Soccer or, as the rest of the world calls it, football, can bring us together as Americans. The World Cup has proved this. If you watched this year’s U.S. performance in Qatar you must have felt proud of your country, the flag and the national anthem. The one sport that I understand well is soccer. […]
American Journal Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Bob Cratchit would have loved a four-day workweek
Recently, when I was writing about the rescue horses returned to the wild, I referenced the classic tale “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Unavoidable really. From now until the new year, good luck navigating your day without encountering it on radio, in film and on stage, both in the original and in numerous modern […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Forum: Unplug the ‘need machine’ of Christmas consumerism
We have all heard the adage, “No matter how much you have, someone always has more.” However, we sometimes fail to realize the opposite is also true. No matter how much – or little – you have, someone always has less. The Forecaster recently reported “Tree shortage leaves some nonprofits out on a limb.” While […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: True generosity sometimes looks a little different
The temperatures have dropped, we’ve seen our first (admittedly brief) snow flurries, and Thanksgiving is behind us. It’s official, We are now well within the designated holiday season. Thanks to Charles Dickens and his brilliant wordsmithing, we will all have the chance to delight once again in the lessons of human kindness and charity. Much […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: Gratitude lists grow habit of giving to others
A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I watched 8-year-old and 7-year-old sisters arrive late to breakfast because they had stayed in their beds to start their Christmas lists. On plain white sheets of paper, they scrawled “a new soccer ball, another stuffed animal, pink snow pants.” They showed the lists to their mom, who smiled and […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: A happy ending to 2022 for Maine’s immigrants
A Somali proverb goes, “Be a mountain or lean on one.” This is what was ringing in my mind as text messages came in after the midterm elections. People felt inspired and both those we have elected and those of us who elected feel proud and partnered in the joys and hopes of others. No […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: What do we owe each other in a community?
For those of you reading this column for the first time, or for those who simply missed last week, my apologies. Like that awkward moment at a party, you’re about to join a conversation already underway: that of the deeply ingrained ideas of Rights and Responsibilities, with a heavy emphasis on the first half. This […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: Opinions and preferences change, so can judgments
I’m thinking about autumn. I’m thinking about how the leaves paint and brighten the sky, how foliage rainbows reign everywhere, in the azure blue above, in the yellows and oranges, in the burning-bush reds, and how, as poet Mary Oliver wrote, “Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light, are giving […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Rights get all the attention, but what about responsibilities?
We are a nation that revolves around “rights.” Which makes sense. Our government was literally founded in opposition to a monarchy. The founders of this system took up arms and fought a bloody, long, and daunting war in order to be done with authoritarian rule. It is hardly surprising then that the language of the […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Letter: Attack tactic against Chau was dirty politics
While this letter won’t appear before Election Day, I want to respond to the mailer that arrived Nov. 1 in support of Westbrook Ward 2 City Council candidate Jess Moninski. I have never met Jess and her credentials may be strong, but as a lifelong Westbrook resident active in community activities I have never before […]