Opinion

When I was in 4-H Beef Club, grabbing a blue ribbon during the county fair meant “Samson” and I scored first place. A red ribbon meant second place. President Trump scored a red ribbon during the 2024 election but is acting like he deserved the blue. Trump captured second place with support from roughly 32

By Shelley Inglis, University of Dayton Democracy is in trouble, despite popular uprisings and dynamic social movements in Lebanon, Hong Kong and across Europe and Latin America. Scholars say countries across the globe are experiencing a rise in autocratic rule, with declines in democratic ideals and practice. Autocratic rule – also known as authoritarianism –

The book “No Democracy Lasts Forever, How the Constitution Threatens the United States” is by Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the University of California, Berkeley. The framers who wrote the Constitution made certain compromises to produce a document that the Constitutional Convention and the 13 original states would approve. As a result, its inherent flaws, including

In January, the Green Gettysburg Book Club and Gettysburg for Gun Sense will be studying some amazing works. As I delve into these reads, I am also fortunate to have received from Santa a copy of the prize-winning novel, “Orbital,” about watching Earth from the space station, by Samantha Harvey. The Green Gettysburg Book Club

I want to commend Lawrence and Anthony, hosts of the “Two Cool Dudes”podcast; Kathy Gaskin, who leads WellSpan’s Behavioral Health Task Force; and the Weary Performing Arts group, for an excellent program on mental wellness that they presented together at Gettysburg High School last night. All who braved the cold to attend were well rewarded!

During the past few years, we have gone through a long stretch of political onslaught in the media and many folks experience a great deal of stress and anxiety about the impact on their lives under the incoming administration and the significance of Monday, January 20th.   While this January 20th is certainly an important day

Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news but slanted to fool readers into thinking it’s for real. Fake news includes fabricated content (stories made up to mislead people), deceptive headlines (stories with truthful content but exaggerated or deceiving headlines), satire or parody (articles intended as jokes or satire but mistaken by readers

The price of precision bombing and missiles in the urban domain is immense for regional citizens. The United Nations has substantiated this by reporting that in Ukraine the Russian military has killed approximately 12,300 civilians and injured 27,800, since 2022 alone. Approaching the quarter of a century marker, it is evident that “… the number

Early in 2024, I asked Borough Council to consider broadcasting Planning Commission meetings while they were undertaking the Rezoning review and the Gettysburg Station project.  I mentioned the value of having a record of decisions made at these meetings, and not everyone can attend in person. I was told that it wasn’t in the 2024

Author’s note: This column is an adaptation of my column that appeared in the Bennington (VT) Banner in November of 2003 – forty years after John Kennedy was assassinated. When John Kennedy was shot, I was in history class at St. John the Baptist School in Hillsdale, NJ. The principal came into the room, ashen-faced,

School boards provide oversight and governance to school districts.  They do so by: (1) supporting the mission and evaluating progress toward goals,(2) providing responsible fiscal oversight, (3) establishing and maintaining district policies, (4) hiring, oversight and evaluating the superintendent and (5) serving as community leaders and advocates.  Boards have no management functions.  None. Jan E.

Republicans argue that safety net programs can inadvertently discourage work by offering benefits that make low-wage jobs less attractive. They imply programs such as  long-term unemployment benefits, rental assistance, and food stamps reduce incentives for people to seek work. Republicans often highlight examples of fraud, misuse, or administrative inefficiencies in safety net programs. That’s not

As the president-elect rolls out his appointments (Musk, Ramaswamy for “government efficiency”) and nominations (Zeldin-EPA, Hegseth-SecDef, Gabbard-DNI, Gaetz-AG, Kennedy-HHS) it is clear that his promises to exact retribution and expel expertise and blow up the professional administration of government were not empty promises, but clear and present dangers. It seems that each choice is worse

When my mother left the second time, I cried in my father’s arms. He tried to comfort this seven year old as best he could, but the grim reality soon settled in. He would have to find a daycare for my three year old brother and hire after school babysitters for me. He managed both

There is no question that our Republic is in a sad state of divisiveness and hatred for our fellow man.  It has gotten so bad that anyone who holds to centrist policies these days is excoriated by both sides as being extremist or naïve; therefore, any centrist liberal or conservative has had to live in

From the insurrection to his enemy from within claims, from felony charges to abandoning NATO, from racist tropes to antisemitic hate speech, former President Donald Trump truly is as Jon Stewart claimed, “a corruption Mr. Magoo.” In this fever dream of an election year, America’s choice between a candidate who is incoherent, out-of-touch, and outright

