Orland dam should stay
Until the Orland Dam Committee can guarantee it can protect domestic wells and the Narramissic River from mercury and saline contamination and secure a new fresh water source to fight fires, the dam must stay. Luckily, it’s in good condition.
The dam committee should stop wasting town dollars on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s agenda. If it has to study something, how about looking into raising the dam to hold back rising tides and getting the mercury out of the Penobscot River? Poison fish won’t do anyone any good.
In the meantime, the question shouldn’t even be on the June 14 town ballot.
Sharon Thompson
Orland
Trump sunk the GOP
With Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee for president, the Republican Party has sunk to its greatest depths in recent history. The entry into a war in Iraq under false pretenses, the rise of the tea party, taking more than 50 votes in the House of Representatives to repeal Obamacare and the shutdown of the federal government, orchestrated by Ted Cruz, all pale in comparison to a Trump candidacy.
The party has only itself to blame for not taking Trump’s candidacy seriously months ago. While I am not at all a supporter of the Republican Party, I would not like to see it implode because it is important for the United States to have a two-party system for the integrity of the political process.
A campaign short on substance but long on racism, name calling, sexism, bombast and enabling and encouraging violence has been taken seriously by millions of Americans because Trump has appealed to the basest instincts in these individuals.
Beyond the disaster that would be a Trump presidency, it is very likely that Trump will abandon those who have supported him as soon as their support is no longer practicable for him. Narcissists do not maintain relationships for the sake of other people. They exploit those who can do something for them — in this case, secure a party’s nomination for president. So, for those who support Trump, be careful what you wish for.
Mark D. Roth
Bangor
To stop Trump, let Democrats win
As we advance closer and closer to electing a new president, the words keep getting more bitter and nasty. The Republicans we know will not stop their vicious attacks on the Democratic candidates, so what can we do?
The Republicans have an unstable man who could very well be elected this year. There is only one solution for Republicans who really do not want that man to be elected.
The Republicans should let the Democrats win just to keep Donald Trump from ever being elected, then after four years nominate a much more stable Republican candidate who could save our great country. Surely Trump would not run again and things might return back to normal.
Just stop for a moment and think what would our country be like for four years if Trump had the power and control of our military and means of destruction.
Eugene L. Bowden
Bucksport
Bathrooms should be unisex
There’s a simple answer to the question of which restroom facilities transgender people should use. It’s probably the only solution that is legally defensible in the long run. The whole problem will go away if every facility becomes unisex.
Not even 100 years ago, many facilities were racially segregated. Blacks couldn’t use white facilities, and whites didn’t use black facilities. The very idea of blacks using white facilities was abhorrent to many. Today, facilities are integrated as to race, and few people give it a second thought.
If men and women can interchange freely, transgender people can obviously go wherever they choose. Although I’m usually conservative, I believe the time has come to change “His” and “Hers” to “Ours.” Why waste millions of dollars and millions of angry words trying (probably in vain) to keep facilities segregated?
I’m certainly not Rosa Parks, but on June 14, now known as “Flag Day,” I’m going to use a “Hers” restroom. If enough people do the same around the country, perhaps June 14 will eventually become known as “Flag and Facility Day” or maybe “Flag and Flush Day” and separate gender restrooms will become as unthinkable as separate race restrooms.
Lawrence E. Merrill
Bangor
PTC play review misses mark
It was not the role of Andrew Crowe in the Penobscot Theatre Company production of “Duck Hunter Shoots Angel” to play the energizer bunny but instead the wounded dog, as a May 4 BDN review of the play suggests. His life played out like a country and western song with the lost love and a job that would not utilize his journalistic talents.
Yes, Crowe was outstanding musically in the Johnny Cash show, but that was not his role as Sandy in this play, and the BDN review missed the mark. There are two stories in the play that the audience was able to follow. The story did not lose its energy without the foolishness of the duck hunters, but they allowed us to feel Sandy’s remorse, his beliefs and it all was rocking with expert banter between himself and comic Lenny. The duck hunters alone would have been too much silliness. I was hooked the moment Andrew stepped on stage with “I write crap.” And the ending was what the young girl wanted: to stay where she was connected to her roots.
Congratulations to Crowe and the Penobscot Theatre Company for a delightful show and literally mud on my face.
Diane Barlow
Orland
Faith-based treatment works
With all due respect to those who believe they have been or are being helped with their opiate addiction by taking Suboxone or methadone, my prayers are with you. I am a graduate of Orrington’s Calvary Chapel residential discipleship Blessed Hope.
I had been to several secular rehabs, and nothing helped. Not only did replacement drugs, antidepressants and numerous other diagnoses and prescription cures not work, they did not change my heart or renew my mind. This is what people with addictions need. The only one who can do this is Jesus. I’m living proof.
Melanie Leon
Bellmawr, New Jersey