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Letters to the Editor

No Kings rally thoughts

I was pleased to see that a Mirror staff writer included perspectives from both sides of the “No Kings” rally held in Blair County. Perhaps a short news piece isn’t the place to probe some of the more bizarre, vague, and unsubstantiated claims made by a few participants. Still, one comment deserves a closer look. One speaker drew a parallel between her ancestors arriving on the Mayflower “without permission” and today’s immigration debates. That’s quite a comparison. If the next group of would‑be immigrants shows up in a 17th‑century wooden ship after a two‑month ...

Protecting SNAP is protecting our future

An increasing number of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table as costs continue to rise. The budget reconciliation law (H.R.1), passed in July 2025, will only make matters worse. H.R.1 slashes $187 billion over the next decade from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation’s first line of defense against hunger, in exchange for permanent tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. Many of our neighbors —including children, veterans, people with disabilities, and older adults — will lose access to SNAP, putting their health and ...

Iran conflict not comparable to past

A recent letter published in the Mirror letter stated that U.S. engagement with Iran, while unpopular, is necessary. The letter writer offers the American Revolution and WWII as keen examples of this phenomenon: namely, that American engagement in these conflicts, while necessary, was not initially popular. But these examples are incomparable to the current situation in the Middle East. The American Revolution’s historical origins differ significantly from the U.S.-Iran conflict. The Revolution emerged from a disagreement among colonists over whether British rule or self-rule could ...

SAVE Act won’t cause issues for women

Producing a photo ID is dangerous to women? Really? A letter titled “The SAVE Act is dangerous to women” railed against the SAVE Act and President Trump, but I noticed no mention that Real ID itself was dangerous to women. Or that any “photo identification proving citizenship” was dangerous to women. It also mentioned the need to “scrounge up marriage certificates, divorce decrees and other proofs.” I’m sure women needed to provide these documents before now, which anyone should have available, for any other service or privilege. I’m sure that the SAVE Act is the only ...

Joyce’s opinion on ICE funding unbalanced

On March 29, John Joyce’s congressional newsletter criticized the Senate for passing what he described as an inadequate Department of Homeland Security funding package because it did not include additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The newsletter framed the decision as reckless and suggested that fully funding these agencies is essential to protecting Americans. That argument, however, is one-sided and leaves out many facts. First, immigration enforcement errors have resulted in the unlawful detention of United States citizens. ...

Compassion, integrity necessary to govern

The “Chaos of Trump” is now full-blown. If it continues to be unaddressed and unchecked, it will become more difficult to correct. Hasty judgment and dangerous decisions have already resulted in a multitude of deaths. When the majority in power stands idle and permits the Constitution to be violated by the president and his staff, it tears at the structure that supports our valued freedoms. “We the people,” not a dictator or king rule this land. Many were never fooled by the lies and there is a growing awakening among those who ignored the many lies because they focused only ...