If you can get people to shrug off their labels long enough to have an open conversation, you’ll find that almost without fail, we share commonalities in what we want for ourselves, our families, our communities, our nation, even the world. While you may encounter a psychopath or sociopath here[Read More…]

“Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism.”  ~ Richard Kluger One hundred and thirty-six weekly newspapers closed their doors in 2025 in the U.S.  The HT was not one of them, thanks entirely to all of you — supporters, subscribers,[Read More…]

“The magic in your childhood wasn’t because you were a child, it was because you were living in the present.”  ~ Unknown I read that quote somewhere this week and it gave me pause.  My childhood wasn’t perfect (no one’s childhood is perfect), but as an adult, looking back to[Read More…]

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.  It was their final, most essential command.” ~ George Orwell, ‘1984’ I have been watching with interest a dialogue online between two of my high school classmates about the current political situation. They’re both being respectful of[Read More…]

“Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a long time making it.” ~ Unknown We’re not so far removed from toddlers, no matter how old we think we are. Have you ever tried to convince a toddler they’re wrong about something? They are unconvincable, even when the facts[Read More…]

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we[Read More…]

“The whole world can become the enemy when you lose what you love.” ~ Kristina McMorris Today (Oct. 2) marks seven years since the death of my oldest son, Ethan, at the age of 25. Them: “It’s been so long and you’re still grieving?” Me: “Well, they’re still dead. So[Read More…]

“Sometimes, the most loving act is stepping back, preserving your energy for those genuinely seeking light rather than drowning yourself in someone else’s darkness.” ~ Unknown Life is often like one of those mastery learning programs where you keep taking the same test again and again until you achieve the[Read More…]

“Biking is freedom, but safety keeps it that way.” ~ Unknown To the concerned citizen who left the letter to the editor in the office door, your letter is not published because it was unsigned. That’s standard newspaper policy, not a critique of what you wrote, which I will address[Read More…]

“There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders.” ~ Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek In the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Captain Jack Sparrow zealously guards a broken compass, insisting that the compass will point the way to the holder’s true desires. We all know[Read More…]

“…William wondered why he always disliked people who said ‘no offense meant.’ Maybe it was because they found it easier to to say ‘no offense meant’ than actually to refrain from giving offense.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Truth: Stage Adaptation There’s a well-known rule that if you want to find[Read More…]

“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” ~ John F. Kennedy At least at this point in time, we have the right to believe whatever we want to believe about literally anything. We can believe the moon is[Read More…]