Category: <span>Opinions & Commentary</span>

Published July 4, 2008 by

Happy 4th of July!

Fourth of July!
Fourth of July!

It’s the 4th of July again. Just another great day for kicking off the summer season with fireworks, Bar-Be-Ques, picnics at the parks or beaches, or just hanging out with family and friends. Oh, and it’s also the day we celebrate the official birth of our nation.

Continue…Happy 4th of July!

Opinions & Commentary

Celebration Fourth of July

Published July 2, 2008 by

The New Age of Mom and Pops

Mom and Pop Shops
Mom and Pop Shops

An editorial in today’s local newspaper, coupled with a news story, has gotten me to thinking about the old-fashioned “Mom and Pop” shops.  If you look around, you might think that those type stores, small specialty outlets run by a single family, famous for knowing their customers and offering great service, were going the way of the dinosaur (and gas guzzling monster trucks).

In reality, if you look around you might recognize that those “Mom and Pop shops” have morphed into something bigger and better.  They’ve become the new age of Internet shopping.

Continue…The New Age of Mom and Pops

Opinions & Commentary

Amazon.com E-Bay home business

Published May 25, 2008 by

It’s The Cows

Cartoon Cow
Global Warming-Causing Cow

Once again, I’ve had an interesting on-line “debate” in our very own “The Potomac News.” This time, the issues was global climate change. The letter to the editor (LTE) that started the debate was titled “Global warming: Another big, fat lie,” which is a fairly neutral title that gives one no hint of the general tone of the letter.

Continue…It’s The Cows

Opinions & Commentary

Climate Change Cows Politics Potomac News Satire

Published May 13, 2008 by

The Anatomy of an On-Line Discussion Thread

Wherein I Get Called a Traitor with 5 !’s After Eight Short Posts

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

I’ve made a point of getting a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of our local newspaper published at least once each month since last summer. Over these past months my writing has evolved from simple rebutting of our local Conservative columnists to writing on original topics. Part of the change from rebutting columnists is that the newspaper has introduced commenting in their on-line version. This on-line commenting is moderated but apparently only filtered for obvious spam, as evidenced by the range of opinions that actually gets posted.

A comments thread I participated in became extremely amusing to me extremely fast today. Unfortunately, it is also a sad example of what now-a-days passes for “educated discussion” on immigration in this Virginia county of Prince William.

Continue…The Anatomy of an On-Line Discussion Thread

Opinions & Commentary

immigration LTE On-Line Debate Politics Potomac News

Published May 9, 2008 by

Who Really Supports Our Troops?

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

This month’s Letter to the Editor (LTE) of our local “The Potomac News” focused on veteran’s issues.  Specifically, I wrote about a current bill in congress that dramatically expands educational benefits for our veterans, submitted by freshman Senator Jim Webb (D-VA).  My letter specifically noted that Republicans, from the Bush administration on down, is actively opposing this bill and none of the chattering class seems to be paying attention.

Continue…Who Really Supports Our Troops?

Opinions & Commentary

Letters To The Editor LTE Military Potomac News veterans

Published May 6, 2008 by

Rest in Peace Mildred Loving

Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving - File Photo
Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving – File Photo

Mildred Jeter Loving passed away yesterday at the age of 68.  I didn’t know her or her late husband Richard Loving who passed away in 1975.  But Winnie and I are benefactors of their legacy, especially now that we are living in Virginia.

Continue…Rest in Peace Mildred Loving

Opinions & Commentary

Loving v. Virginia marriage racism

Published April 23, 2008 by

Another Letter To Andy Sullivan

Flying Mail
Flying Mail

Back in March, on the fifth anniversary of our invasion of Iraq, Slate Magazine asked a number of writers who originally supported the war to answer the question, “Why did we get it wrong?”  One writer who answered, and published his answer in form of his regular column, was Andrew Sullivan.

Continue…Another Letter To Andy Sullivan

Opinions & Commentary

Andrew Sullivan Iraq War Letters To Writers

Published April 19, 2008 by

The hypocrisy of Illegal is Illegal

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

I’ve just had another of my continuing series of Letters to the Editor published in yesterday’s “The Potomac News. This letter was another in my recent series of taking on the anti-Hispanic-immigration crowd that is running wild here in Prince William County.

Continue…The hypocrisy of Illegal is Illegal

Opinions & Commentary

immigration Letters To The Editor LTE Politics Potomac News

Published April 13, 2008 by

Yo Hablo Espanol

“Everyone who comes to America should learn to speak English.”  If I only had a nickel for every time I heard this idealistic statement.  This statement might work in a perfect world, but our world is far from perfect.

Continue…Yo Hablo Espanol

Opinions & Commentary

immigration Second Language Spanish

Published April 11, 2008 by

Look Into The Mirror

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

A few weeks ago I had another of my letters to the Local Newspaper “The Potomac News” published.  This letter expressed my lack of sympathy towards one of our most out-spoken racists complaining about being listed in the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a “nativist.”

My letter received a direct letter to the editor rebuttal only two days later.  My follow-up was never published by “The Potomac News,” so I’m publishing it here.

Continue…Look Into The Mirror

Opinions & Commentary

immigration Letters To The Editor LTE Politics Potomac News