Massacre at Wounded Knee
While I join the nationwide expressions of sympathy for the residents of Orlando, Florida, and the families of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, wherever they may be, we need to remember there was a massacre of 150 Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee in South Dakota on Dec. 29, 1890, when United States cavalry surrounded and attacked a community that was relocating from their treaty-granted home on the plains, which were coveted by white citizens for farming and minerals.
Stanley Freeman
Orono
Unpatriotic display
I recently had the honor to participate in the joint ceremonial with Anah and Kora Shrine parade in Belfast. Our provost guard unit carried the colors representing the Shrine units in the parade. To my dismay, I noticed, only one city of Belfast and law enforcement individual had enough respect to stand at attention, face the flag and salute as we passed. Children and people standing on the side lines saluted as we passed.
As a Shriner and retired soldier with the armed forces of this country, if I did not stand at attention when the flags passed by there would have been hell to pay. This display of patriotism was noticed by everyone. Take notice.
Harold Adams
Levant
Manna serves the needy
As someone who volunteers at three food cupboards and soup kitchens per week, I can attest to the good services provided by Manna Ministries in Bangor.
They serve the working poor, disabled and elderly. What most people do not realize is the meal they get at Manna may be the only meal and socialization some of these people get on a daily basis.
Everyone appreciates all the neighborly contributions, which helps keep Manna’s vision alive.
So if people want to see the vulnerable fed, step back from the negative headlines and see the good Manna does feeding Maine’s homeless, disabled and elderly.
Betty Higgins
Corinth
Remove LePage from office
The time has come for the Legislature to end the failed experiment that is the LePage administration. By virtually every standard, his tenure as governor has been a disaster for the people of Maine.
Despite his “open for business” rhetoric, household income in the state has declined since he was elected by just 38 percent of voters in 2010. Stable, high-paying jobs with decent benefits have continued to disappear. The paper-making industry, for example, has lost more than 2,300 jobs over the past five years.
While there are of course forces beyond LePage’s control that have contributed to these trends, it has become clear after more than five years as governor he is not willing or able to do the work necessary to create meaningful solutions to the significant challenges facing the state. He instead has chosen to focus on bizarre and unproductive efforts to hunt for welfare fraud and more recently obstruct the preservation of northern Maine woodlands by building a worthless road across private property.
For his public support of the blatantly racist Donald Trump campaign, his ignorant comments, which have embarrassed the state in national media and now reporting by the Bangor Daily News reports that his administration has diverted funds intended for Maine children living in poverty, a move that may run afoul of federal law, it is time for the Legislature to remove LePage from office. We have tried doing things his way, and it has failed. Maine deserves better.
Richard Higgins
South Portland
Help others reach their potential
In the debates over minimum wage, health care, family leave and education, the broader point often is missed. These are systemic problems that deny some individuals the ability to reach their fullest potential.
I was a teenage mother. This made attaining an education harder, not just for time’s sake but financially. Yet when women with children fail to complete education, they’re called lazy or stupid for not finishing.
At 23, living in a two-parent home, we had another child. I was only given insurance because of the pregnancy. I had an unexpected cesarean section. Within a month, I had to have gallbladder surgery, and then I had to have a cancerous tumor removed. The only reason I was able to get those two surgeries was because I happened to have had a child and be covered under Medicaid.
Despite having these surgeries, I was unable to take more than a couple of days off work because, working three jobs — one as a waitress making less than minimum wage and the other two at minimum wage — I couldn’t leave work for very long.
Because of being uninsured, I was not diagnosed with Tacna cardia, which, under the stress of three jobs and kids, caused me to have a severe heart attack, which caused me to become permanently disabled.
November’s referendums to increase funding for public education and increase the minimum wage are not just referendums on individual issues. They are referendums on poverty, opportunity and whether every child should have a shot.
Shauna Perkins
Bangor
Landline deregulation changes
I hope FairPoint Communications customers will attend the community meeting at Bangor City Hall from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7. Starting in August, many FairPoint customers are going to see important changes in their landline telephone service as service is deregulated according to a new law passed in 2016. It will be especially important for provider of last resort customers to be there.
Provider of last resort customers in Maine’s 22 largest towns and cities, including Bangor and Brewer, will start to see changes in their landline telephone service as the deregulation measures are rolled out.
The new law includes consumer protections negotiated by AARP Maine. Provider of last resort landline customers will be grandfathered for one year, with guaranteed rates, terms and conditions; the Maine Public Utilities Commission must measure and report the impact of deregulation on customers, workforce and service; and the Legislature will have an opportunity to address issues that may arise.
Over the next few weeks, the Public Utilities Commission will host informational meetings in towns around the state. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear about the changes and what they will mean for landline customers.
Roberta Downey
Community outreach volunteer
AARP Maine
Bangor