Letters

Published
August 1, 2016

Letter to the editor: Speaking up against linguistic bias

Helen Sargent’s July 27 letter to the editor regarding improper English use is misguided. It is based in the trite sentiment that the past is superior to the present and presupposes prescriptive grammatical dogma. I do not blame Ms. Sargent herself. There have always been nitpicky grammarians. Around the third century Appendix Probi was written, […]
Published
August 1, 2016

Letter to the editor: Panhandlers cloud visit to downtown Portland

Normally I don’t think twice about submitting letters to the editor, but after a recent visit to my sister, I feel compelled to share a recent experience. We moved to Atlanta from Belgrade Lakes, and I look forward to returning home every summer to experience what makes Maine great. We decided to venture into the […]
Published
August 1, 2016

Letter to the editor: Both parties no longer reflect our values

After observing the display of enthusiastic ignorance and intolerance at the Republican National Convention, and then the hypocrisy of the Democratic National Convention celebrating the supposed victory of the candidate for whom party officials cheated in order to ensure her nomination, I am changing my registration to unenrolled. I encourage all to do the same. […]
Published
August 1, 2016

Letter to the editor: Trump, GOP platform deny threat to planet

The vast majority of us want to see our children and grandchildren grow and prosper in a safe, secure environment. Yet, even now, at this present time, they are under threat of climate change. The overwhelming majority of climate scientists agree with this. Despite the evidence, the Republican platform and the party’s candidate for president, […]
Published
August 1, 2016

Letter to the editor: Airbnb rental in primary residence shouldn’t concern anybody

Airbnb can be a good thing, in Portland and elsewhere. If someone wants to earn a little extra money by renting a room in their home, why stop them? What the city should stop is a landlord or entrepreneur who kicks out tenants or buys a building so they can make more money with Airbnb. […]

Published
July 31, 2016

Letter to the editor: Take it from a gun owner: Get rid of assault weapons

I have owned both a rifle and a shotgun, which I have used on numerous hunting trips during my life. Learning to use them safely and gaining respect for and knowledge of firearms safety have been critical. Over the past several years it has become evident that we need to regulate the use of assault […]
Published
July 31, 2016

Letter to the editor: Instead of expanding natural gas, we should invest in alternatives

I have two comments about Tux Turkel’s piece (“Producers of power fight natural gas expansion,” Page A1, July 24): First, the financial analysis was incomplete. There were specific figures for the costs incurred to Mainers by “inadequate gas supply,” and recent electricity costs in New England compared to the U.S. as a whole. But as […]
Published
July 31, 2016

Letter to the editor: Poland Spring is a proven protector of state resources

Maine’s strong entrepreneurial spirit is evident in a number of businesses operating here. This spirit has fostered an environment where home-grown companies like L.L. Bean, Tom’s of Maine and Poland Spring have achieved local, regional and national success. That is why I’m glad you profiled Poland Spring in your June 26 article. We can all […]
Published
July 31, 2016

Letter to the editor: Fire plagiarizing writer so we can focus on issues

Does plagiarism have a long history? Have you read “Casey at the Bat”? In 1888, Ernest Lawrence Thayer scribed this line: “That hope which springs eternal in the human breast.” Have you read Alexander Pope’s “An Essay on Man”? In 1734, he wrote: “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” The ancient Roman Seneca wrote […]
Published
July 31, 2016

Letter to the editor: Earth’s future depends on people getting along

The question that refuses to fade away, amidst global hatred is: Will mankind ever get along? The Golden Rule is a basic and all-encompassing suggestion that we treat others as we would like to be treated. For me, that principle supersedes all the organized religions and complex philosophies put forth by imperfect human beings. Recently, […]

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Letters