Miss Marple, one of the best fictional detectives, says “tell the truth and shame the devil.” She is also known to remark that “Americans have a lot to answer for,” even if meant tongue in cheek.
An era has arrived in a major assault on the history of the continental United States. Seems like the progressives’ time is bound and determined to disparage, decry and devoid the colonials.
I want to be sensitive here. The president’s remarks at the Boston Bombing memorial service were soothing, important, tender and touching.
Problems in public schools most of the time come from those who manage them, not the teachers most of whom are stymied by highly-paid administrators engrossed in political correctness.
I can’t resist. I’m glad spring has sprung even if somewhat still chilly and windy. How surprising it might be if forecasters could be accurate and another snow storm finds its way. Maybe some coming Frederick political battles could be cooled.
Driving around the pleasant countryside of Frederick County gives proof to a trite old saying: “It’s amazing what you can see if you keep your eyes open.”
Except in special cases, seldom does the death penalty bring about much conversation pro or con on all sides of the political spectrum. It’s not a cut and dried matter and must not be taken lightly.
In light of recent international events, I confess here and now that my favorite Cardinals have always been Americans. First is a favorite son of Donora, PA, and the other from Boston, MA. There is a third American now on my list, but more about that later.
Crime runs rampant these days and it’s not the blame of the media, or local, state and national financial crises, or because school teachers and administrators are avoiding responsibilities.
After five standing ovations I stopped counting. The capacity crowd was a happy bunch. Applause from the seated patrons was loud and often including the balcony.
Knee-jerk reactions are difficult to overcome particularly when our own children are involved. Above all, when physically and mentally challenged citizens have difficulties, our hearts and minds are wrecked.
How to be offended? Let me count the ways. In this era when everybody is always exasperated, hurt, insulted, outraged and provoked by something, I am beginning to feel as though there should be a national day for crybabies.
Opportunities come when least expected for sure and seen especially true in sports and politics where ideals of right and wrong often are in dispute.
Lots of witticisms, jokes and uncouth remarks can be made about allowing women in combat. Some people might think it’s another giant step in bringing about equality of the sexes. I’m not so sure.
Back in the olden days as the hot blood of youth began to bubble and gurgle, I learned at an early age when something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Headlines blared “sheriff’s deputies killed a man who had a gun.” The follow up was “deputies fired at least 18 shots.” Definitely eye catchers for readers. Lots of interest in these days of gun control battles.
It can be rather tough for us columnists and commentators and know-it-alls, carrying the weight of affairs on our shoulders. Somehow we manage. It’s troubling to this space-filler that humor and laughter seem to have been lost through our daily travails and worries about which charitable group we’re going to contribute.
It’s always exciting for reporters and editors when new police chiefs, sheriffs and judges are appointed. Readers love these stories and I can attest to that after years of covering and then working in law enforcement.
Just finished oyster stew and crackers, traditional fare at my house the day after Thanksgiving. It was a big bowl of big Chesapeake Bay mollusks in heavy cream. The delights provided ample time to acknowledge good things and consider some suggestions.
On the day I was sworn in as a member of the Fourth Estate, I was told to keep my eyes open, my ears ever on the alert, keep notes and never forget the five “w’s” and an “h.”
Money, money, money. A nice sound and it’s not filthy lucre unless, of course, it’s the undying love of legal tender, but who can tell?
Polls seem to have overtaken all facets of living, scientific or not. Thankfully I’ve escaped the robo telephone calls, but I still get flooded by requests for my opinion from Internet sites – newspapers, banks, sports teams and the like.
All the chatter running amok to create a charter government flies in the face of the alleged desire for less and smaller county-wide rule. This vital proposal comes smack in the middle of the critical national elections.
I am grateful this political season is coming to a climax – and none too soon. Maybe, just maybe, television will get back to some semblance of order and entertainment, even though I can’t think of any programs I want to see.
Being frugal is a good thing. Knowing the cost of everything and not the value of anything is a sign of poor leadership. It's also a bad omen of things to come for citizens of Frederick County when the elected officials decide to censor library books.
