If you care about the health and well-being of children, contact your local congressional representative or U.S. senator to make your voice heard that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should not head the Department of Health and Human Services, despite his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump.
Kennedy has been anti-vaccine, although you will hear him say otherwise at times. Recently, it was reported that a lawyer aiding Kennedy with his nomination petitioned the government in 2022 to revoke the approval for the polio vaccine. Really, the polio vaccine!
Prior to the vaccine being available, there were about 16,000 U.S. cases of paralytic polio annually, compared with zero in 2020, according to the Mayo Clinic. (There was a single reported case in 2022.)
The willingness of too many Americans to listen to conspiracy theories, lies, and nonsense is a problem. The growth of the anti-vaccine movement is an unfortunate example, prompted in 1998 by a flawed and fraudulent paper in the Lancet medical journal linking the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism. The study was flawed because of small sample size, uncontrolled design, and speculative conclusions.
The paper was completely retracted by the Lancet in 2010 and debunked by subsequent researchers, but continues to be cited to support the anti-vaccine movement, which continues to spread misinformation about vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine. People die because of this nonsense. Children are the most vulnerable because they rely on adults to make good decisions for them.
I have had it with those who fabricate lies and sell them as fact. So, if you believe in facts, if you believe in truth, if you believe in science, make your voice heard.
Gary DiPippo, Wantage
Not crazy to think feds might disown their drones
When trying to solve the mystery of the multiple drones over New Jersey, I would like to remind everyone when our military covertly tested the stealth bomber (F-117). Even the families of the stealth pilots were not privy to the existence of these fighters, nor to the fact that their loved ones were flying them.
Flying only at night above western skies, the pilots fondly called themselves “Night Hawks.” By not revealing their mission to anyone including their spouses, the pilots led double lives. The flying of these birds of war were among the most closely guarded weapons systems since the development of the atomic bomb.
More speculation we may entertain is that the drones in question may be carrying specialized detection systems for uncovering what may be our next terrorist attack. If my hypotheses are correct, Washington should do a better job of alleviating the concerns of those who have been helplessly watching these birds of prey flying above their homes without challenge or resolve from our military.
Matt Drozd, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The writer is an author and a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel.
Give us the truth, not condescension, about drones
Paul Mulshine’s recent column, “Drone sightings: the War of the Worlds? Or just a war of words?” reported that he didn’t see any drones when he went looking for them. Therefore, they don’t exist?
His retired airline pilot buddy, the “Captain,” along with the FBI and Homeland Security, all insist that we reasonably observant, educated and intelligent citizens don’t know what we are talking about as though our reports about sightings are not “credible,” and we are mistaking these flying objects for “manned aircraft, operating lawfully.”
On Friday, Dec. 13, between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., in Lawrence Township, across from the National Guard Armory, my wife and I saw seven separate flying objects traveling at what we estimate as 20-30 mph, and between 200 and 600 feet off the ground. Each appeared to be approximately 6-10 feet in diameter, with a cluster of white lights along with a green and red light, and each making a quiet whirring sound as it passed.
Twenty minutes later, when we got home with some pizza, a solo drone quietly flew over our house at about 20 mph and 400 feet high.
At that speed, fixed-wing aircraft would have already stalled and crashed. You can hear helicopters and airplanes literally miles away, with their internal combustion engines and rotors/propellers.
We’re not stupid, and we resent being condescended to.
John S. Rounds, Lawrence Township
Victory against harmful book bans
NJ Advance Media’s coverage of New Jersey’s newly signed Freedom to Read Act highlights a crucial victory against the harmful wave of book bans targeting diverse and inclusive stories.
As CEO of Reading Partners, a national nonprofit committed to improving literacy outcomes, I commend this legislation as a bold step toward ensuring every child has access to books that reflect their experiences and broaden their understanding of others.
Book bans disproportionately target works by Black authors and those centered on LGBTQ themes, stripping students of opportunities to see themselves in literature or learn from diverse perspectives. These actions deepen educational inequities and further marginalize specific communities. With just 32% of all New Jersey students meeting proficiency standards in 2022 — a startling decline of 10 points from 2019 — efforts to provide access to inclusive, representative books are needed now more than ever.
That’s why Reading Partners is excited to expand into New Jersey with support from GreenLight Fund Greater Newark. Our multi-year partnership aims to tackle a literacy crisis in Newark, where just 19% of third graders are reading at grade level, according to 2023 N.J. Student Learning Assessments.
New Jersey’s Freedom to Read Act and initiatives like ours in Newark work hand in hand to address literacy inequities. This legislation protects intellectual freedom, ensures diverse materials remain accessible, and empowers parents to guide their own children’s choices while safeguarding others’ rights.
By rejecting censorship and supporting proven literacy programs, New Jersey affirms that reading is not just a skill — it is a civil right. As a New Jersey resident for nearly 25 years and a parent of students attending public schools in the state, I believe we can and should ensure all of our state’s children have the opportunity to become confident, lifelong readers who are prepared to shape a brighter future.
Adeola Whitney, CEO, Reading Partners, Oakland, Ca.
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