Seattle’s wisdom
The BDN’s April 26 interfaith service article was inspiring and disappointing. We need the various faiths to cooperate on important issues.
I was disappointed, however, that Native American spirituality was not included. I was reminded of a quote from Chief Seattle who stated, “Every part of this Earth is sacred to my people, every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect .…”
If only we would listen to their wisdom before it is too late.
Margie Gilbert
Corinna
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Degrees of sense
I am appalled to think administrators at the University of Maine continue to allow many of their students to parade around in their birthday suits to celebrate Earth Day?
I am reminded of this quote from a book on Jewish wisdom: “No degree in education can replace common sense or courtesy.”
Alberta Farthing-Owens
Baileyville
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PC help wanted
Little old ladies get raided by the state for playing comically low stakes beano at a MacDonald’s restaurant.
Administrators at the University of Maine determine that requiring fraternity pledges to perform household chores and to wear jackets and ties for a week is “hazing that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional and/or physical harm” and suspend the fraternity for a year.
A police chief calls allowing a 19-year-old college student to go out without his cell phone “one of the most irresponsible acts.”
Will somebody please find these politically correct bureaucrats real jobs? There must be something they could be trained to do that would be useful.
Brent Slater
Bangor
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Erin a gem
I was so glad to see the article on April 20 about Erin Herbig, who is running in November for state representative of District 43 (Belfast, Belmont and Northport). Erin is a true gem, and I believe everyone who knows her would say the same.
Erin and I met when she was only 16. We worked together for a summer, and I learned that she is a natural leader, but is open-minded and able to hear all sides of an issue. And what a hard worker! When someone told me she was a record-breaking runner, and still ran every day in the off-season, I was not surprised.
She went to college, and I thought she would be lured away forever, but even back then it was her plan to settle in Maine. Being of the same mind myself, I appreciated that.
Erin has been studying this problem for years: how Maine can entice its youth to settle and work here, keeping existing families intact and creating new ones. As a new mother, I think of my tiny son’s future. I will never begrudge him his free will, but I would be overjoyed if he eventually chose Maine as his home.
Erin has her finger on the pulse of the problem. Job creation is of the utmost importance and she will work very hard to address this at the State House. Erin will lead by example, and has boundless enthusiasm for Maine and its future.
Ina Hollins
Northport
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Two losses
Heaven has some new angels who have already more than earned their wings. It was so sad to learn of Jimmy Jordan and Kay Lebowitz’s passing.
I first met Jimmy in 1988 when I was invited to speak to the Ellsworth Lions Club when I was working for the March of Dimes. I had the good fortune to see him in action as a volunteer and as an event sponsor. Helping others came naturally to Jimmy and what I remember most, was his ever present smile.
I loved working with Kay at the Bangor Historical Society, seeing her at Chamber of Commerce events and most of all, getting a call, a note or a hug after she had received my annual Valentine’s Day poem.
Their commitment and compassion for others was legendary. Kay and Jimmy inspired and will continue to inspire many, as the warmth of Kay’s hugs and the warmth of Jimmy’s smile will never fade from our memories.
Christopher Olsen
Bangor
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Not the right word
If I could get Sen. Collins or Sen. Snowe alone in a room, I would give them a steely eyed look right in the eye and ask them, “What is wrong with you?” This week, our two so-called “moderate” senators voted against the financial reform bill.
Well, that’s not exactly right. They didn’t vote against reform, they voted against “cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill.” If they had both voted yes to invoking cloture, what would have happened? “Invoking cloture” simply means ending debate.
“Of course, the Senate’s idea of ‘ending debate’ really means ‘having up to 30 more hours of debate.’ And then after that 30 hours (or fewer, if senators unanimously agree to lower the number), they’ll have a vote on whether or not to actually proceed to starting debate on the bill itself,” according to David Waldman of congressmatters.com, a website that analyzes and discusses the daily activities of the Congress.
There are a lot of words to describe Senators Collins and Snowe. Moderate is not one of them.
Lori Connor
Deer Isle
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Two of the pack
In the past I have admired our two senators as independent thinkers, as public officials not beholden to the partisan politics so currently popular in Washington. Though they are Republican, they have shown courage in breaking away from the expected vote to voice their own opinions. This courage has been reflected in their popularity in Maine.
Sadly, it seems they have both now become firmly members of the Party of No. Last fall they voted against health care reform, and by that end voted against me, my family and my neighbors.
Now it seems they will side again with the Party of No over Wall Street reform.
Earlier this week they stood with the Republicans as they voted to block even a discussion of economic reform. That boggles my mind. What are we, if not a government where we can discuss things?
I urge them to step forward in the coming days and open the floor to a fair and open discussion of an extremely complicated issue. How they vote later should be informed by that discussion, not informed by what lobbyist and bankers tell them to vote now.
I am very disappointed that they have chosen to become one of the pack.
I had thought better of them.
Nico Jenkins
Sargentville