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Letters to the Editor

Week celebrates APP profession

National Advanced Practice Providers Week is being celebrated Sept. 22-26. This year’s theme “Racing Toward the Future: Celebrating APPs” underscores the forward momentum of the APP profession and its pivotal role in advancing care, improving access to care and driving innovation in clinical practice. It is a week set aside to celebrate, honor and recognize the invaluable contributions and pivotal role APPs play in our health care system. The UPMC Altoona Advanced Practice Provider Committee in coordination with UPMC Altoona would like to recognize the outstanding care and ...

Extremism is not welcome

As a child, I was taught that we shouldn’t attack those we disagreed with and that a basic level of respect must rule any interaction. Clearly, many parents don’t subscribe to this position anymore or their kids have been indoctrinated by their obtuse professors to hate anyone outside of their particular political party. If you think it’s OK to kill those who speak from a point of view that you don’t agree with, you are an extremist. If you are an educator and insist that your students parrot your own political beliefs, you are part of the problem. If you are a ...

Have some compassion

In light of the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and the aftermath, I am trying to understand how citizens of the greatest country in the world can be so cruel and heartless. Politics aside, this young man was a son, a husband, a father and a human being. Where is the compassion for the family’s loss? Instead, people are actually celebrating his death, writing songs and dancing with joy. I’ve seen videos of people trampling his memorial. Amazon was selling T-shirts depicting the blood stains. How could someone be so depraved to think this behavior is acceptable? Loss of ...

Teacher has the right to free speech, too

There was an article in the Sept. 12 edition of the Mirror about a teacher in Spring Cove facing backlash after posting a comment on Facebook regarding Charlie Kirk. I, for one, agree with her 100% and defend her right to voice her opinion, no matter who she works for. To start a petition to have her disciplined or removed says more about those signing the petition than they realize. What are they afraid of? Do they think some of the students might see the comment? So keep your kids off Facebook. Believe me, they will see much worse online on any given day. If it’s against ...

Wolford shows experience for bench

This November, voters have an important choice for Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court. I urge support for Matt Wolford, a candidate with more than 30 years of legal experience and a proven record of fairness. Wolford has served both in government and private practice, giving him a rare perspective on how state agencies impact citizens. Throughout his career, he has consistently stood up against government overreach, ensuring that laws are applied fairly and that individual rights are respected. The Pennsylvania Bar Association has rated him “Highly Recommended,” their highest ...

Tired of political games, division

What if we had no political parties? What if we had to form our own opinions? I guess we would not know who to hate. Now, if you pick one team, you kind of automatically hate the other team. I’m not really sure how you pick your team. With this much hatred in the world, it should be easy? If you’re pro-choice, you’re on this team. If you’re against guns, you’re on this team, etc. It’s confusing to me because there are folks on both teams who like some of these things, but not all. I’m not really into politics. I vote for who I like. It’s obvious many people ...