LETTER from STEVE LONDNER Let’s Be Civilized Land, Edit Plaque To the Editor: It’s been nearly 50 years since Oneonta’s Neahwa Park actually fronted the Susquehanna River, as still claimed in the plaque there that commemorates Sullivan’s 1779 Expedition. And it was 60 years earlier, in 1912, that the plaque was written and commissioned. Time passes. Things change. Language matters. And history does seem to want to repeat itself. As detailed in his article, “Massacre & Retribution: The 1779-80 Sullivan…
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Opinion - Page 155
Editorial Lacking Options, Celebrate Vets In Our Hearts It was shocking to hear the powers-that-be in veterans organizations – not locally, but regionally and statewide – have directed local posts not to commemorate the sacrifice of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines this Veterans Day. Sure, this is the COVID-19 era, and we have to be cautious. But such commemorations are mostly held outdoors – in Oneonta, at the Veterans’ Monument in Neahwa Park; in Cooperstown at the World War I…
BE AFRAID, BUT DO IT ANYWAY A Scary World Awaits: I’m There! I grew up outside a tiny Upstate village. With ideals. Maybe an even bigger share of naïveté. Barely 21, I set off to the other side of the earth. Emigrating to New Zealand. Where to start? I went to the local travel agent. She had never booked a trip out of country that was not part of a package … and never 13,000 miles. I wanted to see…
EDITORIAL Let’s Understand History, Not Censor It Are we seeing a trend here? In June, one of Cooperstown Trustee MacGuire Benton’s constituents was walking his or her dog and noticed the word “Indian” on the historical marker at Council Rock. Expressing his or her concern with the trustee, he raised the alarum at the June Village Board meeting, and a resolution was offered to remove the offending word from all public plaques in “America’s Most Perfect Village.” It turned out,…
LETTER from MOLLY SWAIN It’s Time To Let Columbus Regard Go To the Editor: Claudia Tenney – you need to relearn your history of the Americas! (Re column, Oct. 15-16.) Italian-Americans have more to offer North America than Columbus! Said man gleaned money from the Spanish king and queen who gave him enough money to buy the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. He told them he would sail east and find a new place for them and more gold. Columbus…
REMARKS from ELLEN TILLAPAUGH Administrator Barown Excelled Editor’s Note: Here are Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch’s remarks at a Sunday, Nov. 1, reception honoring retiring Village Administrator Teri Barown on the veranda at 22 Main. That we are going to miss Teri Barown’s institutional knowledge, competent expertise and efficiency is a given. In my nine years as an elected official, Teri’s leadership abilities were always apparent and so very valued. Village officials, residents and visitors have all benefited from her…
LETTER from ALLEN ANDERSON Election May Preserve Our Flawed, Free Nation To the Editor: If this is not the most important election in my lifetime, it nonetheless ranks as one that I feel is more important than most. In the last four years there has been a consistent and unrelenting drum beat of negativism surrounding our country and our president, his character, and the state of the nation. There have been street riots, calls for social justice, accusations from every…
LETTER from CHIP NORTHRUP Limit Public Flagpoles To New York, U.S. Flags To the Editor: Now that Oneonta has gotten into the flag du jour game, it may be time to review the wisdom of flying anything other than an American flag on a publicly owned flag pole. Again. Absent a state law governing what flags can lawfully be flown on municipal flag poles, the only lawful options in New York State are the national flag, the state flag and…
EDITORIAL Whoever Wins, Let’s Take The Long View Don’t Let Nation Come Apart; Next Election 2 Years Away Not a great choice. On the one hand, Donald John Trump, 74, the Republican incumbent, who made dramatic advances in China relations, trade, border security, Mideast peace and the economy in his first term, but whose erratic behavior, particularly in combatting COVID-19, has eroded support. On the other hand, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., 77, the Democratic challenger, prepared for the presidency by…
LETTER from DAVID ROWLEY If Flawed, Change ‘Safe Act’; But Leave Constitution Alone To the Editor: In his recent Letter to the Editor, Mr. Anderson suggested that “arguably the most important amendments in the Bill of Rights are the first and second”. He was half right. Clearly, the First Amendment, which guarantees our inalienable rights or basic freedoms, distinguishes a democratic nation like the United States from – as Jefferson believed in 1776 – the King of Great Britain. It…
