Opinion
Ageism Isn’t Funny
Guest Opinion
By Karen Mulvahill | March 25, 2023
While sexist or racist remarks can get one fired these days, why does it still seem okay to make fun of old people? I find this especially strange because this is a demographic that every one of us—if lucky—will eventually occupy. It came to my attention when noticing all the age-related jokes about President Biden being made by late-night and other comics. According to Stephen Colbert, “Biden will be the keynote speaker ... Read More >>
Discouraging to Be on the Back Burner
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | March 25, 2023
The realities of climate change seem to have moved to many back burners. It’s not as if the causes and effects have suddenly disappeared. First, let’s take a moment to acknowledge not every weather anomaly is related to climate change. We’ve always had droughts, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, heat waves, and cold snaps. What is obviously becoming different is the scope, frequency, severity, and duration of extreme weather events. (Climate is the ... Read More >>
Turbines and Hot Air
Guest Opinion
By Cathye Williams | March 18, 2023
Candidate Trump is on the campaign trail once more, displaying his knack for riffing on any topic that pops into his head. At this year’s CPAC (Conservative Political Action Coalition) convention speech, he went all out with his “greatest hits” of grievances, bullying, belittling, and bragging. Most of his claims were quickly fact checked and found to be either false or grossly exaggerated. This is a well-worn page from the Trump playbook. ... Read More >>
The Stench of Slavery
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | March 18, 2023
California is about to approve the payment of reparations to people who can prove they are the descendants of slaves. This might be a good time to look at slavery’s ugly history. As long as there has been recorded history, there have been references to slavery, starting with the earliest city-states of Mesopotamia around 6800 BCE, a staggering 8,800+ years ago. We know those slaves were captured enemies forced to work and ... Read More >>
Weed, Projects, and Greed
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | March 11, 2023
A scant four and half years after Michigan voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana to adults, Traverse City is finally about to approve those businesses. The law, passed in 2018, allowed communities to opt out, as many did, or opt in as many more did. Traverse City chose a different strategy: studying and studying and forming a committee and debating and studying some more, neither in nor out, just lingering in ... Read More >>
The Cottonpicker Meets Queen Beatrix
Guest Opinion
By Isiah Smith, Jr. | March 11, 2023
A poignant account of how one’s small personal history can reflect the larger history of a republic. On April 19, 1782, the State General of the Dutch Republic admitted John Adams as Minister of the United States of America, gaining the second diplomatic recognition of the United States as a nation independent from Great Britain. On October 8, 1782, Adams signed the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the two countries. ... Read More >>
Earned Censorship
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | March 4, 2023
Sometimes censorship is well earned. Other times, it’s appalling. A good example of the first, deserved version is Scott Adams and his comic strip Dilbert. The strip, a sometimes wicked and often accurate satire on the corporate world, was syndicated to 2,000 newspapers that were read in 65 countries. The cartoon was often funny, but Mr. Adams never was. Dilbert is now being canceled by hundreds and hundreds of papers after Adams ... Read More >>
Where the Blame Lies
Guest Opinion
By Emma Smith | March 4, 2023
On the morning of December 14th, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza took a gun from the safe in his home and murdered his mother before driving to Sandy Hook Elementary, where he shot and killed 20 children and six staff members before taking his own life. Medical reports would later reveal that Lanza “showed signs of severe and deteriorating internalized mental health problems,” which had gone untreated for years. Later that day, Lisa ... Read More >>
Housing Is Community Development and Economic Development
Guest Opinion
By Yarrow Brown | Feb. 25, 2023
You’ve probably heard a lot about housing lately and could be getting tired of it. I’m not here to convince you that we have a housing shortage or crisis. We know that. But it’s important to share why this is a community effort with ways everyone can make a difference. Housing is community development and economic development; they’re interconnected, and without homes for those who live and work in your community, the ... Read More >>
We Shouldn’t Be Surprised
Specator
By Stephen Tuttle | Feb. 25, 2023
We’ve become very good at this, haven’t we? First will come the flowers, candles, and teddy bears, all left at an appropriate site, some with notes of condolence. There will be a candlelight vigil and a non-denominational prayer service attended by more people than have ever previously been to a church. Then the president or governor or mayor will instruct us to lower flags to half-mast. There will be eulogies sadly intoning ... Read More >>
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