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PublishedNovember 21, 2019
Point-Counterpoint bonus round
Reade and Randy have decided to try to show, by example, what civil discourse looks like. Reade tries to understand Randy and Randy respectfully answers his questions. In the end, were minds changed or “aha” moments achieved? Probably not. But is this better than name-calling, abasing or trying to out-yell each other? Randy and Reade think so. Reade’s point is morality matters; Randy may not disagree, but is …
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PublishedNovember 21, 2019
Trump-bashing: Is it real or is it justified?
Randy, reading your recent column (“How many Kurds died in Kentucky?”) leads into this month’s “Point.” You begin your column blasting ABC news for its “beyond shame” use of a Kentucky gun club video incorrectly identified as footage of the Syrian slaughter of Kurds in October. You perpetuate the fake news mantra for every mistake, continuing the extreme hypocrisy and attack dog mode that is meant to discredit …
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PublishedNovember 21, 2019
Impeach Pinocchio, not Donald Trump
Reade, your anti-Trump argument is representative of how many people in our country feel. I get that, but it does not mean I agree with how you and the “many” view the world. Here is the thing: The 63 million people who voted for Donald Trump knew what we were getting. Trump’s coarse talk, name-calling and bullying were in full display during the campaign. As President Trump, his behavior has not changed; and …
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PublishedOctober 3, 2019
My personal 'straw poll': Stop the silliness
A few days ago, I conducted a semi-scientific survey of curbside litter. I walked from the Union Street Hannaford (in Bangor) to Ocean State Job Lot. I looked for plastic bags and saw none. I looked for plastic straws and counted nine. It was what I wasn’t looking for really surprised me: Cigarette butts were everywhere and in astonishing numbers. After carefully analyzing my data, I concluded banning straws …
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PublishedOctober 3, 2019
Straw poll debate
Randy, one doesn’t need to do a “straw poll” to know our generation has been horrible with waste and is leaving a lot to be desired when it comes to caring about the future environment for our children, our grandchildren and beyond. Your “Stop the Silliness” may be technically correct that banning plastic straws won’t fix our ecology or prevent global warning; nor are they dangerous weapons ― although a poke in …
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PublishedAugust 22, 2019
We need to do something
The recent mass murders in “Michigan and Houston” have rekindled the smoldering debate about “gun control.” Polls suggest most people think we need to do something to stop bad people, especially those intent on mass murder, from obtaining firearms. At this point, I will support a ban on large-capacity magazines and a “red flag” law, the latter representing, by far, the most likely to help curtail the slaughter of …
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PublishedAugust 22, 2019
Yes, we need to do something; something more!
Reasonable debates move us forward and are helpful; Randy, your stab at this issue is honorable, but not nearly enough. At least you’re not blaming the mass murders of the last several decades just on the people and giving the weapons of destruction a pass; your “Yes We Need to Do Something” at least gives guns some of their “due.” Saying people pull the triggers and that this is just a people problem is one …
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PublishedJuly 25, 2019
Morality vs. humanity
Should we judge people only by the worst thing they have ever done? Or was Alexander Pope correct when he said: “To err is human, to forgive is divine”? Reade opened his argument with a quote from Donald Trump. Here is the thing: Trump’s praise of Jeffery Epstein was from 2002, six years before the sleaze bag was convicted of soliciting prostitution from minors. In fact, in 2005, Trump exhibited his true moral …
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PublishedJuly 25, 2019
Why morality matters
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” ― Donald Trump, 2002 The Trump presidency is mold breaking; his Twitter-happy fingers (perhaps thumb) defy norms, setting new standards (lower ones) regularly. His political rallies center around fear and bullying, offering to pay …
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PublishedJune 6, 2019
Saving the heifer and the truth about cow farting
Randy, the idea of cow farting as the final straw that breaks the camel’s back (I bet camels fart a lot) with our collective fight against global warming is a real gasser. Perhaps we should create a task force to study the issue first, before sending in the butchers. Sending diplomats to the Middle East to negotiate a camel population control agreement would be timely; getting the international community behind …
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