Commentaries

If you're a regular listener to NPR news programs, you're probably familiar with the occasional brief commentary during the morning or evening news programs by experts in various fields; people providing insight into public affairs, observations on the arts, and thoughts on how we live. This page contains transcripts and/or audio recordings of local commentaries that have aired on WYSU.

Invest in the Common Good.

Published: Aug 25, 2020
Commentator: Rev. Gayle Catinella
Transcript:

My oldest grandson has started Kindergarten. We have been anticipating this for a while: taking him out to buy scissors and crayons, talking about learning to read as a necessary prelude to becoming a paleontologist, giving tips for riding the bus. Of course, no one knew exactly how school would be until last week, and now we know it is in person. And so I am terrified, even as I deeply respect the hard decisions everyone has had to make.

Read more and listen

International Student Visas

Published: Aug 5, 2020
Commentator: Dr. Nicole Pettitt
Transcript:

In early July, the federal government attempted to leverage international student visas in an effort to force colleges and universities to hold classes face-to-face. On July 6th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded a policy that permitted international students to maintain their visas even if their programs shifted to online instruction due to the pandemic. The earlier policy was to have remained “in effect for the duration of the emergency.”

Read more and listen

Democracy

Published: Jul 21, 2020
Commentator: Rev. Gayle Catinella
Transcript:

 When my son Phil was about 8, his elementary school started a wrestling
club. He and his brothers were interested so we signed them up. It was
right after school and I would watch them practice when I could. I always
saw the same thing.

At the start of the practice the coach would demonstrate whatever he
wanted them to learn, and then broke them up into smaller groups and had
them work on the new skill. When I watched Phil, he would always lose the
first round, and then he would pin that person the second time around in

Read more and listen

Youngstown, Ohio

Published: Jul 14, 2020
Commentator: Derrick McDowell
Transcript:

Youngstown must become more “autobiographical”. Our way forward relies on it. So let me explain why. I chose the word ‘Autobiography’ as a polite way of saying to anyone hearing this, that in my attempts to #DefendYoungstown, the city of my birth and full affection, that those attempts fully include a passion and drive to call out as many of the “outside” inaccuracies and “damaging” accounts of life here in the city of Youngstown as I can.

Read more and listen

A Personal Story

Published: Jul 24, 2019
Commentator: Reverend Gayle Catinella
Transcript:

Last week one of my younger members called me in distress. They had talked to a family member about the children in detention, and the discussion did not go well. After talking through the frustration of not being heard, I suggested that the most effective way of helping people understand your position is to tell them your story. People’s hearts are moved by a personal story. So this is mine.

Read more and listen

Crisis of Compassion

Published: Jan 24, 2019
Commentator: The Reverend Gayle Catinella commentary for 01/24/2019
Transcript:

Once again as a nation we find ourselves in a crisis of compassion. In the wake of

the government shutdown, the closing of car plants, the uncertain economy,

some of our family and friends are in trouble. And it is in times like these when we

are called by whatever we believe in to become more than we are, to be our best

selves. It is in times like these we see people’s hearts. And sometimes it is

disappointing.

 

While I have my opinions on all of the crises we face, this is not a political

Read more and listen

Joey

Published: Oct 10, 2018
Commentator: Tom Beck
Transcript:
There is no transcript available.
Read more and listen

Foreign Workers

Published: Sep 12, 2018
Commentator: Tom Beck
Transcript:
There is no transcript available.
Read more and listen

Food Access

Published: Aug 16, 2018
Commentator: Reverend Gayle Catinella
Transcript:
There is no transcript available.
Read more and listen

Statues and Monuments

Published: Aug 24, 2017
Commentator: Gayle Catinella
Transcript:

I work in a building filled with statues and monuments. There are statues of famous people who have touched our lives by the way they led their own. There are windows that remind us of events in our history, ancient and modern. There are plaques dedicated to loved ones who died serving our country or who died as children, dedicated to those who generously gave of themselves and should be remembered. 

Read more and listen

Pages

Subscribe to Commentaries