Country’s founders made brilliant choices
Here is a suggested Morning Call publication topic for our upcoming 250th Declaration of Independence (1776) anniversary (2026): Publish the Federalist Papers (1787-1788) alongside historian commentary. These papers are arguments for the 13 states to support the new Constitution.
After watching the PBS Ken Burns Revolutionary War series and then seeing the Broadway “Hamilton” production I was hungry for more. I started reading the Federalist Papers and with the introductory one written by that brilliant immigrant, Alexander Hamilton, I realized the arguments for and concerns recognized in 1787 apply today. We are a fortunate country that we had founders, though personally flawed as we all are, who were clear-eyed about human strengths and weaknesses and future risks. With our Constitution they did their best to anticipate and plan for future bad actors. I think we are dependent on the three branches of government (executive, congressional and judicial) sticking to their constitutional roles, not being servile to the executive branch.
Linda F. Brown
Bethlehem
Help Red Cross help others
When fire tore through an Easton apartment building last June, more than 30 people were left facing uncertainty.
As firefighters battled the flames, volunteers from the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter — neighbors from our own community — were there, comforting families and providing emergency lodging and recovery support.
Among the displaced was Debra, a retiree who returned from a trip to find her home condemned and her belongings damaged. Our volunteers provided her with resources and checked in over the following weeks, helping her make a plan to move forward.
Debra told us she’s grateful for the quick assistance and compassion shown by our volunteers.
Thanks to donations, this kind of care happens every eight minutes, when Red Cross volunteers help someone affected by a disaster in the U.S. — most often, a home fire.
During the holidays, home fire responses spike nearly 20% nationwide due to seasonal risks. In our area alone, over 200 people typically need assistance after holiday home fires.
We’ll be there for them — because of our generous donors and volunteers, who help in so many ways. Not just after disasters, but also for people needing lifesaving blood, first aid and CPR, and support navigating the challenges of military service.
So, if you can, please consider donating this holiday season at redcross.org. Just as the community rallied for Debra, let’s come together again to ensure people have the support and care they need.
Peter Brown
The writer is the executive director, American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter.
President Trump’s statement is the definition of racism
It appears that I must go back to kindergarten to define racism. President Trump called the Somali immigrants “garbage.” Not some of them or even most of them, but across the board.
I am very selective and cautious to call a statement racist — it should not be done arbitrarily. But that is the pure, fat-free, gluten-free definition of a racist statement.
Specific people do specific things. Groups do not. There were some (not all) Somali immigrants believed to have cheated taxpayers out of lots of money during the COVID years. Some doctors also cheated. But not all doctors are garbage. Some contractors cheated the U.S. taxpayers out of lots of money during the Iraq war, but not all contractors are garbage. Men commit far more crimes than women, but not all men are garbage. I have known all this since elementary school.
It is sad that in the year 2025 (or is it really 1925?) I must write a letter to explain why I am offended by a racist statement made by our president. From Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden and all in between, I cannot imagine a recent American president making such a statement.
David Faulkner
Easton
Misogyny still prevalent in America
There still is a tragically clear division between the status of men and women in this country. As the Nov. 16 and 23 editorials in the New York Times noted, “our country has never adequately protected women.” And thanks to the current administration, misogyny remains prevalent throughout our culture.
For example:
- Americans think medication abortion should be legal by a margin of about 2 to 1. Yet, medication abortion is being challenged in many states.
- Laws constraining abortion were associated with a 3.4% rise in homicides related to intimate partner violence.
- Planned Parenthood clinics that rely on Medicaid funding and that are sometimes the only provider of primary and family planning care for poor people are losing their funding thanks to the current administration.
- Some men in the Epstein files continue to remain unknown to the public, another example of men being treated more favorably than the innocent girls they violated.
- The United States still has no federal law against marital rape.
We must not allow complacency or a defeatist attitude to impede our fight for a more equitable treatment of women. If women lose, so do their families.
Marianne Phillips
Allentown
Take steps to cut light pollution
Light pollution is growing rapidly, and it harms far more than our ability to see the stars. Bright, unshielded lighting disrupts birds, insects and other wildlife that depend on natural darkness to survive.
We can make meaningful improvements by using fully shielded fixtures that direct light downward, choosing warm-toned LEDs that limit sky glow and installing motion sensors to avoid lighting empty spaces. These steps reduce environmental harm while also cutting energy waste and lowering utility costs for households and businesses. Smart lighting is a simple way to protect both our night sky and our community.
Julianna Ciarciello
Bethlehem
The writer is a senior at Lehigh University.
Being forced to cut hair is a real denial of rights
I just want to respectfully respond to the letter titled “Crown Act an example of government overreach.” Apparently the author never had to have his hair cut to conform to someone’s idea of what your hair should look like in order to participate in a school basketball game. Talk about having your rights denied.
Hugh Bailey
Bangor
Southern Lehigh Spartans made community proud
Congratulations to Coach Sams and the Southern Lehigh football team on being the PIAA 4A state football champions. You did it with strength, finesse, determination and grit. You have made the school, the alumni and the entire community proud. Thank you.
Joseph Scull
Coopersburg
The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.
