers’ names from being released in the case of a shooting.
The governor released a statement in his veto stating: “While I am deeply concerned for the safety of the Commonwealth’s police officers, government works best when trust and openness exist between citizens and their government, and as such, I cannot sign into law a policy that will enshrine the withholding of information in the public interest.”
This is a flat-out betrayal of law enforcement. Police officers have been assassinated nationwide and our governor feels the need for openness.
I say to Gov. Wolf, a person’s life is way more important than your need for openness. You, sir, are in a position of leadership and you are putting ideology before the safety of police officers.
The police officers deserve better. State Rep. Martina White put together a bill that got bipartisan support to protect police. It is time for people in positions of leadership to back law enforcement.
David Lee
Parkwood
School district in shambles
The school district’s latest gimmick to improve the education of our children is to change the school calendar. Really?
My favorite one is the wearing of uniforms. How did that go?
Maybe if they didn’t allow all of the downside issues to exist, that would create a better education environment, like:
• Classes with fewer than 33 students.
• Having an adequate number of counselors, substitute teachers, nurses, school libraries and textbooks.
• How about maintaining school buildings properly and having lead-free water?
• Fully staffed classrooms with fully motivated teachers with current market salaries who haven’t had a contract in three years nor a pay raise in five years.
Mayer Krain
Modena Park
