Sex, drugs and porn
In a recent edition, you featured books by Maine authors which would be interesting reading. One of these was, “Sex, Drugs, and Blueberries” by Crash Barry.
My husband and I have both now finished Mr. Barry’s book. Frankly, the book is no more than written pornography.
If it did, in fact, depict accurately the people of Washington County then that would be a sad commentary on this state. I have worked in Washington County and found its populous to be hard-working, kind and compassionate. I have also known and taught residents born and raised on the Pleasant Point Reservation, as well a doing social work there. They, like all people, have problems among members of their society.
It is abhorrent and untrue that all males and Native Americans behave so despicably. Certainly the characters in Mr. Barry’s book do, but we can hope he wasn’t attempting to paint the picture that this is “the norm” in Washington County. Perversion, child abuse and neglect and abuse of the law and substances as well as use of vulgar language are a problem among some, but this book depicts them in a manner that would make a reader believe these behaviors are the rule.
I am a professor of English composition and found both the language and the lack of editing (numerous spelling errors) to be disappointing and unnecessary. Both my husband and I were very dissatisfied after this summer read and hope to move on to something better.
Delia Kenny
Bangor
Coping with sociopaths
It’s interesting how some issues just never go away. In 1973, I was hired at Bangor State Hospital which soon became Bangor Mental Health Institute — now Dorothea Dix. I served as director of program evaluation, ran the Aroostook County ward, headed the admissions team, served as acting clinical director, acting administrator and chaired the Facilities Management Committee.
In 1976 there were headlines about the issue of transfers from the prison that the hospital couldn’t handle. We responded by creating a “high security unit.” There were specially trained staff, double doors, double locks and higher staffing ratios.
One of the patients (who allegedly murdered his wife and young daughter) managed to sweet-talk a young female staffer into smuggling in a gun for him and he escaped.
There are ways to deal with these issues: Coping with felons and sociopaths is very different than dealing with the typical mentally ill. The key is staff training. The state is going to have to accept the fact that if they are to lay this responsibility on the state psychiatric facilities, they will have to give them the funds and staff training to handle it.
It can be done. Superintendent Abernathy is not to blame.
H. Alan Brown
Ellsworth
Crosswalk confusion
I was driving through downtown Bangor yesterday in front of Epic Sports. The light was green for our lane so I proceeded toward the intersection. I saw a young male adult walking down the sidewalk in front of the restaurant directly across from Epic Sports.
Silly me; I expected him to stop and wait for the walk light. No, he just kept right on coming. Never looked. Never hesitated. Just walked right out into the crosswalk and in front of a line of moving traffic. I had to make a quick decision if I wanted to hit him, or let the car behind me rear-end me.
I slammed on my brakes and thank goodness neither outcome happened. Even with my seat belt on I had stopped so fast that I wrenched my neck. I was just inches from this street crosser. I was shaking so bad that I had to pull over and regain my senses before proceeding.
Now tell me, who was in the right? I thought those walk lights were for a pedestrian’s safety. Or are we suppose to stop for every crosswalk in the city no matter how many lights are flashing? I also believed that those walk lights are to keep the flow flowing. Are there laws for pedestrians concerning street walk lights? I would really like to know because if there are, then pedestrians and vehicle operators need to know such laws before someone gets killed.
Sam McGuire
Bangor
Beck, Milbank and anti-Semetism
In the “names” column of the July 13 edition of BDN, the writer states that “Glenn Beck … was praised as ‘one of Israel’s greatest friends’” by the Knesset.
In an op-ed piece by Dana Milbank in the June 19 edition of BDN, the writer states and repeatedly makes the point that Mr. Beck is a flagrant anti-Semite. I quote: “Beck, the leading purveyor of anti-Semitic memes in the mass media.”
I cannot reconcile the fact that the Knesset would praise such a virulent anti-Semite as Mr. Milbank depicts. As proved by the Knesset’s actions, Mr. Milbank’s position is in error and, worse, it is obviously based on intentionally promulgated falsehoods. This is especially troubling given the fact that anti-Semitism is such a heinous form of racism and such a charge should be taken most seriously.
This is not about ideologies but about truth and journalistic integrity, basic principles which the BDN must embrace, I would presume.
Given Mr. Milbank’s blatant disregard for these principles in such a serious matter, I would expect the BDN, in the interests of journalistic integrity, to no longer publish his articles. Charges of racism, when subsequent facts show them to be assuredly untrue, have no place in the pages of any upright news publication. To do otherwise would be to willfully mislead the readership.
George F. Klueber
Searsport
Preserve natural treasures
I am writing to voice my opposition to the flood of legislation that Congress has sought to pass that threatens protected species, as well as our environment.
The House Interior Appropriation Committee has passed a spending bill that would mean fewer protections for species at risk of extinction, more pesticides in our waters and less funding for our national wildlife refuges and other crucial conservation priorities.
This bill is an all-out attack on our environment and the natural treasures that are our children’s inheritance. Sacrificing our wildlife and environment in the name of fiscal austerity is unacceptable.
Regardless of one’s political affiliation and stance, one must agree that preservation of all species, land and our environment are paramount, particularly here in Maine, where so much of our economy depends on people who come here annually to visit our beautiful state with the expressed intent of seeing such grandeur.
We owe it to these beautiful creatures, our economy and especially our prosperity to defend and preserve these protections.
Tonja duBois
Bangor