We might think that Donald Trump is a new phenomenon in American politics, the likes of which we haven’t seen before. This is false. There was Huey Long. Nearly a century before Trump descended the escalator, Long showed the power of a politician who is cunning and charismatic and establishes a dynamic whereby the hatred

I’ve been waiting for weeks for just one Gettysburg Connection reader to write in to say why they are voting for Kamala Harris. With such an important election only 10 days away, and facing a wall of silence from our readers, I’m writing to say why I am. Harris is the Democratic Party’s candidate. Over

On October 13, my friend Peter Beck and I attended a public forum called “The Psychology of Christian Nationalism” sponsored by The Rev. Jim Strader-Sasser, interim rector of The Memorial Church of the Prince of Peace, an Episcopal parish in Gettysburg. After being introduced as an Episcopal priest, The Rev. Pamela Cooper-White attacked every Christian

Sue Feaga, writing as a member of Gettysburg Conservatives and a representative of the Tender Care Pregnancy Center has written an opinion piece from a pro-life standpoint. It should be noted that Tender Care Pregnancy Center is not a licensed healthcare facility, nor is its practice licensed, inspected, or certified by the state of Pennsylvania.

After spending several years as a pro-life client advocate in AZ and PA my heart goes out to those women who have suffered guilt, shame and regret over their “right” with reproductive freedom to choose abortion. It’s ironic that the first definition under freedom is defined as the condition of NOT being in prison or

This past week my organization, OPEN MINDS, played host to 300+ health care executives at our annual OPEN MINDS Executive Leadership Retreat. First, I want to thank all the folks in town who made this week-long event possible. Great food at our restaurants, wonderful battlefield guides, talented local artists, interesting shops, and unique museums. But

Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine gave this, her Declaration of Conscience speech, before the U.S. Senate in 1950. “I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we

We all understand that Gettysburg is a special iconic community: its history, character, and heritage attract millions of visitors who are key to our economy – and hold a powerful significance for hundreds of millions more nationally and internationally. Gettysburg’s reputational value is priceless. Gettysburg also is a diverse community that needs to offer services

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It overturned the previous “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in an 1896 Supreme Court decision that ruled racially segregated

The Gettysburg area lies in PA Senate District 33. We are currently represented by Doug Mastriano, who has been in the seat since June 2019. He’s most famous for his attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results and his related leadership role in the January 6th riot. His opponent is Cameron Schroy of Greencastle, a lifelong

Project 2025, the playbook for Trump’s second term agenda, reflects his goals to grow his base of fundamentalist evangelical Christians and to cement the authoritarian powers of the presidency. A recent CBS News Analysis revealed that 28 of the 38 primary authors of Project 2025 worked in Trump’s administration and at least 270 of its

Lately, there have appeared a few lists of the so-called accomplishments of former President Donald Trump. This presents an opportunity to ask a question: Which of Trump’s achievements or promises is the one that allows his supporters to disregard, diminish, or pardon the events of and surrounding January 6, 2021?  That day should have been

For the first time in our history we have a Presidential candidate who has called for “military tribunals” to try cases against his opponents, both Republicans and Democrats. These people are to be arrested by a military squad. In his debate with Biden he called for Biden’s arrest if he is elected. He has informed

This fall we have two new, strong local Democrat candidates running in the upcoming election:  Beth Farnham, who is challenging incumbent John Joyce for the huge 13th District U.S. Congressional seat, and Cameron Schroy, who is challenging incumbent Doug Mastriano for the 33rd District PA Senate seat. Both Beth and Cameron are well-worth supporting. But

As I sat eating delicious scrambled eggs at the John Murtha Johnstown – Cambria County Airport while waiting for my opponent, Representative John Joyce, to speak, I wondered – what does this dermatologist from Altoona say to keep the good people of Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District voting against their own interests and putting him into

After concluding the respective Republican and Democratic conventions, the electorate looks to September 10th for the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris. Taking place on the eve of the sorrowful 23rd anniversary of 9/11, these candidates should agree to a debate format worthy of the great nation they seek

One of my most prized possessions is, surprisingly, a bumper sticker.  The bumper sticker says, “Practice Civility.”  It has been on my bumper for around twenty years when I got it at a Howard County Library in Maryland.  Its message is more appropriate than ever as we have seen our nation descend into road rage,

In the United Kingdom, to promote transparency, honesty, and integrity, the Prime Minister and Parliament convene once a week to initiate a time dubbed “Questions to the Prime Minister.” This legally mandatory question-and-answer session lets parliament ask questions to the Prime Minister, who is obligated to respond truthfully and to the utmost of their abilities.

