Opinion: Semiquincentennial — our presidents mirror us, as a nation
Throughout the 250-year history of our great country, our presidents have represented us to the rest of the world as our primary spokesmen. Some have been eloquent statesmen, others have had a more “down home” approach to expressing their philosophies, hopes, and dreams. George Washington “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant […]
Letters: The emperor wears no clothes
Upon reflection, I owe Donald J. Trump an apology. And a “Big and Beautiful” thank you! I’m green with envy at his natural ability to float the scum of Washington, D.C., as a metaphor for his administration. Wow! Nobody does it better than him! Drain the swamp? Promise made and promise kept. He also dramatically […]
Book Talk: ‘The Last Mandarin’
In mid-April, 1989, student-led vigils were held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Over several days, the vigils following the death of Chairman Hu, evolved into a major protest, calling for political reform and greater freedom for the people. A young woman, who was identified as the primary organizer, escaped from China with her young daughter Alice […]
Letters: Figure out how to measure it
The June 13 edition of The Madera Tribune had an article from its own Nancy Simpson. Nancy talked about prices now, and from years past. What she said was true. Some of the prices she recalled were lower than I remembered (I thought I was older). Yes, prices were lower, but so were the wages. […]
Opinion: Graduation address — a lesson learned
We’ve all been there, perhaps as graduating students, perhaps as the parents or grandparents. Graduation day. We managed to get through college, and/or we watched our offspring complete a course of study. It’s a proud day. And it is always capped off by optimistic speeches, either by a student who prophesies a brilliant future or […]
Letters: Be careful what you wish for
Well, I guess congratulations need to go out to the writer of a recent “commentary” in the Tribune. You have again reinforced my feelings and opinion about the two biggest faults of the Democrat Party and its followers. But I guess my feelings and opinions don’t matter as they don’t stack up to the obviously […]
Book Talk: John Grisham, ‘Rogue Lawyer’
Some “lawyer books” present a noble, highly principled litigator who enters the courtroom to fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. A kind of Superman with a degree from Harvard Law. That ain’t Sebastian Rudd, the protagonist in John Grisham’s Rogue Lawyer (2015, 388 pages in paperback edition). At best, Rudd is a cynical […]
Letters: ‘Straining at gnats’
I remember a phrase in the King James Bible about “straining at gnats while swallowing camels.” I believe Jesus was talking about the Pharisees, the ruling religious class in His time. They were apparently judging people for minutia while overlooking (or even committing) major offenses that actually meant something. If Jesus said that today, He […]
Opinion: Animal killers of human beings
When I saw a question posed: “What animal is the greatest killer of human beings?” My knee-jerk reaction was other human beings. I suppose that I thought about the number of murders that occur in the U.S. annually and extrapolated that to the rest of the world. But that is the kind of assumption and […]
Letters: Willful ignorance deserves no respect
The United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, Germany and France signed a critically acclaimed landmark agreement with Iran 11 years ago during the Obama administration. Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, the deal placed restrictions on Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment program in exchange for sanctions relief. Proponents said, “It blocks […]