JOHNSTOWN — “McCort Pride, Loyalty and Tradition” are not just words on our school wall. They are the words of a motto that we, the students, staff and faculty, live by.

We prove that every day.

We pray for the victims (of Brother Stephen Baker) and for the abuser.

Please stop with the negative comments because, honestly, they make you look ignorant and lacking compassion.

Conner C. Hagins

Sophomore

Bishop McCort Catholic High School



Column by reporter editorial page material

The Kelly Urban piece regarding Brother Stephen Baker on the front page of the newspaper on Tuesday was clearly an opinion piece, not a factual news item.

As a reporter for this paper, she did not show any regard for actual news or reporting, just supposition.

Did this opinion belong on the front page?

No, it belongs in the editorial section.

While I have no idea about Baker’s guilt or innocence, I do not care for conjecture on the part of the reporters. It is their duty to report, not to inflame the story with no facts, just gossip about what might have taken place.

Someone ought to sit down with Urban and remind her about the value of her words. Her opinion counts, just not on Page 1.

Diane Redvay

Richland Township



Are executive orders just the beginning?

Since its inception, the United States has survived many trials and tribulations: Wars (including a civil war), economic collapses, racial and sexual discrimination, and terrorist attacks, to name a few. The country has always had the strength and moral fortitude to survive these hardships. But can this country survive Obama version 2.0?

We have a president who has shown that he believes the Constitution does not apply to him when it does not agree with his plans or ideals. For example, his refusal to enforce or defend the Defense of Marriage Act, the institution of a backdoor amnesty program and the making of recess appointments when the Senate is not in recess.

Some look at the recent laundry list of executive orders concerning gun safety and say there is nothing dangerous in these orders; the government isn’t going to take anybody’s gun.

Why, then, would the president put forth 23 executive orders, none of which would have prevented the horrible act in Connecticut that brought about the supposed urgency for government to do something?

These deceptive orders will force those in the medical system to be concerned with your life in ways that they have no business or desire to be involved.

The ideologue in chief is working on many fundamental changes to America and our liberties. These innocuous-looking executive orders may not be enough for the president and his minions to confiscate your guns; maybe they’re testing the water before they jump in.

August Gatto

Ebensburg



Duckling reference was misconstrued

We were present at Mass when one of the references in the sermon was to “The Ugly Duckling.” We feel compelled to respond to Lynn Kassander’s letter of Jan. 17, “Baptism characterization baffling.”

The sermon was not in regard to how important baptism is, and the pertinence of baptism was not explained with “The Ugly Duckling.”

Unconditional love of the duckling by the swans was just a point of how Christians should love. And it was not about beauty. The solicitude that caused the writer to relate this to people leaving the church perplexes us.

The writer should consider societal complexities such as divorce rates, single parenting or having to have two parents working.

The Vatican guidelines are exactly that    – guidelines. They are not canon. They are not explicit orders.

We find the moralizing instructions delivered by said priest to be uplifting and comforting, as well as instructive.

We give serious thought to and look forward to next Sunday’s messages. Kindness is not just being nice, it is about love and respect.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Swedler

Johnstown



Tying film controversy, contractor’s beheading

Apparently, there has been controversy surrounding scenes in the movie “Zero Dark Thirty” that depict the CIA’s torture of al-Qaida prisoners. Critics claim the scenes endorse the use of torture. I hardly noticed them. Here’s why:

In 2004, my brother and I were “playing” with a computer. We were following links from the European CNN, and found ourselves looking at Al Jazeera, the Arabic news service.

At the time, an American contractor named Eugene Armstrong had recently been kidnapped in Iraq by an obscure arm of the Taliban, and then murdered.

The murder – a beheading – had been videotaped, and that tape was available for viewing on Al Jazeera.

“Do we want to take a look?” my brother asked.

“No,” I said. But my brother kept circling the Al Jazeera link with the cursor arrow.

After a minute, I said, “OK, let’s see what our country’s enemies look like.”

Many of us have a specific mental image of a beheading: Large, razor-sharp blade, swift, neat. Armstrong’s death was nothing of the sort. The murderers used what appeared to be a steak knife. The horror was unimaginable.

I experienced an epiphany that day: War is immoral. To triumph at war, morality must be abandoned.

Compared to Eugene Armstrong’s slaughter, the torture depicted in “Zero Dark Thirty” appears more appropriate to a “Three Stooges” comedy.

So I had no problem with those scenes in “Zero Dark Thirty.”

I just pretended the prisoners were the murderers of Eugene Armstrong.

Carl Schultz

Johnstown

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.