I trained to talk. The oldest of seven children, I bantered as a toddler, hobnobbing with grown-ups. I helped the younger ones form vocabulary, first words like Momma, Dadda, look, no, up. In school we learned, “You’ll be graded on class participation.” No problem for me, an extrovert. I knew how to speak up, how […]
American Journal Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: There will be no gifts this Christmas for those affected by climate crisis
The past few weeks had been challenging, as I had to decide between buying gifts for family and friends in Maine or sending donations to support my family and friends who are ravaged by serious water and food shortages. The recent droughts that hit parts of Somalia and Kenya are affecting 2.3 million people and […]
advertisement
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Think outside the box to foster holiday togetherness
Does anyone really need to know the full and detailed genetic makeup of their dog? I mean, average family pet owners have a dog of mixed parentage. Do any of us really need to swab their saliva and send it off for a full workup? I would argue not. In fact, it might be that […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Forum: Federal law to protect LBGTQ+ Americans matters to people of faith
As a pastor with the United Church of Christ, it is my life’s work to make the transformative teachings of Christianity real and accessible to all people. Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is love. Christians are tasked with loving our neighbors as ourselves – it is our highest duty. At my church we […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Yankee thrift is the answer to electric bill hike
Those Mainers not living under a rock for the last month have heard the terrible news that electric bills will skyrocket next year. This is on top of price increases for food, gasoline, vehicles, cable, internet and just about every other good or service. Rampant government spending during the pandemic has caused inflation to rear […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: Poetry helps balance the meter of life
The first time I heard the word plethora, I sat in a teacher-development intensive course to practice stress reduction for my life passages, body aches and pains, aging, the slings and arrows the universe sends us all. I had completed years of study to learn to help others do the same. Our teachers talked about […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Maine seeing powerful new ways to harness energy
I recently wrote about climate change and my sincere desire for a wealthy, influential, highly connected person, such as Elon Musk, to adopt a nation, state – or at least a community – to test their technology while making meaningful progress. In response, many wrote to tell me about the most marvelous advances in green […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: ‘Refugee’ is a temporary status and other clarifications
This is the time of the year when we gather with our beloved family members around the dining room table or in the living room, cozy by the fireplace. Parents may see their kids come home for the holidays, relatives may gather and conversations about all topics may arise. I hope many Mainers will be […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Honesty about history is treatment for society’s cancer
My brother-in-law is currently dealing with cancer. Getting the news that he has cancer was one of the most difficult days of his life – and ours as well. But here’s the thing. Being told he had cancer isn’t what actually went wrong in his life, that was just the moment we can focus on. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Rekindle Pilgrims’ pride this Thanksgiving
On this Thanksgiving let’s make it OK again to have pride in our country’s founding story.Let’s focus on the positives and not the negatives of America’s founding mothers and fathers as we celebrate the 400th Thanksgiving feast. Let’s pretend the woke, politically correct movement never happened and go back to the future like it was […]