Radicals exist in all faiths
In all the discussion of last weekend’s deadly shooting in Orlando, Florida, much has been made of the shooter’s purported religious affiliation, and once again, Donald Trump has renewed calls to ban all Muslim immigration into the U.S. from countries with a “history of terrorism.” Apart from being racist, impractical and ultimately ineffective (the Orlando shooter was a U.S. citizen born in New York) this specious argument is remarkably hypocritical and amnesic.
Last November, mass shooter Robert Louis Dear Jr. attacked a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, because of his twisted individual interpretation of radical Christianity. No one of course suggested then, nor are they suggesting now, that all Christians should be barred from entering the U.S. or that they should be put on a watch list. Yet, it is clear that certain radical so-called Christians are just as likely to act out violently and with deadly force against those who do not share their particular beliefs as are certain radical so-called Muslims.
Indeed, anyone can use a twisted interpretation of almost any religion as a pretense to commit violent acts, but that is not grounds to condemn an entire faith. In fact, last weekend’s horrific mass shooting in Orlando is a stark reminder of the dangers of intolerance carried to its logical and lethal extreme. It also is a reminder that it is far too easy for mentally unstable persons with criminal backgrounds to get access to deadly assault weapons in this country.
Janet Lynch
Pownal
Helping disabled Mainers be independent
It will be easier for Mainers with a disability to make their homes more accessible thanks to a measure sponsored by Rep. Archie Verow of Brewer.
LD 365 creates a state income tax credit to offset the cost of measures like installing a ramp or widening a doorway. These simple changes can help people live safely and independently at home, but the cost too often puts them out of reach.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New England advocated for this legislation because it will improve the quality of life of Mainers. Its success is thanks to a lot of hard work by many people. Members of the Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as a number of other organizations spent long hours working with stakeholders over the past two years.
Verow worked tirelessly and with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, particularly Rep. Stedman Seavey of Kennebunkport, to build the overwhelming support the bill won in both the House and Senate. The Legislature then unanimously voted to override the governor’s veto.
We are proud of the work and dedication of the measure’s supporters and look forward to its implementation over the coming months.
Robin Steinwand
Robert Picone
Co-chairs
Maine Government Relations Committee
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Kennebunk
Women deserve fair wage
Everyone deserves a fair wage and a fair shot. It is fundamentally unfair when one person can inherit millions and pay a miniscule tax rate on the capital gains, while someone else has to work to pay the bills from the time they’re 16 years old. It’s unfair when the workers making those investments pay off are living in poverty.
For women, economic barriers are virtually endless. I worked for a chain restaurant that publicly advocated against paying servers a full wage. In that restaurant, like in many others, men often held the jobs in the back of house that pay a full wage. When I expressed an interest in becoming a chef, I was told by a manager that in their “opinion and experience” men tend to make better chefs than women.
Instead, I, like other women across Maine, was relegated to second-class status as a waitress, making less than minimum wage. As a single mom, days that I had to have off because my kids needed to be taken care of were disregarded by this employer.
At another restaurant, as is common, when sexually harassed, the manager’s goal was not to protect me, but to protect his bottom line by saying that I should be “flattered” for a customer “complimenting my figure.”
All workers deserve a fair shot, but women are held back even more than most. That’s why I fully support raising the minimum wage and creating one fair wage in Maine.
Karen Nicholson
Bangor
Clinton will make a great president
Hillary Clinton is the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. I think she will make a successful first female president of our great nation. I am a registered Democrat but not a die-hard. I will vote for the person who I think will do the best job, whether he or she is a Democrat or a Republican. I have voted for Republicans Sen. Susan Collins and former state Sen. Richard Rosen. But I definitely believe Clinton is the best choice for president.
How Republicans could ever nominate for president Donald Trump boggles my mind. He is the most unqualified man who has ever run for president. I just do not see how this could happen. I thought we as a nation were smarter than this.
I am so tired of the media saying how much Clinton is hated. She’s won the nomination for the highest public office in the land, so someone must like her. She’s gotten millions of votes during the primaries and caucuses. I would like to know where are all these haters.
Republicans better think twice before they vote for a dangerous man like Trump. The safety of our country should be more important than party line.
Estelle J. Bowden
Bucksport
Malfunctioning democratic machine
The Los Angeles Times quoted poll workers and voters alike saying it was just chaos on Democratic primary day in California, with the notorious provisional ballot making up an as yet unspecified number of uncounted ballots, at least 1.8 million mail in ballots that arrived just on election day and polling places inside laundromats.
The Portland location for the July 24 national March for Bernie will be a fun and entertaining way for people to show their frustration at the malfunctioning machine system our once revered democracy has become.
Keith Taft
Van Buren