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Letters to the Editor

The reality of book banning

To the Editor, Claims that books are not really being banned because they are still available for purchase are incorrect. A book ban is action taken against a book based on its content (as a result of parent challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to lawmakers) that leads to a book being removed from availability in schools or libraries. Book bans are a form of censorship and go against the freedoms of speech and expression. It’s important to acknowledge that not everyone has the finances to purchase every book they want to read, which makes reading and education ...

Keeping the nation divided

To the Editor, Elections are over …thank God. Lawn signs have been removed, by and large. Billboards are being removed, and all of the mental refuse and yard non-art has been removed. I have been a political voter since I was 18 years of age. It is a privilege of citizens of the United States. It is not a privilege of non-citizens. But that is an argument for another day, and we can discuss that. My question is both deeper and more significant than who votes for it concerns who has been elected, and is the elected a person who represents all people, or only the people of their ...

Let’s get our border back

To the Editor, Maybe, with Donald Trump re-elected — if, that is, we make it to Jan. 20 without Biden blundering us into World War III, solely to make things difficult for Trump—we can have a border, again. Clearly, America wearies of importing millions of murderers, petty criminals and freeloaders whom we openly accommodate, and who prey upon our citizens and amenities, straining our social systems and law enforcement. Funny how it wasn’t an issue, though, until the red areas stopped tolerating and absorbing them, and started shipping them en masse to blue areas. Then it was ...

Celebrating young artists

To the Editor, The opening reception for the Fifth Annual High School Students Art Exhibition was held November 6 at the Summit Art Gallery, hosting over 80 guests. This event was sponsored by the Top of WV Arts Council, a sub-committee of the Top of WV Convention and Visitors Bureau (TWVCVB). The show features 48 participating student artists with 54 pieces of art displayed. Three art teachers also provided their artwork for display. The high schools of Brooke, Madonna, Oak Glen, along with the John D. Rockefeller Career Center participated in the themed show of “A Different ...

The hypocrisy of book “banning”

To the Editor, The country recently observed “Banned Books Week,” which is of course a complete misnomer. A “banned” book is one that’s been completely removed from circulation, usually by governmental decree. A picture making the rounds of social media shows a table in a bookstore, a cheerful sign reading “Banned Books Table;” books for purchase that, for whatever reasons, have been removed from libraries. Notice those words: “for purchase.” “Banned” books that you can buy. The irony of “banned” books being available for purchase is lost on these ...

The importance of voting all the way down the ballot

To the Editor, As early voting has begun and Election Day grows near, political advertising is all around: merchandise, yard signs, flags, and nearly every commercial on TV. Presidential and statewide candidates have become household names. But there are many races on the ballot that are less talked about that may have an even greater day-to-day impact on your life. In Weirton, all city council seats and mayor are on the ballot. City council members establish priorities for the city government, create an annual budget, and respond to constituent needs/complaints. The mayor is the ...