Pakistanis have united in outrage over the Taliban’s attack on 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai, who campaigned for girls’ education and became a prominent symbol of defiance against Islamist rule.

It’s difficult to see why people would want to sacrifice the general good of 98 percent of the population to support the narrow desires of 2 percent of it, but that’s what will happen if Mainers vote to approve same-sex marriage on Election Day.

I am a citizen of the state of Maine. I am a Christian. I am gay. I am a minister. I am a father. I am a grandfather.

Although I largely ignore the flood of political lawn signs at every corner this time of year, one sign recently caught my attention.

Our current health care system does not give us a good return on the dollar.

If Maine wants to grow — smartly or any other way — then a new look back at the 2006 Brookings Report, “Charting Maine’s Future,” is essential.

People have always lied in political campaigns.

“It will take a community to end domestic violence.”

Opening school in the fall takes a tremendous amount of time and effort and leaves little for reflection. With the first six weeks past and routines established I find myself ruminating on the following.