The long-awaited drawings for the Gettysburg Station project were unveiled at the July 17th HARB meeting.  The developer’s architect presented modern style buildings appropriate for a suburban office park, and did not even attempt to use elements of design reflecting the historic look of Gettysburg.  It is possible to build new structures and have them

Americans’ confidence in the Supreme Court has dropped sharply in recent years to the lowest in Gallup’s nearly 50-years of polling. Even before the Court’s recent decisions, only 25 percent of U.S. adults have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the Supreme Court. It was 50 percent as recently as 2002.

With a grace and humility that convicted felon Donald Trump has never known, President Biden has ended his campaign to be re-elected, then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Vice President Harris brings not only a fresh energy to the top of the Democratic ticket, she brings her whip-smart intellect as a former prosecutor, her electability

I was driving home from the Giant on Sunday when I was saddened by the news that I had been hoping to hear. Joe Biden had just released a letter saying that he had chosen not to run for reelection “in the best interest of my party and the country.” I’d been hoping to hear

As the nation, including much of the press, drills down to every.single.performance. of President Biden in zealous endeavors to gauge his mental acuity, I am constantly reminded of the French fairytale, or nightmare really, “The Animals Sick of the Plague” by Jean de la Fontaine. If you are not familiar with the story, its premise

A lot of attention has been given lately to Project 2025, a 900+ page blueprint for a second Trump administration produced by the collective efforts of many conservative activists and published by the Heritage Foundation. The report is highly specific, addressing each federal agency on a program-by-program basis. It can be hard to sink your

I am mesmerized watching the homage ceremony of the elderly, the surviving Congressional Medal of Honor recipients of WWII. Nobly, they file in to blaring martial music, flags waving ceremoniously, and thousands of people on their feet. The eldest soldier, in his 90’s, ambles unassisted to his seat. Aside from tears of pride, I feel

I write to ask that all residents of the Upper Adams School District consider attending the Upper Adams School District School Board meeting on Tuesday, 16 July, 2024 at 7:00pm. The location is not set yet, but it will likely be in the Biglerville High School Auditorium, 161 North Main St, Biglerville, PA 17307, where

Ageism is one of the few discriminatory actions that is still rampant in our culture. Ageism is the discrimination against older people in all the various ways that one also discriminates against race, gender, women, and disabilities, to name a few. Using ageist beliefs to discount President Biden is a technique used to bring out hidden

2014 is the 70th anniversary of a change that altered the course of my life. I was eleven years old but I remember it very clearly. In early March 1954, my father met me as I stepped off the PTC “N” bus on my way home from Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Northeast Philadelphia.

My name is Neil Belliveau, and I am the Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Adams County. I am writing to advocate for the Defend the Guard legislation, a crucial initiative to ensure our National Guard members are deployed into combat zones only with a formal declaration of war by Congress, as mandated by the

By Sue Cipperly, Gettysburg The Gettysburg Comprehensive Rezoning effort is needed.  Piecemeal adjustments over the years have left the zoning ordinance contradicting itself, or including parts that don’t work as written.  New uses have arrived in our world, and by Pennsylvania law, we need to decide where they can fit into our community. A small

In 1917, Thomas Adams, an advisor to the U.S. Treasury Department, said “modern taxation…is a group contest in which powerful interests vigorously endeavor to rid themselves or present or proposed tax burdens. It is…a hard game in which he who trusts wholly to economics, reason, and justice, will in the end retire beaten and disillusioned.”

Dear Editor, As a concerned member of the Adams County community, I feel compelled to express my disappointment with the recent performance of the Adams County Democratic Committee. This year’s presidential primary saw the lowest turnout in recent memory, indicating a significant disconnect between the committee and local Democrats. It is evident that changes are

Editor’s Note: Jim Lady is the Upper Adams School Board President Dear Mr. Lady, We are a group of community members and Upper Adams parents with current and former Canners (Upper Adams Community Cares) who have been following recent decisions and discussions by school board members. Our goal is to be proactive in ensuring open

It seems as if Christians are singularly focused on babies more than they are of the precious women who carry and birth them.  Do Christians not care about the right of women to control their own body?  If you ever hope to have an understanding to that question, it helps to take a close look

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the 2023 Antisemitism Awareness Act. The bill states that: The definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is “a certain perception of Jews,” which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, including rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals

Sixty years ago, I was a junior at Temple University in Philadelphia. I was interested in computers, but Temple did not offer any courses in electronic data processing. In fact, in Philadelphia, only the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School of Engineering offered courses in computers focused primarily on the design of the computers themselves. There,

Bermudian Springs School District (BSSD)’s recent change to its Resource Materials policy that bans “sexual content” from reference books, instructional materials, multimedia materials, maps, library books, periodicals, and software is a spectacular failure to recognize their competent, professional staff’s ability to follow the law. Pornography, which Miriam-Webster defines as, “depiction of erotic behavior (as in

