Instead of acting with common sense, concern and compassion for the children of today and all future generations, many elected officials have decided that they can ignore human-made climate chaos completely.
Instead of seeing the evidence of rising seas and melting glaciers, our federal government is pretending that if we don’t measure the carbon in the atmosphere, climate change will disappear. Instead of wasting resources building detention centers like “Alligator Alcatraz” to address a perceived threat, we could actually be working to address the real threat of a hotter planet. We could be transitioning to more sustainable clean energy that would improve our air and water quality. We could work to protect biodiversity and address climate injustice so that all children, plants and animals could live healthier lives.
Other countries are transitioning to cleaner energy. It is disturbing that we are still climate change deniers. If you care about your children, your pets or the birds in your backyard, plant a tree, talk about the climate changes you notice and vote for officials who care enough to act.
Debra Orben
Springfield Township
Stand against starvation
In Gaza today, children are dying not from bombs or bullets — but from hunger. What was once unthinkable is now undeniable: In the 21st century, starvation is being used as a weapon of war. The slow death of a child from malnutrition is not just a tragedy — it is a crime. B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel have publicly accused Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza, citing deliberate policies that have dismantled critical infrastructure — especially health care and food systems — and caused massive civilian suffering, including starvation.
The world cannot continue to look away. Starvation is not collateral damage. It is a deliberate result of siege and obstruction. Under international law, it is a war crime. Under any moral law, it is an outrage. The children of Gaza are not combatants. They are innocent, and their suffering demands not only our compassion, but our action. We people of faith must call for an immediate stop on this war crime. History will not forgive silence. Neither will the children whose cries go unheard.
The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates
Whitehall Township
Tim Bingham
Allentown
Amir Famili
Upper Macungie Township
Bridget George
Nazareth
Robert Walden
Bethlehem
Cathy Nur’llah Layland
Allentown
Zeldin endangering Earth’s future
In the early 11th century, King Cnut ruled England. An apocryphal story told about him is that courtiers, seeking favor, told him there was nothing he couldn’t do. So, he had his throne placed at the edge of the sea and commanded the tides to stop. Inevitably, his feet and legs got wet. Cnut showed his courtiers that even kings aren’t in charge of everything.
Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, taking a cue from President Trump, evidently believes that he can stop greenhouse gasses from having a terrible impact on our planet simply by his command. Throwing away 129 years of scientific evidence, Zeldin declared the 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endangered the public health as “the Holy Grail of climate change religion.” But belief has nothing to do with science. Facts are not subject to our opinions.
What Zeldin is saying is that he doesn’t care about the evidence. This administration has made it clear that they are all in on burning fossil fuels no matter what the consequences are for our children and grandchildren. It’s greed, pure and simple. Their agenda is give me what I want now, and the future be damned.
It’s insane. And it will lead to untold suffering around the world.
The Rev. Richard Guhl
Allentown
Writer is a retired United Church of Christ pastor and is the co-chapter leader, PA-7 District Climate Hope Affiliate.
Bove confirmation was wrong
This week, Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick voted to give Emil Bove a lifetime job on the federal appeals court. Eighty judges had written the Senate to tell the senators that Emil Bove is not the kind of person that should be a judge. Three whistleblowers came out to tell the senators that Bove had lied to Congress. Sen. McCormick was a successful businessman, so I can’t believe he would have hired a man of Bove’s reputation to work for his hedge fund. Yet he is OK on foisting a man like this on America for the rest of Bove’s life. Why? Only two Republican senators had the courage to say no to Trump, and they are both women. This vote will be a permanent stain on Sen. McCormick’s record.
Jay Cohen
Lower Macungie Township
Child care funding needed in Pa.
Thirty years ago I faced the impossible cost of child care for three children. So, with an accounting background, I made the bold decision to open my own center to provide quality care for young children.
Staffing shortages threaten the ability to operate. We have supported over 24 staff through their educational journeys to obtain higher education degrees including myself, earning my master’s degree in early childhood education, to ensure we provide the highest quality care and education. Many teachers have had to leave the field for higher wages. Even those without degrees can earn more working at retail or convenience stores with much less responsibility and specialized skills.
Open teaching positions means enrolling fewer children. If our positions were filled, we could serve 32 more children — that’s 32 more families able to have peace of mind knowing their child is safe and learning while they are at work.
Pennsylvania’s leaders must act. The 2025-26 budget must include the $55 million in child care funding to recruit and retain teachers proposed by Gov. Shapiro. Without investment, more child care programs will close — hurting families, employers, and our economy.
Michele McEllroy
Upper Saucon Township
The writer is the owner/director of the Cuddle Zone, Allentown.
Broken promises
President Trump promised not to cut Medicaid. Promise not kept. He promised to end the war in Ukraine in one day. Promise not kept. He promised to end the war in Gaza. Promise not kept. He promised to reward his billionaire buddies with a massive tax cut for them? Oh wait, that promise he kept.
William Powers
South Whitehall 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.