Opinion
Columnist Joanna Buoniconti: Learning the importance of taking breaks
By JOANNA BUONICONTI
As I write this, I am sitting at my desk working late into the night for the 20th or so consecutive night. Not because I’m a glamorous singer like Sabrina Carpenter, but because I’m trying to balance my new internship at a literary agency — where I sincerely hope to get hired someday — along with allocating time for my freelance editing responsibilities, for writing this column and for nursing issues sprinkled in. It’s safe to say that January has been a relatively hectic month.
Jennifer Delozier: It's all political, or is it?
I occasionally read the Gazette opinion page, and letters to the editor. I less often read my news app because, frankly, sometimes it makes me sick. Not all the time, just sometimes.
Marta Lev: RFK Jr. unfit to lead HHS
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notorious promoter of conspiracy theories and misinformation, has been nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS is one of the most critical federal agencies, responsible for safeguarding public health and guiding the country through health crises. This role demands a leader grounded in science, who prioritizes evidence-based policies, and upholds public trust.
John K. Bollard: The racism of racial colorblindness
One of the central tenets of the Trump administration’s approach to issues of race is a narrow interpretation of “racial colorblindness.” Racial colorblindness theory takes the stance that a person’s race can and should be ignored.
Guest columnist Laurie Loisel: What’s spurring my run for City Council
By LAURIE LOISEL
Guest columnist Richard Brunswick: Where ‘going Nazi’ leads us
By RICHARD BRUNSWICK
Sonya Rumpf: Why cultural exchange matters more than ever
I had a blast recently speaking with a group of students from Latin America about microfinance in the U.S. and its role in expanding financial inclusion.These students — from Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina — are in the U.S. sponsored through the State Department’s SUSI program, studying entrepreneurship and economic development. The program is hosted locally by the Institute for Training and Development in Amherst, dedicated to education and intercultural exchange.
Judi Fonsh: The lights go out
As the lights go out around us we must continue to fight and not give up, although it is so overwhelming. As I try to continue to struggle with the unbelievable assaults, as we must do, I am struck by how much energy goes into the fight — rather than the providing of services — he and his henchpeople are creating. They hope that this will wear us down, I hope it won’t, but I worry so much for those in need who live in fear and simultaneously are not provided with what they need to survive.
Thomas White: Real ignorance has brought us here
While guest columnist Bob Couch has a point regarding the danger of ignorance, he looks in the wrong direction [“Let’s leave ‘Age of Ignorance’ behind,” Jan. 29].
: Time to get what things done?
With regard to the Jan. 30 letter ”Time to get things done,” I agree it is time to get things done. The question is what things?
Peter Steinberg: Respond with action, not censure
Some Easthampton School Committee members may not like Owen Zaret. He can be persistent, direct, and at times, blunt (he happens to be a friend of mine, despite — or maybe because of — these qualities). But his blunt style should not distract them from the alarm he is trying to sound: rising antisemitism in our public schools.
Avi Steinhardt: Regarding Owen Zaret and antisemitism
I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with why there is so much opposition to, and villainizing of, Owen Zaret’s attempts to bring more attention and education regarding antisemitism in Easthampton schools. One can’t help but think of Israel and Gaza, particularly if you live in this area, where concern for Palestinian sovereignty is so passionate, that an alignment with its cause is nearly de rigueur.
Kate Banigan-White: Elected officials behaving badly
I watched the Easthampton City Council meeting during which the censure of council member Owen Zaret was discussed [“Censure call brings heated hearing,” Gazette, Jan. 24].
Guest columnist Rob Okun: When felon president freed violent criminals
By ROB OKUN
Guest column: A terrible time to cut state funding for children to eat
By SUZANNE STILLINGER
Guest column: All-electric law means costlier Northampton homes, likely worse energy use
By DAVID MURPHY
Lawrence Lewis: Short-sightedness is not a good look
Richard Fein’s Jan. 27 column “Can anything good happen with Trump?” is worrisome. Not since Vichy France have I read such an apologist piece.
Andy Tosswill: Get history right, please
Guest columnist Bob Couch, in his recent guest column “Let’s leave ‘Age of Ignorance’ behind” [Jan. 29], repeats his story about being in the gas chamber at Dachau in 1960, where “thousands” were “gassed.”
Mary Hall: RFK Jr.’s brain on the blink
I am of the belief that civic engagement can help support us through our ongoing crises in governance. In the confirmation process for the president’s cabinet nominees, it may be possible to look a little beyond the sound bites that emerge in news coverage.
Guest columnist Steve Pfarrer: Soap opera country just fell for soap opera star
By STEVE PFARRER
I enjoyed reading John Paradis’ Jan. 25 guest column suggesting the Democrats form a shadow opposition cabinet to offer consistent public responses to the worst policies of the new Trump administration [“Time for a People’s Cabinet”]. But I strongly disagree with his statement “Let’s face it, the Democrats have failed miserably in countering Trump’s lies and bluster.” And I have to question how effective such a Democratic shadow cabinet could be.
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