Support free food program for students

Food is a human right, and students of Bethlehem Area School District deserve access to free meals. The BASD School Board is voting on its budget in April, and local organizations and residents strongly encourage wide public support for the federal Community Eligibility Provision. I was a student from a low-income household, and every September, my mom would have to fill out the free lunch form. No student should have to carry the shame of accruing lunch debt, or being singled out financially. My fellow Bethlehem neighbors gathered recently in the East Hills Middle School auditorium, sharing personal anecdotes and financial breakdowns, to sway the school board to institute CEP. The board members decided to delay making any firm decision. If you believe that Bethlehem Area school students deserve free lunch, come to the next BASD board meeting at 7 p.m. April 27 at East Hills Middle School. Demand the school board commit to districtwide free lunch for all Bethlehem Area students.

— Magnus Mateo, Freemansburg

Trump’s decisions lead to bad consequences

I certainly agree that Donald Trump is one of the most consequential presidents of our time. The trouble is, I don’t like the consequences. Yes, Trump is decisive. But decisiveness in the absence of awareness and serious thought, decisiveness exercised on whims and prejudices, has not been serving us well.

It’s great that Ayatollah Khamenei is gone, but it looks like we’ve only added chaos to repression, having encountered predictable difficulties that somehow our president didn’t anticipate. Our economy is at risk, in ways that are increasingly felt by all of us. Our security could be endangered from a steady depletion of munitions, and perhaps from terrorist attacks — just after the administration gutted our cybersecurity workforce in the name of efficiency. Iran is in shambles but not defeated, at the hands of an American leadership that appears to have little understanding of its internal dynamics and few good ways to deal with the problems it created. Trump, having antagonized our European allies economically and left them out of the loop on this war, can’t easily rally them now to help.

I see the strength. I also see recklessness and incompetence that could make us weaker, and the world more precarious.

— John Groff, Allentown

Trump wrong about the war and Mueller

Every day I pray President Trump cannot do anything worse and then I wake to see missiles flying, buildings collapsing, children dying, gasoline prices skyrocketing, etc., and him saying the war is over and we have won.

The latest objectionable statement was when Trump said he was glad Robert Mueller was dead. What kind of human being reacts publicly in that way, let alone the president of the United States? If there was any way I could convey my apologies to the Mueller family on behalf of our country, I would. Wake up, America, it is almost too late.

— Marie Everleth, Allentown

Roadside trash is a big problem in Pa.

I want to confirm the conditions mentioned in letter by Clifford W. Johnston Jr. published in The Morning Call on March 22. We had occasion recently to drive through Delaware and Maryland. When returning, we noticed a marked difference in roadside trash as soon as we entered Pennsylvania and Lehigh County. We have friends visiting from Wisconsin soon, and I’m sure they will notice this as well. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state: we can do much better in keeping our roads clean.

— Kathy Fevig, Whitehall

US should move away from fossil fuels

If less than one-tenth of the amount of tax credits and incentives given to the oil, gas and coal industries over the last 50 years had been directed to clean energy such as solar, wind and tidal, we would have enough to fulfill most of our needs now and into the future. We would also have cleaner air and water and a fighting chance to combat climate change.

All we need is the will and an executive and legislative branch with the wisdom to do the right thing no matter how many money-hungry special interests are in their ear. Electric rates will only continue to rise unless we start right now making the change to cheap, clean energy sources. Future generations will thank us.

Personally I made the move to power my home with clean solar three years ago. Yes, it really does work, despite what some ill-informed naysayers might tell you.

— Michael Loew, Nazareth

Trump’s statement about Mueller is disgusting

After hearing that Robert Mueller died President Trump wrote “Good. I’m glad he’s dead.” What a disgusting thing for anyone to say upon the death of a good man, one who served his country with integrity, competence and honor for most of his adult life. But how much more disgusting it is when it comes from the president of our country? This response should be no surprise, since Donald Trump’s personal and political modus operandi is characterized by divisiveness, vindictiveness, cruelty and lack of empathy. It is very demoralizing to realize that the American electorate, having already seen the vile character of this man, would reelect him for a second term, very disappointing.

— Tom McKee, 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.

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