Columns / Opinions
40 results total, viewing 1 - 20
Bob Marley’s distinctive song immediately came to mind when I learned that July 28 is National Buffalo Soldier Day — instituted in 1992 by Gen. Colin Powell at the dedication of a memorial in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Like many suburban white kids of my generation, I thought Marley was cool; I had no idea about the political subtext of the reggae star’s song. more
Some few years ago Better Half and I had a screened-in back porch added to our humble dwelling. It started out to be a deck but somewhere between starting and finishing, we had the inspiration of why not make it a screen porch. more
The “P” word? There’s a word I’m hesitant to use for fear of scaring people off — polarization. In fact, when I see the “P” word in a news story, I contemplate heading for the exit myself. It-is-just-such-a-polarizing word. Viscerally, I find myself reacting as I would to a charged four-letter word except … It doesn’t have four-letters. more
On the weekend of June 29 – July 2, two different groups of activists gathered at the Marriott in downtown Philadelphia. One group spent the majority of the weekend outside the building … more
I have a confession: I love you. Perhaps it sounds melodramatic, but it’s true. Over this past year and three months, I have fallen head over heels for Chatham County. You’ve shown … more
The conspiracy between a corrupt set of bureaucracies (including the Justice Department, the IRS, and the intelligence community) and an equally corrupt and enabling elite media is astonishing. The … more
“Hey, Ted!” Walked back into my house from an errand and greeted a neighbor who was kindly being a handyman. Ted was on the deck and only vaguely heard me. Stepping back inside, he asked … more
This is part two of thoughts on the Republican gubernatorial race. Last week I evaluated Mark Robinson, still the prohibitive frontrunner for the GOP primary, even if the last few weeks’ … more
The first Friday in June is Nation Donut Day — let us celebrate! The day is holier than you might suspect. I know there are plenty of jokes about donuts and overweight cops. Homer Simpson … more
A significant event came my way this week. No, it wasn’t the lottery or last house payment or even a note from old girlfriend Katherine (Kitty) Litter saying she finally realized she … more
With an election 18 months away, and the likelihood that it will be Biden vs. Trump a-g-a-i-n, my interest in the history of America’s presidents, inspired by a terrific high school history … more
Culture shock doesn’t begin to describe what I felt walking into that 8th-grade classroom in the middle of February. I was the new kid, just moved from California to Raleigh. It’s … more
It may be an old wives’ tale (as compared to what young wives would say), or maybe it’s an urban legend, or maybe it’s just not really so, but the old saying that “it takes … more
More and more lately, it seems, events are transpiring which convince me that truly I must be a fish out of water. Going along with those events is the vocabulary that goes along with them ... … more
Congratulations to Bill Horner III! Join me in celebrating his career at the Chatham News + Record. In a little over four years since he became publisher and editor, this newspaper has garnered many … more
Here I am, lying on my comfy couch, staring out the front windows at the trees, sunlight, crows swooping up and down amidst the dandelions. Chatham County doing what it does best, bursting with … more
How can any diverse group of people, including a community of faith, find common ground on abortion? North Carolina’s new “abortion bill” (Senate Bill 20) was passed strictly along … more
I was born and raised in Florida. I still return periodically to visit my roots and tend to the grave sites of my ancestors. My family’s history in Florida goes back to the 1800s. That may … more
Every year I buy the new edition of the World Almanac and Book of Facts. I like to check to see what the book is telling the rest of the world about North Carolina. This year’s Almanac had … more
OK, ‘fessing up. To what? Nothing salacious; sorry. I’m just feeling proud of myself. Well then, all the more reason to share. It really comes down to watching my fingers … more
1 | 2 Next »
Currently viewing stories posted within the past year.
For all older stories, please use our advanced search.