Let’s Keep an Open Mind
I finished reading the article titled, “Do Your Research,” by Cathy Grougan. Ms. Grougan made her points and I agree with doing one’s research, but would like to add my two cents.
I, thankfully, grew up in a very diverse neighborhood, in a very open-minded household. We were surrounded by people of all races, foreign and domestic, all religions, and various opinions on politics, reproductive rights and life in general. I have carried this through with me all of my 57 years and continue to try to keep an open mind as I discuss issues with others.
While I respect Ms. Grougan’s opinions, she is very “one-sided” in her views as well. We are all human beings with different upbringings and I hope she is able to respect others’ viewpoints, too. Yes, I have my own opinions on such things as race, religion, politics, reproductive issues etc., but I only share when asked.
The bottom line is that we, as a country, are all in this together. My dream is that we can all tolerate each other as we are and listen to each other. Maybe we’ll still learn something.
Christine A. Hill
Chester Township
Keep Geauga Conservative
It seems of late, in its effort to be The Plain Dealer Junior, the Maple Leaf is giving much of its attention in the Viewpoint and Letters section to the small amount of malcontents living in Geauga County.
For example, the young lady from West Geauga High School, who the Maple Leaf attempts to make sound like the next Hillary Clinton, is clearly highly educated by CNN and social media. Her small support group of social justice warriors, by all of their complaints about our county, would appear to be people who moved out here to get away from troubled communities that may have had higher crime rates. They have brought their liberal views with them so that sometime in the future, we will be having to suffer from the same — troubled and rising crime.
Then, there is the Auburn fiscal officer who was given a platform to blame the budget commissioners for his own ineptness.
Last, and most importantly, the Sheldon Firem group letter is clearly signed by individuals who are sitting down at their democratic gatherings and thinking up ways to attack and demean Geauga County citizens and commissioners who do not think the way that they do. This group defends a press and news media that has shown its disdain for any American citizen that stands up for God and Country, the belief that all lives matter, including the unborn and the elderly, as well as those who value and respect the Constitution.
All of these complaining individuals would like nothing more than to change the political landscape of Geauga County. It has been a thorn in the side of the Democrat party for a long time because of our solid conservatism. This election year is so important, not only nationally, but locally. This November, let us make sure that we vote to keep Geauga County conservative — no whining liberals wanted or needed
Bob Zarback
Troy Township
Out of Line
I voice my total support for Superintendent Hanlon. I also voice my support for 2017 student David Arthur John Nedrow.
I believe the commissioner is out of line in using county resources to voice a personal opinion; not everyone voted for him and this is not the opinion of everyone in the county. I believe everyone in the county believes that police definitely matter.
To involve students in what is happening (happened) on the square Sept. 4 is (was) endangering those students, especially after reading the emotional comments registered by the county commissioner.
Sharon Belt
Chardon
Mistake Superintendent Made
Dear Mr. Hanlon, the mistake that you made is that you forgot to wear your brown shirt and jack boots while falling into lockstep with whatever Ralph dictated.
You made a mistake; there will be consequences.
Jim Belt
City of Chardon
Superintendent Made it Political
As a resident of Chardon, a retired police chief, a U.S. veteran and current president of the Geauga/Lake County “Blue Knights”, I/we are in complete disagreement with Chardon Schools Superintendent Michael Hanlon’s decision to denounce and fail to support the actions of the Chardon High School Hilltopper football team as they carried an American flag and Thin Blue Line flag on Aug. 27 at their home game.
I have served our country in the United States military and sacrificed years of my life for the freedoms that you apparently take for granted. I further dedicated 38 years to a law enforcement career because I felt it was a respectable and critical obligation, and was sworn to uphold the laws and constitutions of our country. I have been spat on, punched, kicked, shot at and had numerous things thrown at me by people I never knew and, oh yeah, you would not believe the lies.
The young people (pre-voters) of our community have just learned a valuable lesson from a primary leader, you ,Mr. Hanlon, and the Chardon school board members. The football team chose to do something very simple in support of something very special and express their emotional feelings and you crushed it. You took away their freedom to express their feeling and support of a positive image.
