DEAR EDITOR:

I am writing to share that the Franciscan shrine, on Belle Vista Avenue on the West Side of Youngstown, offers a beautiful celebration of the end of communism and the liberation of Hungary and the Hungarian people.

The walking path depicts their oppression by comparing the 14 stations of the cross suffered by Jesus with their own suffering. Then, as with Christ’s resurrection, the Hungarian people were freed by the fall of communism.

Fast forward to the present. JD Vance visits Hungary to stump for the communist-loving Victor Orban, who is loved by Trump. Our country under Trump and Vance is so out of touch, they did not realize how much free Europe loathes Orban and overwhelmingly voted him out of office. Europe seems sickened by Trump’s dictator style and communist leaning toward Putin, Russia and oppressive regimes.

The Mahoning Valley became mesmerized by Trump, who promised he would be our savior and free us from our “deranged” Democratic values. Many have forgotten their roots as Hungarians, Slavs whose families suffered under communism and came to this country for freedom.

We should all be rethinking what a mistake it is to follow a president who has aligned himself with communist Russia and puppets like Orban. Some of us believe Trump is behaving like a puppet of Putin. JD Vance is a hillbilly with a big mouth who is a puppet for Trump.

Come on, Mahoning Valley, in this midterm election year let us take a walk around the Franciscan shrine on Belle Vista and remember our families’ love of freedom under democracy — not an enslaving communist rule.

KATHLEEN BERRY

Yo