Letters

Published
March 1, 2015

Letter to the editor: Students are promoting freedom of thought and speech

I fully support what Lily SanGiovanni, Gaby Ferrell and Morrigan Turner are trying to achieve at South Portland High School regarding the Pledge of Allegiance. I actually applaud whatever Maine Legislature that made sure students were “not forced to say” the pledge. Loyalty is not something that should be forced, but freely given. When “loyalty […]
Published
March 1, 2015

Letter to the editor: Comedian deserves praise for his personal insights

I would like to commend George Hamm for sharing his emotional and very personal experience of living with chronic anxiety (“For comedian George Hamm, stage has been a way of life and a safe place,” Feb. 15). I am hopeful that his story will educate and enlighten people to the devastating effects of this condition. […]
Published
March 1, 2015

Letter to the editor: Students raised valid pledge questions

Re: “Freedom of speech, backlash of anger over four words at South Portland High School” (Feb. 24): Lily SanGiovanni, senior class president of South Portland High School, did a service to her school by being brave enough to invoke her right to educate her colleagues as well as the citizenry of South Portland by her […]
Published
March 1, 2015

Letter to the editor: If you value this country, a pledge is appropriate

Once again, you got it wrong with your support of South Portland students who refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (“Our View: South Portland students give lesson in patriotism,” Feb. 26). The pledge is not just about the flag. The words call for “allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and […]
Published
February 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Presidents Day taken over as a time to pitch sales

On Feb. 22, the birthday of George Washington, I once again saw nothing in any newspaper to acknowledge this historical day. How soon we forget! George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are the greatest figures in the history of this great nation. Even most calendars don’t note the events on Feb. 12 and 22. That’s shameful! […]

Published
February 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Furor over homeless story was misguided

The furor over the wealth of 13 regular users of Portland’s homeless shelters reminds me of when I worked at a Fairbanks, Alaska, drop-in center for street people, mostly alcoholic. The idea that a typically understaffed shelter would first look at bank balances before letting the person in is ridiculous on its face. Now we’re […]
Published
February 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Mental health, state cuts are bigger homelessness issues

I am an avid reader and fan of the Portland Press Herald but have been disappointed in the headlines related to coverage of the shelters in Portland. On Wednesday, the front-page headline “City knew of shelter users’ big bank accounts” did not reflect the data presented in the article from experts on the ground both […]
Published
February 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Ski teams at high schools deserve more coverage

I am very disappointed in the lack of high school Alpine and Nordic skiing coverage, though there is significant coverage of high school basketball and some of hockey, swimming and other sports. While I understand that basketball is a very popular sport, all sports deserve a level of coverage. Student-athletes in every discipline work and […]
Published
February 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: ‘Repenting’ the Crusades helps to fuel Islamic State

In regard to Jody North’s letter to the editor (“Christianity must repent for its historic atrocities,” Feb. 17): Yes, it is true that we have freedom of speech, but what about common sense? Why would the president and yourself choose to talk about the Crusades when we currently have present-day Christians being beheaded? If you […]
Published
February 27, 2015

Letter to the editor: Economy has often benefited from policies of Republicans

Reader Bill Harnsberger of Portland paints Republicans and Democrats with a broad brush: All economic policies of the Democrats are, by definition, good; and all policies of the Republicans are evil (“Letter to the editor: Republicans create prosperity for all? Yeah, when elephants fly,” Feb. 18). If only the distinction were that easy. But before […]

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Letters