Letters to the Editor | Aug. 11. 2024

It was an extraordinary moment when U.S. gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles bowed to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade as they stood on the Olympic podium, medalists in the floor exercise. This was a spontaneous gesture of joy and respect for the accomplishment and success of a peer, another phenomenal female athlete. It was women celebrating women, generous in their accolades, happily lifting another up in solidarity and in recognition of the lifelong dedication, determination, and hard work needed to win the gold. It was moving. It was euphoric. It was real.

Yet there are men out there who cannot give powerful women like these three their due. Men like Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who could not let this stand in its glory, calling the gesture “disgusting.” This is but one example in our society where powerful women are criticized by men who cannot accept that power. Men who, in their own insecurity and rage, would strip women of our strength, of our importance, of our worth. Chiles and Biles were the target this time, Kamala Harris is next. It is time for women, and the men who respect them, to fight against this knee-jerk, cowardly misogyny. We women have the right to breathe, to be free, to be powerful, to win gold, to be president. When we fight, when we vote, women win. When women win, we all win.

Deborah DiMicco, Newtown

When I went to the grocery store recently, I purchased a 32-ounce jar of generic jam because it was the cheapest. I scoped out the contents into a leftover 20-ounce empty squeezable container, and guess what? It fit. All of it. I’m tired of the bait and switch. Is everything a lie? I have two teenagers in parochial school who are college bound. My future is certain of financial ruin, despite the PA 529 plans and modest term life insurance policies in effect. The IRS is knocking on my door with a bill because I have liquidated my 401(k) to pay the mortgage and utilities. I am not alone. Americans are hurting and in need of help. In a recent TV campaign ad, Kamala Harris says she wants an America where working class citizens only need one job to pay the bills and seniors can retire with dignity. I desperately need to believe her.

Tiffany Long, Philadelphia, tiffanylong95@yahoo.com

I’m reading that Republican strategists are breathing a collective sigh of relief following Kamala Harris’ VP selection, convinced that Tim Walz’s progressive record will cost the Democrats the votes of critical independent and moderate Republicans who might otherwise have supported a Democratic slate this time around. But their gloating may be premature. They seem to be overlooking the energizing appeal of Walz’s message to young voters, whose level of participation may well decide the election. We know that new or first-time voters are seldom included in standard polling surveys — and we suspect that such voters are far more likely to share the socially inclusive, environmentally conscious, gun safety, and pro-choice outlooks of the new Democratic ticket.

Lee Cassanelli, Havertown, lcassanel@gmail.com

Trump and the MAGA Republicans again show their general intellectual dishonesty and disdain for their own voters. They are running over and over again an ad of an “everyday nurse,” Julie Willoughby, as evidence that hospitals are turning away “real Americans” for “illegals.” What they don’t tell us (and you can Google it in 30 seconds) is that Willoughby is a MAGA Republican state legislator from Arizona. As Trump likes to say, “someone should look into that.”

Richard Golomb, Philadelphia

Kudos to The Inquirer for the detailed explanation of when and how property taxes are evaluated in Philadelphia. Shame on the mayor and City Council for the methodology used to increase property taxes and city revenue without having to take responsibility for a tax increase. Yes, the city has finally gotten very good at conducting annual assessments. This guarantees annual revenue increases without the mayor and City Council conducting hearings on why a tax increase is necessary. The present system lets our elected leaders off the hook. Shame on them.

Angelo Sgro, Philadelphia

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