On May 4, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the Adrian College Class of 2013. This year’s 224 graduates are the latest in a long line from a school with a proud and distinguished history, a school founded by people fired by the search for knowledge and opposition to slavery. Education, [...]
I suppose this column will disappoint some readers and thrill others. Probably all for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless … I really have become disappointed with President Barack Obama. Discouraged and disappointed. I had hoped for and expected a lot when Barack Obama took office following the eight interminable years of George Bush’s administration. (And, no! [...]
What motivates you guys? It was a simple question among friends. And it made us think. In younger years, we agreed, the answer was easier. To make money, to provide for a young family, to advance a career. Head down, full speed ahead. But in mid-life, or even later, what becomes the primary motivation that [...]
As unlikely as it might seem, a corpse could wink in 2013. At times, legislation that was considered to be dead due to lack of sufficient support, unexpectedly re-emerges with a real chance of being passed by the legislature. The phrase often used for this phenomenon at the Capitol is “the corpse just winked.” Clearly, [...]
This week a group of Ferris State University students and faculty, along with community members, are visiting the romantic and beautiful city of Venice, Italy. Their visit to Venice is part of their study abroad travels to learn about language, culture and literature in Italy. As they enjoy their experience, they may not realize the [...]
Note to GOP re Benghazi: Stop calling it Watergate, Iran-contra, bigger than both, etc. First, it might well be, but we don’t know. History will judge. Second, overhyping will only diminish the importance of the scandal if it doesn’t meet presidency-breaking standards. Third, focusing on the political effects simply plays into the hands of Democrats [...]
Women in general decide elections. They vote in larger numbers than men. Independent women, more specifically, wield tremendous electoral power because they don’t vote the party, they vote the person. So appealing to female citizens is mucho importante as we have seen over the years. When a relatively unknown congressman from Pleasant Ridge ran the [...]
You see it in stores across our country and around the world: colorful and stylish clothing with happy-sounding brand names like Children’s Place, Papaya, Joe Fresh, and Mango. But you don’t see the factories where these cheerful garments are made. Nor are we shown the strained faces of the impoverished workers who make them, paid [...]
Have you ever heard the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?” Recently my wife, children and I drove to Florida for a vacation. We were so excited to spend a few days in the sun while all our friends were suffering a cold spring up here in Big [...]
“There is something rotten in the state of Denmark.” That is a centuries old phrase from William Shakespeare’s masterpiece, “Hamlet.” Going back to your high school English class, you might remember that strange things were indeed going on in Hamlet’s world. His father, the Danish king, had been murdered. His uncle was behind the conspiracy [...]