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To the Editor:
I have been watching the news reports of the incident on the subway in NYC where the homeless man, who was apparently mentally disturbed, was attacking and harassing other passengers on the train. I have some opinions about that incident that I wish to put forward. In my judgment, because of the violent actions of said person, it is reasonable for someone with courage to step forward and try to stop his actions. Especially knowing the sort of things happening on the subways. We have all seen them. Innocent people being pushed in front of oncoming trains or onto the tracks and having various injuries because of these actions. People being beaten or stabbed and robbed in the cars. The Marine that had tried and succeeded to subdue the man had the courage. It is unfortunate that the homeless man died. I doubt seriously if that was his intent. It is totally ridiculous for anyone and, especially politicians of either party, to go on tv and call it murder and call for demonstrations. And why is everything that happens always put into the realm of race? I say that people that do this are the racists. I wouldn't care which person was black, white, brown, red, yellow or purple with pink polka dots. Now as for the call for demonstrations, if people feel the need to do this, they are entitled to their opinion. But said demonstrations are marching up and down the sidewalk and carrying signs and voicing opinions, not blocking the streets or destroying people's property. These people talking about burning things down if they do not get their way should be charged with inciting a riot. The very first person that throws a rock, a brick, bottle or any other object, or tries to strike someone with any object should be taken into custody by police and charged. Anyone who tries to start a fire of any kind should be arrested and charged with arson. I don't want to hear someone say "you have to understand they are upset and you have to give them a chance to destroy." That is plain bullcrap!
I have one last thing that I would like to say at this time. When I was a young man and in the Army in the middle sixties, I saw a black and white film. If I remember correctly the title was "The Incident." It took place on a subway in NYC and involved a young Army man with a broken arm, a car full of people, and a punk with a switchblade. The punk went through the car threatening and harassing the passengers until the punk finally settled on a young woman. At which time the young military man confronted the punk. A fight ensued, the Army man was stabbed, and he beat the punk to death with the cast on his broken arm, but everyone else in the car was then safe. I have always remembered that movie. Maybe some network needs to dig it up and show it a few times.
Stephen E. Sellers
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Chris Torquato's letter published April 28th, 2023. Chris starts out his letter with a dictionary definition of a "judge" as "one who gives an authoritative opinion." Chris cited Wikipedia and described the duties of a judge. It made me think about my 44 years of law practice and how a judge becomes "authoritative". What did these judges do in order to deliver authoritative opinions? What did these judges do before they were elevated to the bench?
I know about the judges in the last 44 years, but I researched prior judges in Mifflin County for the last 100 years. I discovered that every judge in the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas in the last 100 years was a practicing lawyer before becoming a judge. Judges David Barron, Aaron Gingrich, Rick Williams, Tim Searer, Helen White, Pete Searer, R. Lee Ziegler, Paul Lehman, William Uttley, Thomas Fisher Bailey, and Joseph Woods all practiced full time as either a sole practitioner or in a law firm before becoming a judge. That definitely turns out to be a very significant fact in this important judicial election on May 16th.
Two of the candidates do not practice as sole practitioners or in a law firm or represent clients before a Common Pleas Judge. Only Jeff Davis has done that and follows in the steps of Common Pleas Judges of the last 100 years. It makes sense that Jeff Davis' campaign theme is that of the right experience in every aspect of the law over which a judge presides. I hope people look carefully at the "experience" each candidate describes as his qualification for judge.
Dave Molek