I have been a teacher educator for 30 years. During that time, nearly a third of my students came through the Troops to Teachers program, a federal effort supporting veterans transitioning to civilian life. I often saw them arrive angry or disoriented, searching for direction and meaning — and I saw them graduate as caring, […]
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Maine can’t afford to have a war hawk as a senator | Letter
The same way the Portland Sea Dogs’ throwback jerseys invoke a previous era, Sen. Susan Collins’ support for the Iran war feels like a throwback to her support for George W. Bush’s disastrous Iraq war. Collins refuses to vote against President Trump’s war with Iran. The shocking truth is that she champions it, even after […]
America would sooner print money than tax appropriately | Letter
It is very easy to give tax breaks— and it’s deeply irresponsible.
Please keep feeding our wild birds | Letter
An April 17 letter to the editor stated that reducing the use of wild bird seed will reduce the tick population on our lawns, presumably out of a belief that the birds visiting an empty feeder will, instead, eat ticks. Although I probably dislike ticks, particularly deer ticks, as much as the letter writer, […]
Susan Collins should be forthcoming on SAVE America Act | Letter
It is unfortunate that Sen. Collins has taken to misleading Mainers by omitting critical aspects of the SAVE Act. Building on this deception in a recent op-ed, Collins backer Sharon Bemis characterized Collins’ stance as an example of “steady, common-sense leadership.” It is neither. In an hour-long speech, Sen. Collins’ closest Senate friend, Republican Lisa Murkowski of […]
Golden’s war powers vote undermines congressional authority | Letter
I am writing to express my distress about Rep. Jared Golden’s vote against the recent War Powers Resolution — especially as his choice aligns him with the half of Congress that refuses to do its job. Golden’s stated rationale — that the resolution risked undermining U.S. leverage and would impose an abrupt halt — doesn’t […]
Gabrielle Bérubé Pierce for Augusta Board of Education | Letter
I’m writing in enthusiastic support of Gabrielle Bérubé Pierce for the Augusta Board of Education in the June special election. I met Gabi while working together at Disability Rights Maine, when she was the attorney-advocate at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center. She immediately impressed me with her clear-headed problem-solving and ability to find common ground in […]
Sometimes a party is just a party. Reggae Fest is a party. | Letter
Let’s start with the basics. Sometimes a party is just for a good time. I’ve had a theory about overthinking life. It starts with academic’s needing to write a thesis to graduate, and finding ways to prove it. Thinking a spring ski party is more than a bunch of college kids or feeling-young-again types getting […]
Maine Democrats wrong on trans athletes debate | Letter
Maine Democrats will not move from a bad position. They are holding true to the sunk-cost fallacy. Testimony was given for the Legislature to enact “An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex” without a vote of the people in November, which it did not. The proponents of the measure spoke kindly […]
Presenting Maine’s Anti-Trump Slate | Letter
We need defiance across the board. Here’s how we get it.