Commentary
Commentary: Divisive concepts and regulation by threat of baseless lawsuit
At the State House, attention has returned to New Hampshire’s so-called “divisive concepts” law. The law, enacted in 2021, bars public K-12 teachers from engaging in certain forms of instruction on issues of race, gender, and other forms of discrimination. The Legislature is presently considering bills both to repeal the law and to extend it […]
Editor’s Notebook: Heavy lifting at the end of the driveway
I spent most of Monday morning clearing snow from the driveway. As much as I don’t want that to be read as a complaint, the truth is I don’t much care for shoveling and have nothing to gain by claiming otherwise. Granted, there’s some instant gratification to be had. Like a mowed lawn, a driveway […]
Commentary: Memo to state lawmakers: If Maine can do it, so can we
This year, our family decided to cross the Piscataqua River and spend the holiday in Maine – a first for me as a committed Granite Stater. Although I maintain that New Hampshire’s mountains, moose, and maple syrup are unrivaled anywhere, I have to admit that I was impressed by Maine’s recent record on environmental protection. […]
Commentary: How the Vietnam War pushed MLK to embrace global justice
On July 2, 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. stood behind President Lyndon Baines Johnson as the Texan signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although not the first civil rights bill passed by Congress, it was the most comprehensive. King called the law’s passage “a great moment … something like the signing of […]
3-Minute Civics: Judicial appointments – balancing independence and politics
This story was updated on Jan. 14 at 7:59 a.m. In his last 3-Minute Civics column, Chris Pappavaselio highlighted the enduring impact certain presidents have had on the makeup of the United States Supreme Court. Both political parties have accused the other of attempting to manipulate the court to counteract this effect. Democrats cite the […]
Commentary: Reproductive freedom is under attack in New Hampshire
As a New Hampshire resident and a specialist in reproductive health, it is shocking and unsettling to watch unprecedented attacks on access to family planning and abortion care play out in our state. My unique and privileged position allows me to care for patients through life-changing medical events. Many experience happy, fulfilling, and joyful outcomes […]
Editor’s Notebook: A chill in January
The weather app reported a temperature of zero degrees early Tuesday morning, and I took it at its word. There’s probably somebody in town with a thermometer on the sunny side of their barn who could dispute the data – who could offer proof that zero was an exaggeration or an outright lie and that […]
Commentary: The impact of social media on the mental health of everyone
In 2015, Sherry Turkle, a social scientist and licensed psychologist, wrote a bestseller – “Reclaiming Conversation: The Power Of Talk In a Digital Age” – on how in-person interactions are being replaced by devices such as smartphones. This book was released years after Facebook and other platforms began to not only replace conversations, but also […]
3-Minute Civics: Presidents, justices, and just presidents
“He was only president for one term, but he changed the balance of the Supreme Court for the next generation. How is that allowed?” I recently heard this comment regarding President Donald Trump’s court appointments. And I think we can all understand where it’s coming from. Supreme Court justices serve virtually for as long as […]
Commentary: Sununu wrongly equates New Hampshire abortion ban with Massachusetts law
I proudly grew up in the Granite State; the “Live Free Or Die” mantra is etched on my psyche. Now, as a Massachusetts resident, I cringe every time I hear New Hampshire elected officials disparage those of us “south of the border.” The irony, however, is that these same politicians point to Massachusetts to justify […]
Commentary: Have we learned the necessary lessons in the year since last Jan. 6?
One year after the attack on the Capitol in Washington, D.C., our country finds itself in even graver danger than it was on that terrible, unprecedented day. A year after the attempted coup – and it was an attempted coup – we must understand and respond to that day in the context of history, because […]
Editor’s Notebook: The ultimate New Year’s resolution
I wrote the headline for this notebook entry before I started writing the essay. What’s more, I wrote it without having any idea what the resolution is or what would make it “ultimate.” It’s the kind of thing a desperate writer does in the foggy wake of a long holiday. Guy Clark said, “Some days […]