The Bermudian Springs School Board continues to make complications where solutions already exist.  At their meeting in March, the school board approved a first read of a revised Policy 109 regarding resource materials. This revised policy creates something called the CIRA Committee to review any material deemed “borderline”. While the revised policy defines various forms

I was born in 1942; I am now 51 years old. How is that possible? If you know, please send a comment through Gettysburg Connection. Speaking of age, Republicans are trying to convince voters that Biden is not only old, he’s also actually senile. That’s why his poll numbers are low, and why he is

Elie Wiesel once wrote, “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” There are various fictional stories and real-life examples of individuals who protest alone, not expecting an immediate change but perhaps making a symbolic statement or holding onto their

I still remember in October 2009, when conservatives openly gloated about the rejection of the US bid to host the 2016 Olympic games. “”THE EGO HAS LANDED: WORLD REJECTS OBAMA” said the conservative Drudge Report website after the opportunity to host the games in Chicago lost out to Rio de Janiero. The reason seemed be,

I find witty quotations valuable for several reasons. They can summarize or express a thought or idea in a few well-chosen words, and their brevity makes them easy to remember. Many remain relevant across generations because they express universal truths or insights. H.L. Mencken. the cranky “Sage of Baltimore,” was a satirist and cultural critic.

One of the quickest ways to disappear a thing—a problem or an opportunity—is to take away the words we need to describe it.  And, if you can’t just cancel it entirely, the second best way to get rid of a troublesome word is to change its meaning. Back in 1987, for example, British Prime Minister

Editor’s Note: Wes Heyser, who has served since 2016 on the Gettysburg Borough Council, did not run for re-election this year. Below are his parting words to the borough as presented at the Dec. 11 borough council meeting. I think Wes deserves our thanks. Will you leave a message for him in the comment section

Israel’s war of revenge on Gaza is both a moral failure and a strategic blunder. Every war is a moral failure because of the immense suffering, destruction, and loss of life that accompanies armed conflicts. It leads to a tragic and undesirable outcome in human affairs. Article 51 of the U.N. Charter states that countries

“To lower our voices would be a simple thing. In these difficult years [the 1960s], America has suffered from a fever of words; from inflated rhetoric that promises more than it can deliver; from angry rhetoric that fans discontent into hatred; from bombastic rhetoric that postures instead of persuading. We cannot learn from one another

Is Trump a fascist? In his book “The Anatomy of Fascism”, Columbia University Professor Emeritus Robert Paxton defines fascism as “a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in

“I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership in either the Legislative Branch

Gettysburg Connection is celebrating its fifth birthday this month.  Happy Birthday to us! It’s been a wild ride, and I can’t really believe we’ve made it this far.  We’re making a difference in the community and bringing people from around the county together. We report hundreds of trustworthy local news stories and build community engagement;

Right now, Donald Trump appears to be the presumptive GOP Presidential candidate.  He leads most of his rivals by 30 points or more in the polls.  Yet the political landscape may look quite different in the coming months for Mr. Trump.  There will be significant landmines ahead, and there is no guarantee he will be

Deb Steckler is running for Upper Adams School District School Director in November as a registered Republican, which she has been for years.  She will be listed as a Democrat on the ballot as a result of an anomaly in the Pennsylvania voting laws.  She is a long-time resident of Adams County and the Upper

Central Virginia, 1981, I rode shotgun-once-removed. JD sat in the front passenger seat due to his status as the driver’s roommate, I tucked in behind him for our three-hour trip. Scott drove us home for winter break. Scott, or Checks as we called him based on his propensity to bounce them, only stuck around that one year.

Two distinguished constitutional scholars affiliated with the Federalist Society published an article in the New York Times accusing former President Trump of insurrection on January 6, 2021.  These scholars cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution which bars any individual from seeking public office if they participated in an insurrection against the

Being created in God’s image (the imago dei), we believe that all human beings bear this image in many and various ways. Because members of the LGBTQ community are often marginalized and sometimes persecuted in the name of God, it is necessary for us to bear Christian witness to defend and advocate for all whom

On July 18, 2023, a centrist group called No Labels signaled that they will present a 3rd Party presidential candidate by March, 2024 if the main party choices are Donald Trump and Joe Biden.  This announcement set off alarm bells among Democrats.  Why?  Because this new Party may pave the way for a 2nd Trump

On May 11, Title 42, the U.S. provision restricting migrants wishing to come to the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic, ended  Once this provision was lifted, many thought that the U.S.-Mexico border would be inundated with tens of thousands of asylum seekers. That was not the case.  Instead, there was a drastic reduction in people