Joan speaks to America
According to Wikipedia, Joan Rivers was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky in Brooklyn, New York in 1933, the younger daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants Beatrice née Grushman and Meyer C. Molinsky.
Joan’s death seems to bypass the norm. Instead of mourning, you cannot help but celebrate and be captured by her hilarious gift of humor that plays over and over through the media. Who knew she was of Jewish descent? Even with what seems to be flawed and sometimes rank humor, in the end Joan is hailed as “the beloved comedian.”
Her lineage speaks. Joan’s strong work ethic, determination to reflect beauty, humor and wit even in her sunset years of life is a reflection of her Jewish heritage that dates back virtually since the beginning of time. Joan’s passing at this time seems to be an important reminder that we should support Israel with our whole heart in prayer and to be thankful for her many contributions.
Like Joan, Israel too may have had her inconsistencies over the years, but God is her judge, not man. We are being called to celebrate Israel and also to stand with her in this troubled time. Regardless of declining support for the Nation of Israel in our government and through the media, one woman’s life and legacy has caused the media and nation to agree that indeed Israel, through Joan, speaks and will always be “The Beloved” and a joy to many hearts. Thanks to Joan, Israel and Father God.
Laurie Knight
Bridgton
No Whoppers for me
I agree with the BDN letter titled, “Tax whopper.” I also will not patronize Burger King, Walgreen or Tim Horton’s. I suggest that all who do stop because if those corporations do not pay U.S. tax money, guess who will. That will be you and I.
The letter writer Pat Carrick was right on.
Richard Cyr
Lucerne
Common sense hunting
There are many arguments to be made for and against bear hunting. The economic impact on the hunting community alone is staggering to think about let alone see to fruition. Two out of three hunting lodges will close. The number being tied to this is $54 million in lost economic activity. Now, think of all the lost economic activity that will occur at taxidermy shops and other industries that benefit from bear hunting.
Imagine if an outside interest group decided that harvesting lobster, or deer or trees, was inhumane, and were able to get a voter initiative on the ballot that essentially destroyed that industry by crippling how they harvest? Would the people of Maine vote to limit harvesting trees to handsaws? Or force the fisherman not to use their boats or traps? How about only hunting deer with bows and spears? Would we even consider doing such things? Or, would we let the scientists and policy makers do what they are hired to do and regulate the industry in a responsible manner?
I would hope that we would not vote to destroy any vital industry in the state of Maine. I will be voting No on 1. I hope others will do the same.
John Nuttall
Old Town
Tired of political distortions
With eight weeks to go before the election, I am already sick and tired of the negative campaign ads and letters demonizing the good folks who have put their life on hold to serve the people of Maine. So what if Mike Thibodeau “runs a PAC.” So do Justin Alfond and Mark Eves -– does this make them bad legislators?
In a letter to the editor, John Krueger bashed Thibodeau bashed for being a member of ALEC. ALEC is a 501(c)(3) non profit and as such is not allowed to do political lobbying. In fact ALEC is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to ideals which make sense to me – check their web site.
The continued assertion that Republicans gave rich Mainer’s a tax cut is a gross distortion. In 2011, Maine Democrats and Republicans joined together to pass legislation that reduced everyone’s taxes – in fact 70,000 lower income folks no longer pay any state income tax. What Thibodeau did not vote for was to raise the sales tax – an extra tax you and I now have to pay every day.
I first met Thibodeau over 20 years ago when I was chair of the Winterport Planning Board. He wanted to build a subdivision and due to a technicality the board told him no. He handled that situation with professionalism and grace. What we need in Augusta is a return to the sort of decorum and common sense Thibodeau brings to the political process.
Randall Poulton
Winterport
Education is not business
Recent BDN voices have raised justifiable questions about Maine schools: “Public Health, not Common Core” by Dean Crocker, “Public Schools need to be bold, change what doesn’t Work” by Lew Collins, “Teacher Tenure challenge revs up in NY court” by Anne Michaud, “How do you act when you’re hungry? What LePage’s school grades really Show” by Ben Sprague, “Why Standardized Testing is ruining our schools, hurting our Kids” by Lisa Cooley, “Teachers deserve chance to design evaluations” by Doug Hodum and “Explaining the student retention problem” by Bruce Pratt.
Needless to say, each excellent article made my chronic hypertension hit trapeze levels. Why? Because if you boil down all that rhetoric about “restructuring our schools,” you’ll soon learn that Maine education — kindergarten to university levels — are all on the same ship, the Maine Titanic, with lower berths set aside for teachers.
The ridiculous idea of restructuring without any future planning, deadline dates, monetary support and underlying structure for every level of education, somehow lacks the sincere and practical public commitment so obviously silent. I’m only getting a strong smell of more “burning hoop” strategies that are already being readied politically.
As a retired teacher (1957-95) of many years and students, I confess that I failed to discover any prophets or made the other kind — profits. Learning is an experience not a business.
Elizabeth Jalbert Pecoraro
Fort Kent
Job creation — in China
I think it’s wonderful that Sen. Angus King endorsed Eliot Cutler. Just goes to show that King is paying back. Cutler may be an established entrepreneur although his background was lobbying for China trade. All of our manufacturing went to China, we got fast food and minimum wage and China got manufacturing.
Yes, Cutler can create jobs — in China.
Sam Gath
Burnham