Rural Roots and American Rainbows

Mars has much to answer for. About this time last year, I penned a blog post about the changes that the candy company was making to its M&M spokescandies, not differentiating between male and female characters anymore, changing their personalities and even giving their footwear a makeover. At the time, I pointed out that we…

Flags are an integral part of life, no matter where you go. Obviously, the most common around is our star-spangled banner known as the American flag. Flags can often evoke a sense of pride. Unfortunately, it seems like flags also generate other emotions like anger and shame, and that’s where I have a problem. On…

Last month, it seemed like a time for rejoicing with the Respect for Marriage Act. While it wasn’t a ringing endorsement for same-sex marriage, it did codify that if one state conferred two people with the same gender a marriage license, that marriage needed to be recognized in the other 49. People came together and…

There’s a line in “Star Wars” that resonates with many people even after 45 years. When Obi-Wan Kenobi faces off in a light saber battle against Darth Vader, he warns: “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” It’s a powerful line that sets up the subsequent films…

It never seems to fail. Every year, I seem to find at least one thing that is hell bent on taking the Christmas holiday, where everyone is expecting peace and goodwill, and turn it into an epic “Bah, humbug” that will still be remembered when the grandchildren are populating this world. Of course, it’s unusual…

I’ve lived a pretty decent life. I get to put my writing and photography talents to work almost daily with my job at a newspaper, and I use them for other purposes, too, such as writing books and taking photos at random times. I might not be rich, but I’m doing what I enjoy. Of…

The U.S. Supreme Court decided that just under 50 years was enough time to give women the choice of what to do with their bodies, overturning the Roe v. Wade decision that permitted women to get abortions anywhere in the United States. The court’s decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case did…

I’ve never been much for censorship, in spite of the fact that I disagree with some of the more despicable statements out there. I’ve also been in favor of private businesses determining what looks best on their personal property. However, Facebook has finally crossed the line with its censorship with a measure that is not…

The story of a dog found tied to a fire hydrant and abandoned in Green Bay captivated the television news for days recently, with people expressing shock that such a thing happened. The dog was found with a note and a backpack filled with food, treats and toys. The dog, named Baby Girl, was left…

When marriage equality became the law of the land in 2015 in the United States, there was great jubilation. It meant that I could marry my sweetheart, Todd, if I wanted to, and now we’re within reach of the “I do” stage, as I wear an engagement ring on my hand. Unfortunately, while the Supreme…

In order to form a new country in the 1770s, a country free from the tyranny of the king of England, good people were willing to fight for their freedom and to keep that country. When this country was threatened on Dec. 7, 1941, by the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor, we fought back and joined…