The Thin Blue Line flag was never a political item; it simply represents law enforcement as the thin blue line that protects good from evil, and stands to memorialize law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. It stands to recognize all colors, genders, nationalities and religions.
Again, the only way this is political is if you make it political, and, Mr. Hanlon, you did and now it’s on your hands.
It takes a bigger person to stand and admit perhaps he/she acted in haste. Be that bigger person, Mr. Hanlon, and show your leadership skills in making a wrong into a right. Support your students and the law enforcement family as a whole. Don’t make this political; we have enough of that.
I continue to offer support and guidance when appropriate, through continued commitments with law enforcement efforts across America, the state of Ohio, the county of Geauga and, yes, the small community I call home . . . Chardon. What will you do?
Steve Szeredy
Blue Knights Ohio XV President
FBINA 191 Ohio Past President
Police Chief (Ret.)
Chardon Township
Enlightening Voters
It is not too late. There is still time for a delightful discussion between parents and children, or teachers and students, or both.
The classic story, “Animal Farm,” by George Orwell is easy to read and short. Let each reader decide which character, Napoleon or Snowball, best represents the two presidential candidates and why.
Of the countless books I have read reading current political explanations, I decided to reread Animal Farm. What a joy! I still think it is the best book ever written for enlightening voters.
Eileen Marie
Russell Township
COVID is Real Enemy
I read with sadness the controversy over students carrying a Blue Lives Matter flag onto the field at a recent Chardon football game. Instead of a place for friendly competition between local schools, the field became yet another battleground for the ‘soul of America.’
Last week, instead of calming the situation and defusing the anger on both sides, Commissioner Spidalieri ramped up the rhetoric and called for the superintendent to resign. And then, community groups planned protests and counter-protests on Chardon Square.
To the credit of the Black Lives Matter group, they called off their march out of respect for a Cleveland officer killed in the line of duty days before.
The Blue Lives Matter charged ahead with their demonstration — and an angry group, mostly without masks and not social distancing, filled the square and the city’s streets, to tell us what we already know: that the police have dangerous jobs, that they are important to keeping the peace in our society and that most of them are good people who reject racism and white supremacy.
To hear the Blue Lives Matter people tell it, police every day face deadly violence from angry mobs of mysterious, black-clad thugs who are intent on nothing more than harm and this is justification for police violence.
But here is the fact: The single most deadly killer of police and law enforcement personnel is none other than . . . COVID 19. That’s right, in 2020 more police officers have been killed by COVID, contracted while on duty, than all other causes combined — this from data collected by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
So, if you really believe that Blue Lives Matter, then wear a mask. COVID is the real enemy, for law enforcement officers and for all of us. Let’s not get distracted by rhetoric meant to divide, not unite us.
Caroline A. Kovac
Chardon Township
Superintendent Crossed the Line
As an outsider from another state and as an attorney with both Pennsylvania and Ohio licenses to practice law, and having had interaction in Chardon, Ohio’s courts, I am appalled at Chardon’s Board of Education and its support of the school’s superintendent.
The recognition of law enforcement and its officers via the Hilltopper football team’s carrying a thin blue line flag onto a football field should not have been held by the school’s superintendent to be unacceptable, as being “interpreted as a racially-motivated action.”
Racially motivated? What was the superintendent smoking?
This is America. Bad people exist in all walks of life, yet our law enforcement, our police forces per se are American Pie and are not, cannot and should not in any American’s right mind be considered a racially-motivated term concept or whatever. This is just inconceivable.
I am sure the public is aware there are white and Black individuals who have received inappropriate harm or death at the hands of law enforcement individuals who have no business being police officers. Just the same as there are lawyers, doctors, priests, veterans, etc., who wrongly have inflicted fellow human beings with harm or death.
Yet, the concept of who and what law enforcement personnel represent in keeping law and order in protecting life and property should always be a subject of recognition and respect, period! The same way we honor our veterans.
The superintendent really has crossed the line and surely as an educator fails to be a representative role model for the student population.
Harry A. Flannery
New Castle, Pa.
