Do not give in to political correctness

It amazes me that some allegedly educated people in the Chestnut Hill area do not know the difference between an actual news article and a spoof. Their minds cannot process anything that isn't strictly literal. In the current issue (Dec. 24), David Banov criticizes Len Lear's article, "End welfare," for being anti-poor when it was just the opposite.

It was a very funny spoof of those rich conservatives who think most poor people are lazy bums. You have had other similar letters recently highly critical of articles by Stacia Friedman as if they were news reports when they were very obviously meant to be satirical. The political correctness of these letter writers has clearly damaged their judgment, to put it mildly.

I used to live in your area and moved a few years ago, but I still read the Local. One of the things I really like about the Local that elevates it so far above other neighborhood newspapers is the very high quality of those who write humor and satire and are just as good as anything you can read in the major newspapers. After all, I read earlier this year that the Local won both first and second prizes for the best humor columnists in the state among neighborhood newspapers.

This did not surprise me at all. I used to look forward to reading the humor of Jim Harris, who seems to have retired, and I thoroughly enjoy the humor of Stacia Friedman, Mike Todd, Elise Seyfried, Amanda Parry, Len Lear and probably others whose names escape me. You will not see anything remotely like these humorists in the Springfield Sun, Glenside News, Ambler Gazette or any other neighborhood paper I have ever seen. Keep up the good work, and do not give in to the political correctness police.

Raymond Culver, Sr.

Pocono Lake

Thanks for coverage

Recently I contacted the Chestnut Hill Local about obtaining copies of the Nov. 5 issue and was told to just come to the office. When I went in last week, Cheryl Massaro and the woman at the front desk made me feel very welcome and were most helpful.

That photo you included with my announcement about East Falls Tree Tenders and the TreeGiveAway certainly was eye-catching. I know folks at the PHS (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society) and Parks and Recreation will appreciate such coverage of the event.

So, I proffer thanks to you for your cooperation and creativity and to the staff for their kindness.

Cynthia Kishinchand

East Falls