My Turn
The use of the phrase "balanced budget" has become so hackneyed and overused that when I read it, I feel as if I have a piece of sand in my teeth. It is so grating because no one really defines it. When it rarely does get defined, it is so illogical that it makes no sense to the average American. What most conservative Republicans are proposing is a federal budget that takes in…
August 30, 2011
My Turn
To Executive Councilor Dan St. Hilaire: I voted for you because you seemed to be a thoughtful, intelligent, moderate Republican. Therefore, your recent vote against the contract of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England as my executive councilor was not only a surprise but extremely disappointing. As an activist woman in the Concord community as well as a legislator for 10 years,…
June 26, 2011
My Turn
Last Saturday's news included a statement by D.J. Bettencourt, the Republican leader of the New Hampshire House, calling Bishop John McCormack a "pedophile pimp." Earlier in the week, Rep. Ken Weyler, chairman of the House Finance Committee, accused mental health providers of looking for "patients for life" and stating that women with post-partum depression will get over it "once…
April 12, 2011
My Turn
Wednesday's Monitor carried an article about the hearings to expand the death penalty. It included a statement from Sen. Jack Barnes from Raymond that as a Korean vet "he knows what it means to kill." He went on to say, "If this bill had to apply to someone, I'd be more than happy to be the one who gives the injection or pulls the gallows or whatever it means to put a person to…
February 3, 2011
My Turn
I read with horror the story about the Republicans trying to oust a Democrat because of legislation he introduced ("House Democrat faces ouster," Monitor front page, Jan. 6). This is a ridiculous and inappropriate action, taken on the very first day of the legislative session.
January 8, 2011
My Turn
I am a longtime supporter and patron of Red River Theatres and just finished reading Sarah Earle's article, "Understanding Red River" (Monitor Friday page, July 30). I found myself seriously wondering whether Sarah really understands Red River or whether her article was an attempt at humor that just didn't make it. Red River is a nonprofit community theater that primarily shows…
August 1, 2010
Letter
I read Allison Caldwell's Dec. 16 letter to the editor, "Offensive menorah," and felt sick to my stomach. I am not surprised that Mr. Caldwell would express himself in such anti-Semitic terms because he has spoken about his beliefs about Jews in a similar fashion before. What I am most sick about is that the Monitor would publish a letter of such violence and rage. There is a cultural…
December 18, 2009
Letter
Many Americans reported feeling "shocked" that the International Olympic Committee chose Rio over Chicago for the 2016 Summer Olympics. This feeling of entitlement when South America has never had the opportunity to host the games is emblematic of so much of what is wrong in this country. President Obama lobbied for home state advantage. Well, so did the presidents of the other…
October 8, 2009
Letter
Wake up, Americans! Health care as we have known it is no longer feasible and will cease to exist!
In various polls (some of them highly suspicious) 56 to 85 percent of Americans say they like their health care. It is difficult to assess whether what they like are their doctors or their health care insurance. And who is being polled? At least 15 percent of Americans do not have…
August 12, 2009
Letter
When I opened the Sunday paper and saw that you had prioritized the Browns once more as the most important news of the day, I felt something close to despair ("Filing: New evidence for Browns," Sunday Monitor front page, July 19).
July 21, 2009
Dear Gov. John Lynch: On Wednesday the Senate passed a bill allowing gay couples the right to a civil marriage. The vote came after a lengthy process including the testimony of dozens of New Hampshire residents supporting the right to marry just as heterosexual couples have that right. The Senate received the bill only after the same process took place in the House. In addition…
May 2, 2009
Letter
The actions of Michael Addison are those of a sick and damaged individual with no knowledge of the preciousness of life. He certainly never learned it from his parents, both of whom were also mentally ill and abusive. The murder of Officer Briggs by a person never developing a conscience and living with violence in a way most of us will never understand is horrific. He is a danger…
November 18, 2008
Letter
I read Mike Pride's column about John and Elizabeth Edwards with disbelief ("In living a lie, Edwardses gambled with their party's future," Monitor Forum, Aug. 13).
Although you give lip service to "human failing," Mike, you go on to criticize not only John Edwards but also Elizabeth Edwards for not "outing" her husband's affair and therefore helping to "peddle his deception."…
August 14, 2008
My turn
The May 10 Monitor carried an article about a 70-year-old Concord man accused of raping a mildly retarded man unable to protect himself. The accused, Phillip Patch, has five prior sexual assault convictions beginning in 1984. Despite a number of sentences for these crimes, ranging from 3½ to 7 years, Patch was out on the streets committing the same crimes in less time than his…
May 14, 2008
