Many Americans look forward to fireworks for celebratory moments, but before July 4 comes around, I start gathering my earplugs and prepare myself a place in the basement. I don’t usually have fun on the evening of July 4. The sounds and sights of the fireworks trigger post-traumatic stress disorder for those who lived in […]
Through My Lens
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Juneteenth shows history needs reckoning
The word freedom was mentioned many times this past weekend. But the attention is on rewriting history itself from the perspective of the marginalized who have experienced the pain of oppression, injustice, the effects of slavery. Addressing historical amnesia, the vanishing of crucial memories, is necessary for bringing together histories that could be lost. The […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Some low-income students could not make the grade during pandemic
Many low-income families are not celebrating graduation this year. Graduation photos are all over social media these past few weeks, with students seemingly looking happier and stronger as they emerge out of the pandemic. On Sunday, June 6, I had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker for my town’s high school graduation. Yarmouth High […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Anti-vaxxers should spend week in camp with my mother
Earlier this month, I received my second and last dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and the first thing I thought of was how lucky I am. It only took 15 minutes, I was done and walked out to the parking lot to drive home. I called my mother to tell her how the process of […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Iftin is spot-on about need for refugees in Maine
I applaud Abdi Nor Iftin’s excellent column urging Gov. Mills and her administration to welcome more refugees to Maine to help to fill the enormous void in our state’s workforce (“Maine should welcome more refugees,” May 12). Maine’s small and large businesses continually feel the crunch of too few qualified people to fill their open […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Maine should welcome more refugees
President Biden last week raised the cap on refugees coming to the United States to 62,500 over the next six months. While the decision fulfills the United States’ important humanitarian mission, the resettlement of refugees also provides significant economic benefits to places in our country whose population is aging. Maine is a good example. Its […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: It’s National Arab American Heritage Month
We celebrate Arab American Heritage Month this month by recognizing the Arab Americans who are making a difference in our communities. Our state of Maine has a growing and thriving number of Arabic-speaking communities, most of which can be found in Augusta, Westbrook and Portland. Of the 22 countries in the Arab League, most of […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: New Mainers can benefit from winter programs
I completely sympathize with Abdi Nor Iftin’s plight expressed in his opinion on March 4, “Immigrants need more access to winter sports.” For new Mainers, Maine winters are hard enough without the additional difficulty of learning new and sometimes expensive sports in the bitter cold. Add to that the challenge of “skiing while Black” or […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Black mental health and the Derek Chauvin trial
The televised trial of Derek Chauvin is yet another mental anguish for the Black men in this country. The videos played during the court proceedings included George Floyd’s last minutes of his life as he struggled under Chauvin’s knee. Every Black American that gathered the courage to watch this trial felt the traumatizing fear and […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Observing Ramadan during a pandemic is challenging
The countdown has begun for Muslims throughout the world. Ramadan, which is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is coming in April. The exact day to begin fasting is decided by the sighting of the crescent moon. Prophet Mohamed was quoted as saying, “Fast after you have seen (the crescent moon) and end the […]