Back in the gentle days of my childhood, it was fun riding the city bus, from the stop near my house to the end of the route and back. Gosh, it was a joy and, no kidding, this five year old wasn’t in danger of being attacked or abused by the friendly driver.
The serious business of voting always has a happy side. Candidates are special and can make the races fun as they go for the gold, another word for hard work.
The other day driving just a few miles over the limit, I was listening to one of the sports radio stations. The experts were newspaper sportswriters turned sportscasters, who were prattling on the state of football and baseball.
Even though a hurricane attempted to sideline a political convention this week, the real excitement has been the typhoons under way in Maryland and Washington. These latter whirling dervishes, borrowing an old sports writing cliché, involve the sporting life.
It may be the so-called dog days of summer now, but there is a great hope for better days and funnier days. Politicians on the campaign trail are working overtime to give the populace some splendid laughs.
I guess I’m not as open-minded as I thought. I’ve needed many years to learn how to eat chicken. It began in my grandmother’s backyard. She asked my uncle to grab a hen so there could be chicken and dumplings for supper.
I know some old saws and it’s a good thing to recall some of them every now and then, particularly in this age of sloppy talk, slovenly dressing and “expertise” in all areas.
The headline blared “3 Stabbed During Melee.” Halfway down the page, before the fold, the smaller headline was “Youth Police Academy aims to ease fears.” This was in Frederick, not in Colorado, or Washington. Good news coverage and good reporting.
I can hardly wait for this year’s Great Frederick Fair, a nine-day spectacular for everybody. It is always a fun time, plenty of good food, bunches of people from all over and farmers and farm animals large and small.
I was never any good at pitching pennies. I’ve never had any success at the few times I deigned to play the lottery. Chances to hit the right numbers for the big money are slim to none.
Sheriff Andy Taylor succumbed this week. Thankfully we won’t forget him and should not. In our hearts he represented the good man, the good citizen, the good public official. Actually he was the epitome of what Alexis de Tocqueville said, “America is great because America is good.”
I believe in law and order. I am a devotee of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are the basic tenets of civil and religious life in Maryland and the rest of the 50 states. There’s no question we like to brag about this all over.
It's important to honor and revere Old Glory and not just on the day set aside as Flag Day. The official observance was yesterday, June 14. It didn't have to be a federal holiday, a day off, to be a proud flag waving day.
I hope the talk emanating from the northern climes, New York City specifically, limiting sizes of soft drinks, doesn't float down to the Mid-Atlantic and other southern areas.
It’s no longer true that the “business of America is business.” Today, the business of American society is politics, the continuing campaigns for public office, the daily money begging to fund these races on all levels. And it’s not cheap to mount these battles for the public hearts and minds.
I stand in awe of the brave military men and women who have served the nation. The closest I ever got to military service was as a Civil Air Patrol cadet back in the peaceful days of the 1950s.
We can’t let this week slip by without acknowledging National Police Week. This commemoration and celebration has drawn thousands of policemen/women, sheriff’s deputies, Border Patrol, Secret Service, U. S. Marshals and all types of the law enforcement officers to greater Washington.
I began traveling the world as a boy. How fortunate I was. My trips sent me to London, Paris, Moscow, Berlin and even to the Asian Pacific. I met those figures of the time, Winston Churchill, Hitler, Stalin and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In a day and age when lots of people wear their feelings on their sleeves, is it possible the American society has become a bit too soft?
When a president visits a local community, it’s a big deal. Frederick County is no stranger to such visits from the present and to previous American presidents since World War II.
I’m a bit prejudiced, but I’ve always believed that all work by public agencies is clearly the business of the people and should be made available to news organizations without delay and before their deadlines.
There are several good sides to the meanness being seen and heard these days on the local, state and national political stages. I’m truly astonished by the conduct of those running for the highest office in the land, about their discourtesy to each other and to what seems to me as disrespect for the presidency which they seek.
It took a federal judge to say what’s obvious, that Marylanders have a right to carry concealed weapons and they don’t have to prove to anyone why they need them.
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