Time for Sen. Angus King to support monument
U.S. Sen. Angus King held a public meeting in May in Orono that more than 1,200 supporters of the proposed national monument in the Katahdin region attended. I was there and saw many of my friends, neighbors and relatives join in the standing ovations for King and the director of the National Park Service. That was nearly two months ago, and King has yet to make any public statement of support for the proposed national monument.
I own and run a business on Main Street in Millinocket. Most days, even in the height of summer now, Main Street is dead.
I was happy to read in the news that King is working to get federal assistance for the forest products industry in Maine. But when is he going to publicly support the proposed national monument? It, too, will bring people and jobs to our region.
Help for the forest products industry will likely end up costing the federal government millions of dollars while the national monument comes with a private endowment of millions of dollars.
This isn’t an either/or situation. We need the forest products industry and a national monument to help turn around our region. It is time for King to stand up and be counted as a national monument supporter.
Jaime Renaud
Millinocket
Don’t be afraid, America
As I made my morning commute, I listened to the soundbites from the Republican National Convention on the radio. All of the speakers, aside from the plagiarized speech of Melania Trump, had speeches with two prevailing themes: fear and anger.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani carried that torch the highest. Giuliani said most Americans are afraid of the future, for their children and for the police. This just isn’t true. Every day, I am surrounded by people from all walks of life who speak of hope, kindness, peace and making the world a better place for our children.
They do not hide in their homes for fear the Islamic State might bomb them in the streets. They do not run from Muslims for fear they may be Islamic State recruits. They do not ostracize blacks for fear they might be criminals. They do not stockpile ammo and guns.
Of course, there are those whose lives are consumed with fear and hatred. These people have disorders such as agoraphobia, or they’re xenophobic or even delusional.
In spite of what is said at the Republican National Convention and by many Republicans, the majority of Americans are not fearful and they are not hateful. We are a people of love.
So before buying into the noise, stop and think. Do we want to live in fear? Or do we want to live in hope?
Ryan Fairfield
Rome
Fulford stands with LGBT Mainers
Despite the Supreme Court decision last year that legalized same-sex marriage, we must remember that the fight for LGBT equality still is being fought. LGBT Mainers still have higher risks of experiencing homelessness than do their non-LGBT counterparts. LGBT Mainers still lack adequate education about safe sex and access to health care. LGBT Mainers still have a greater chance of attempting or committing suicide. LGBT Mainers need the support of their representatives in Augusta.
Ignoring the interests of his constituents, Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau voted against same-sex marriage and for restrictions on transgender Mainers using the bathrooms associated with the gender with which they identify.
As we approach Election Day, voters have a lot to consider. What examples are we setting for our children? What tone and climate are we creating in our state? And, how will our representatives work toward creating a promising future for all Mainers?
Now, more than ever, the LGBT community needs government to foster acceptance and hope amid a climate of isolation and fear. I know that Jonathan Fulford, running for state Senate to represent Waldo County, is not afraid to condemn injustice that still exists. In June, he marched in the Belfast Has Pride parade with a large contingent. I believe with all my heart that Fulford is the candidate the LGBT community needs in Augusta.
Madison Cook
Belfast