Search Results

Keyword search: Opinion

By BRUCE M. PENNIMAN

Let’s move on from Jones Library divisions

By BARBARA A. ROUILLARD

For Veterans Day 1964, around my 10th birthday, the VFW sponsored an essay contest, “What Patriotism Means to Me.” Any elementary or junior high student in our town could enter.My family didn’t have much disposable income, so whenever there was a...

Regarding the Nov. 21 Gazette story “Council Rejects $1M for sidewalk and road repairs,” why would six members of the Town Council assume a competition between school funding and safe sidewalks and roads? Both need funding. Safety — maintenance of...

Has anyone else noticed how many professional athletes are now doing the “Trump dance” when celebrating? From the UFC to the NFL, people seem to be happy again! People feel a sense of relief to express themselves without fear and the country is in a...

Of all of Donald Trump’s policy proposals, the one I find most baffling is his endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to overhaul our food industry. The idea that highly processed, high-calorie fast foods are the major cause of the obesity...

By SARAH BUTTENWIESER

 The other night, I hopped onto the hybrid meeting the Northampton City Council’s Finance Committee hosted, the second of two listening sessions, held for the second year in a row. I was enormously moved by the range of concerns and priorities...

By MORGAN SHEEHAN

It is not time for a spa day.Self-care. Me time. Wine o’clock. Pants that make your butt look fabulous.None of that is going to help.Robert Putnam tried to warn us in 2000 with his book “Bowling Alone,” early in the crisis of American loneliness, but...

I was privileged to spend some time in Amman, Jordan in the spring of 1991. I had no language and was impaired, but tried to learn as best I could. I encountered a number of Palestinians. At one point I was convinced every cab driver was a Palestinian...

Donald Trump’s incoming administration poses a serious threat to Americans’ health, safety and freedoms. His cabinet picks show a total disregard for science, human rights, and competent governance. The work of protecting the vulnerable begins now —...

By DARCY DUMONT

 It may seem odd not to address the expected reversal of progress on climate and what that will mean at home and abroad, but pardon me while I take a breath. My latest thought is to simply to keep moving in a positive direction, doing whatever we can...

Soon history may repeat itself with the images of the brown shirts of 1938, and will the silence of that time be repeated? I will not be silent as our immigrants — lawful or so-called unlawful — are rounded up, broken up, herded, and deported and I...

Gary Michael Tartakov really nailed it in his Nov. 29 guest column, “Dems must truly become the party of the working class.” Progressive Democratic politicians must revolutionize their party or start a new one to counter the authoritarian drift of our...

In today’s sacred freedom of America, there are this month three religious/ethnic celebrations of origin, joy, introspection and devotion. First is the Christian Christmas, then the Jewish Hanukkah begins that evening, while African American Kwanzaa...

It’s hard to find a better example of the Peter Principle in action than the pending appointment of Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense. Despite the fact that he is a Princeton graduate with an impressive record in the National Guard (having...

I was saddened and angry by the time I finished reading the Nov. 5 Gazette article regarding the proposal of rezoning the entire stretch of University Drive in Amherst [“Planners consider modifying U-Drive rezoning”]. The focus of rezoning is to build...

On Dec. 3, 1860, President James Buchanan delivered his State of the Union address justifying the fugitive slave laws, denying the right of the territory of Kansas to abolish slavery, and blaming Northern abolitionist agitators for inciting slave...

By JOE GANNON

While the shock wears off, again, from our presidential election, it is a suitable time to just take a breath before we decide — that is, lock down — our reaction.And we do decide our reaction. We will throw up our hands, rip out our hair, or just...

As Republicans continue to roll out Jim Crow laws for transgender people and a gravely disappointing number of Democrats remain silent or capitulate, it is imperative that LGBTQ+ people and allies firmly assert: We are not going back.These attacks on...

Toying around with the English language can be both a fun and formidable enterprise. On the surface, the erudite and studied will argue until they are blue in the face that socialism is different than fascism. Better still, try to bring up comparisons...

Historically, many an elected legislator, political candidate or prospective cabinet nominee accused of deviance, infidelity or sexual felonies has been held accountable, ostracized or drummed into oblivion. But in this decade voters have disbelieved...

In recent years, independent pharmacies in Massachusetts and around the country have closed up shop at alarming rates, leading to pharmacy deserts in too many areas around our state. As the health care system becomes increasingly consolidated, it’s...