Maine officially adopted Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated this past Monday, in April of last year. Brunswick was even earlier, making the change from Columbus Day back in 2017 (along with several other Maine towns), though the United Nations beat us all to it back in 1977. This is a good thing. Italian culture has given […]
American Journal Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Guest column: The vote of my life
I became a naturalized U.S citizen on Jan. 17, 2020, just as the United States was starting off its election year. I have lived in three countries in my life. One is Somalia, my native country. Two is Kenya, where I escaped to safety, and third is the United States after winning the Green Card […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: After death of RBG, look to the wisdom of children
On Friday night, as we watched Thursday night’s taped version of Jimmy Fallon, we slouched on the soft sofa, laughed and ignored unidentified calls. But at 8:30-ish, when our son’s name and number appeared on the top left of the screen, we paused Jimmy Fallon in the middle of his TikTok impression, clicked on speaker […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Neighborliness needed now more than ever
I have a new neighbor. Actually, I have several. Technically, they are the neighbors; I am the one that’s new. It’s hard to know how to behave in this situation, given the pandemic. I mean, in the old days (by which I mean last year), I’d have baked a little something, walked over and introduced […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Ageist ads not a good look for Gideon
Television viewers in 1984 were treated to one of the most memorable and brilliantly witty moments in presidential debate history. Responding to a question from Baltimore Sun correspondent Henry Trewhitt regarding whether he was too old and feeble to run the country at age 73, incumbent President Ronald Reagan answered: “I will not make age […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Letter: President Trump is ‘Monday Morning Evangelical’
I found John Balentine’s piece (“God should be a source of peace,” Sept. 24) right on the mark. It’s a shame that President Trump doesn’t read the American Journal. If he did, then maybe he’d understand that saying “God” all the time and making believe that he is a religious individual does not make him […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Letter: ‘Statesmanlike’ actions ended with Trump election
John Balentine, after watching the U.S. Senate debate between Susan Collins, Sara Gideon, Lisa Savage and Max Linn, says in his Sept. 17 op-ed that their performance made him “yearn for Maine’s senators of yesteryear.” He mentions Margaret Chase Smith, George Mitchell, Olympia Snow and William Cohen. He states that they are “all but dead […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Letter: Collins’ offices would not address constituent’s question
I am trying to inform myself on the where the candidates for Maine’s Senate election stand on things. I tried calling each office, Susan Collins’ and Sara Gideon’s, to get some answers. Sara Gideon’s office was more than willing to answer my questions completely, politely and patiently. Unfortunately, Susan Collins offices were not. One question: […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Check out Banned Books Week
This week is special. From now until Oct. 3, we celebrate and pay homage to one of our most basic freedoms: the right to “seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.” That’s right, it’s Banned Books Week! The official celebration (check out bannedbooksweek.org, site of the above quote) began in 1982. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Mind your P’s this election season
Hard to believe it’s October already. It’s getting colder, the leaves are turning and falling and there’s only one more month until the ugly political commercials are off the air, the slanted coverage of President Trump’s every action is gone and the political left’s four-year temper tantrum is mercifully over. One can only hope. We’ll […]