We know that our governor becomes apoplectic every time Portland is even mentioned in his presence. Northern Mainers want to secede because of their dislike for southern Maine.

Now Robert Casimiro of Bridgton complains (“Letter to the editor: Portland’s unbridled growth is near a breaking point,” Aug. 3) that Portland is growing too fast for his liking. At one point during his diatribe he asks with regard to Portland, “What’s to be proud of?”

Let me help him out. A beautiful, clean, vibrant and historic city, Portland is the center of the state’s commerce, industry, banking, business and population. Over one-third of Maine’s population lives within 30 miles of Portland. The city’s gross domestic product is more than 50 percent of the entire state’s.

Our city is known for its generosity with regard to how it welcomes newcomers and aids them until they get their feet on the ground, though some see that as a negative rather than a positive. So be it.

Mr. Casimiro feels Portlanders’ homes are too close together and our traffic is unbearable. He could always choose not to visit.

As far as those in northern Maine who want to secede – go ahead, but don’t think, as I read recently, that you have some hold on the name “Maine” and that we in the south should be called “Northern Massachusetts.”

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Portland was settled in 1632. Portland men fought alongside George Washington during the siege of Boston. Our city was bombarded and burned to the ground for its support of the Revolutionary War.

After the war, Portland served as the state’s first capital because it was the center of the state’s commerce, population, politics and business, then as now.

In other words, southern Maine is the real and original Maine. Maybe after secession, northern Mainers might want to call themselves “Southern Canadians.” I think you’ll soon miss us.

James Morgan

Portland


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