Columns

“Great men are rarely isolated mountain peaks; they are the summits of ranges.” -Thomas Wentworth HigginsonI’ve come to the conclusion that in life, you only have two things to worry about, whether you’re healthy, or whether you’re sick. If you’re healthy,…

By Scott SullivanEditorBowl BingeThey said it was impossible — watch every holiday college bowl game — and dumb to boot, which meant somebody had to do it. Why not me?First things first: head to Tiny Giant to stock up on…

In the 1950 movie “Harvey” Jimmy Stewart plays Elwood P. Dowd, a certifiable eccentric befriended by 6-foot invisible rabbit named Harvey.It’s a light comedy, but at one point Dowd says something meaningful: that in order to be liked, one had…

In a world addicted to outrage, the most radical protest I’ve seen lately involved no slogans, no megaphones, and no demands shouted into the air. It was a line of Buddhist monks walking.I first noticed this on Facebook. The monks…

At one time I held the belief that God created each person good, holy, and sacred and that they were called to be natural, just be themselves. It seemed that whatever could be justified as natural was good, holy and…

“Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace.” -Dwight D. EisenhowerAs long as I can remember, I’ve dreaded visiting the dentist. Like my mother, I’ve always…

Recently, I have been focusing on being a caregiver. It seems that at some time in everyone’s life they get to have the role of being a caregiver for someone they love. While we think of caregivers as saints, the…

By Scott SullivanEditorCall of the WildThere’s a monotony to monogamy but things could be worse. Say you’re Sherrone Moore, fired as Michigan football coach last week for having a years-long affair with a staffer, then breaking into her apartment and…

Since the Great Covid Shut Down, Christmas has become very “the past.” I don’t blame it on the virus nor closures used to slow its progress.Some has come from our penchant for online shopping, ordering food and delivery services, plus…

I was searching for words that would express an uplifting spirit this Christmas season. Too many of us, my self-included, consider the holiday season to be a distraction rather than a time to rejoice. Well my friend, Glenn Mollette happened…

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” ~ Will RogersHopefully this finds everyone doing what you can to stay warm and upright. With the recent snow storm, we are officially into the winter season. Flies and mosquitoes are…

Recently, the father of one of my friends passed away on his way to a doctor’s appointment. In our conversation it occurred to us that his father had a doctor’s appointment that none of us gets to postpone and an…

By Scott SullivanEditorKant Get EnoughI can’t “get” Kant. The German Immanuel Kant is considered one of the central figures of the Enlightenment. But I wish he’d enlighten me.In his 1781 “Critique of Pure Reason” Kant contends space and time are…

When I was younger five or six deacades ago, Christmas did not seem to come so early. We followed a stately procession of months, holidays and family celebrations.All came in an orderly fashion. Christmas did not begin right after Labor…

By Scott SullivanEditorCut-UpsJennifer Hayes, 30, of Clinton Township faces up to life in prison after a jury six days before Thanksgiving convicted her of stabbing her boyfriend 14 times.That might seem like overkill, except that her now-ex beau survived. Hayes…

The other day I ran into a longtime friend I haven’t seen for the better part of the year, even though we live less than a mile apart.We quickly caught up, exchanged news and realized we are both appalled by…

The debate over America’s border policies often gets tangled in national politics, angry cable-news segments, and social-media shouting. But beneath all that noise, the issue comes down to something our readers in Allegan, Clare, Van Buren, St. Joseph, Calhoun, Jackson…

“National pride is to countries what self-respect is to individuals: a necessary condition for self-improvement.” -Richard RortyChewing gun, while peeling onions, will keep you from crying.The Golden Rule has been around for many years and is interpreted in many languages,…

Ever been asked why someone might worship God? Why would anyone want to worship Jesus? St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians (Colossians 1:12-20) offers some reasons. Here goes. God created the universe, everything visible and invisible. His son…

By Scott SullivanEditor‘Tis the season when many Michiganians flee to Florida. Who can blame us? Ice and snow vs. sunshine and warmth? No brainer.One problem: Floridians live in Florida. Lately they’ve been restless. In this last month: