Daniel Roebuck’s new movie worth seeing

I highly recommend that everyone should run, not walk, to see “The Hail Mary,” the latest movie from Daniel Roebuck. He wrote, directed and stars in this wonderful, heartwarming film. Yes, it’s a comedy, but it also had me teary-eyed several times because it’s very moving about faith and redemption. You will love it.  It’s exactly the kind of movie we need right now.

— Melody Faisetty, Whitehall Township

Is the attack on Iran a diversion?

In February, National Public Radio reported the Justice Department withheld about 50 pages of the Epstein files. These specifically relate to FBI interviews with a woman who claims that when she was a minor Trump sexually abused her. Then on Feb. 27, Trump ordered U.S. forces to attack Iran. Over the last few months, several commentators and late-night comics have suggested Trump tries to divert attention from the Epstein files any way he can. Is the sudden attack on Iran part of that diversion effort?  I believe it is.

— Douglas Marsh, Salisbury Township

Easing pollution rules will cause more illness, deaths

As reported in the March 7 edition of The Morning Call, firefighters are 9% more likely to get cancer than the general population. Inhalation and absorption of chemical toxins from burning materials, and toxic smoke sticking to personal protective equipment and absorbed through the skin are the biggest contributors. PFAS (forever chemicals) pose another significant risk.

In Emmaus, residents are paying millions to remediate wells contaminated by a former fire training facility that polluted the wells with PFAS, which must now be removed to protect the water supply.

Saying pollution controls are unreasonably costly is like Titan submersible developer Stockton Rush deciding safety measures were unnecessarily expensive. Until he and four others were killed when the Titan imploded, this seemed like a good idea.

Pollution undeniably causes premature deaths, chronic illnesses and increased health care costs.

— Claudia H. Allen, Emmaus

Reagan’s record much better than Trump’s

A recent letter writer stated that President Donald Trump is the most consequential leader our nation has seen since Ronald Reagan. That might be true but that doesn’t necessarily make Trump a great president.

When first elected, Reagan won with 8.5 million more votes than President Carter. Reagan got 489 electoral votes whereas in 2016 Trump lost the popular vote by 2.7 million and had 306 electoral votes. Both had presidential goals to shrink government powers, reduce taxes and strengthen the military.

Although they shared similar goals, the contrast in their behavior and leadership styles are as stark as black and white. Reagan’s highest approval rating was 68%, Trump’s highest approval rating so far is 49%. Historians and presidential experts usually rank Reagan “The Great Communicator” in the top 10 or top 20 best presidents while mercurial Trump still ranks in the bottom five.

I voted for neither man but one I always respected as president and the other, I’ll just say he built great golf courses.

— Barbara Adamcik, Freemansburg

Plant biodiverse yards

I encourage my fellow Americans to question the notion that a mowed grass lawn is the ideal backyard scenery. Instead, let’s embrace the beauty of a native plant-filled garden or yard. This will yield great benefits for our environment and the diverse creatures who live around us. By planting natives, we support pollinators, including bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. They provide critical services for a majority of our food supply. A biodiverse yard attracts birds of all sorts, from woodpeckers to bluebirds, goldfinches or a rare scarlet tanager.

What if instead of shopping for unnecessary things online in our free time, we stepped outside and planted a native tree?

Everyone benefits from shifting our current mode of consumption toward one that stewards the Earth. This ecological healing can be a joyful collective experience. It doesn’t matter how we identify politically. We can each find a niche for our unique environmental contributions. From bus drivers to ranchers, teachers to politicians, we all have a positive role to play in this.

— Rebecca Canright, Franklin Township, New Jersey

Letters show disapproval of president’s actions

A recent letter claimed that The Morning Call was putting too many left-leaning letters in the column. I’ve noticed some days there’s more right-leaning letters and others there are more left leaning. So it usually balances out. But maybe there are more “left-leaning” letters because President Trump’s approval rating is in the toilet. And since it’s low, that means more anti-Trump sentiment letters are being written. But one thing that irritates me is that just because a letter against Trump is written doesn’t mean it is left leaning. MAGA supporters seem to lump anyone that doesn’t side with them as left leaning, or anti-American, liberal, socialist or communist. But most of us are really moderates in our views but not happy with Trump and his MAGA base. Part of that lack of happiness is caused by the right’s constant hatred and name calling. Maybe, just maybe, there is a higher percentage of so-called left-leaning letters because over 60% of us disapprove of Trump.

— John Kostick, Whitehall Township

New weather page is an unwelcome change

Was changing the weather graphics and text fonts truly the most significant update needed to The Morning Call? Change is not always better. The new icons look cartoonish, like a 7-year-old designed them. The old weather design, layout and icons were way more visually appealing. Is any reconsideration possible?

— Dana Frey, Lower Macungie Township

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.