17-05-2025
Letters: Eliminate antisemitism, embrace diversity; Trump's attacks impact Penn State
Trump's dual rampage against antisemitism and DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) is both phony and dangerous. Eliminating antisemitism is only possible if we embrace DEI.
DEI represents our country's decades-long effort to create a just and equal society, fulfilling our founding principles, codified in our anti-discrimination civil rights laws. Put simply, DEI is about promoting the fair treatment and full participation of all people in a world increasingly plagued with power imbalances.
'Diversity' — welcoming differences in qualities such as race, age, sex and gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and physical ability.
'Equity' — providing equal opportunity to all (not guaranteeing equal outcome).
'Inclusion' — embracing a culture in which everyone, regardless of social status or identity, can express their ideas and perspectives.
Despite efforts to misrepresent DEI, it does not mean lowering standards.
DEI confers tangible economic and social benefits. For example, research shows that decision-making and business profits are improved when leadership teams are diverse.
Protecting the rights of one group means protecting the rights of all groups. It's not possible to battle antisemitism without also battling racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination.
Diversity is our country's strength. The administration dishonors America when it scrubs government websites of the accomplishments of women and Black Americans, saluting only white men, and censors books that celebrate diversity (while retaining Hitler's 'Mein Kampf').
If Trump wants to eliminate antisemitism, as claimed, he must be honest about DEI and restore DEI initiatives. Anything else is a sham.
Sheri Berenbaum, State College
The president and his party have now included the university in their attacks.
Remember what the university centrally is.
It says on the face of Pattee Library, 'the true university is a collection of books.'
The book materially participates in time, but its witness transcends its date and when we enter the book we attain that independence as well. Then our perceptions are ordered to see things for themselves rather than just for us like the animals. The mind so attuned can reflect the whole universe, which is a central aspect of the vocation of man.
It is State College's great privilege to have Penn State at its core.
John Harris, State College
I am writing to support Jennifer Black's candidacy for the State College Area School District board of directors.
Few of us probably have given back to the SCASD as much as Jennifer Black has.
Year after year Jennifer Black finds time and energy to volunteer for school when help is needed.
With her three kids in elementary, middle and high schools Jennifer Black knows our district better than most of us. Having also background of a teacher and a tutor for over 20 years, she deeply understands parents' expectations, students' and teachers' needs, and the responsibilities of the school administration on uniting interests of kids, families and teachers for better learning.
Jennifer Black wants to reform the mental health support framework of the SCASD. While many of us think in terms of standard policies and protocols, Jennifer Black has unique, out of the box ideas, that I believe can help kids overcome their social fears in school and among friends.
I want to give Jennifer Black a chance to apply her ideas — grassroots and derived from students' perspective — to improve our SCASD for our kids.
I will vote for Jennifer Black. You should too.
Shushanik Makaryan, Port Matilda
Is this really the country we want?
Lots of ink and anger (and no small amount of jingoistic silliness) have been spilled over the policies and politics of the Trump era. What is often lost in all this give and take is what all this means for what it is we want this country to be — and who we are as a people.
Arguably, a key reason most of us have loved this country despite its many flaws and injustices is that we could generally take solace in having been good neighbors — to one another and the world. We helped each other out, we cared for those in need, we contributed mightily to the world's collective well-being in ways large and small, and we forged alliances and partnerships, imperfectly, though largely in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. This is the true 'soul of America.'
Compare this history and spirit to what we are now being asked to accept — that might makes right, that alliances are a waste of time and resources, that empathy is weakness, that only things with economic and political (and often short-term) transactional value are what matter, and that fear, coercion, and power trump cooperation, mutual support and collective well-being.
Does anyone really think this what so many have given their lives trying to protect? Does anyone really think this isn't undermining what truly has made us great? Does anyone really believe this is legacy of America we want to leave our kids?
Walt Whitmer, Spring Mills
