Common Sense

By Reade Brower

Additional Column Posts (1 - 20 of 330) Next Page

• Civility and my stepfather Dan

  By Reade Brower - Nov 07
  Civility starts with President Trump; as our elected leader, his voice is similar to that of a family patriarch or matriarch. Can you imagine your ...
  

• Be like Jimmy

  By Reade Brower - Oct 24
  Life isn't easy. We need a hand up from time to time. We're all regularly faced with tough decisions. The only road map we have sometimes is our ...
  

• Media mania: Where do we fit in?

  By Reade Brower - Oct 10
  “Fake News” is a diversionary term to discredit mainstream media since President Trump took office in 2017. In an attempt to control the narrative,...
  

• One person can make a difference, even in today’s world

  By Reade Brower - Sep 19
  This week's column is ceded to Marcia Harrington from Brunswick. Her piece appeared in this past Sunday's Portland Press Herald; it speaks to the ...
  

• Having a heart and standing tall

  By Reade Brower - Sep 05
  Walking into work on Saturday was brightened by graffiti on the parking lot dumpster. In white chalk, taking up most of the front on the container,...
  

• A new reality? I hope not.

  By Reade Brower - Aug 15
  This week's column comes from the website ~ of Dr. Robert Saul, an author of three books and a man with a simple, but profound message. His ...
  

• To care or not care is a choice

  By Reade Brower - Aug 01
  What makes people care? Perhaps not any one trait determines it, but one thing that defines it is whether it comes naturally or if it's forced or ...
  

• A birthday parade or a macho love fest?

  By Reade Brower - Jul 11
  July 4th is the birth date of our country and Americans celebrate it throughout the land with cookouts, fireworks and parades. This year, something...
  

• Random thoughts and Sen. Angus’ excellent adventure

  By Reade Brower - Jun 27
  We need family, both the tribe we're born into and the one we make along the path. Friends and family transcend politics; when we find common ...
  

• Delicate Don meets Nervous Nancy

  By Reade Brower - Jun 13
  In a perfect world, nicknames endear one person to another or a generation. The best nicknames are generic, like big league ball players A-Rod or ...
  

• Standing up for Sen. Collins, the person

  By Reade Brower - Oct 31
  As owner of many Maine newspapers, I have a responsibility to keep quiet. My personal views might be perceived as those of the papers and, when ...
  

• King Donald

  By Reade Brower - Oct 17
  Political writing is tricky; usually you're writing to those who “lick your stamp” and “singing to the choir.” Not sure whether it helps, but I've ...
  

• The Yang Gang and John Page

  By Reade Brower - Sep 26
  Andrew Yang is 44 years old, a U.S. citizen born in New York to parents of Taiwanese descent. Although a long-shot Democratic presidential ...
  

• More stepping up

  By Reade Brower - Sep 12
  Last week writing about the “love bandit” was lighthearted; the hopeful response was to find out more about the “why.” No one came forward with ...
  

• Inspiration: Job One

  By Reade Brower - Aug 29
  Recently, calf injury healing, a 5K running race came calling. A great way to start a Saturday work day; something happened between the race and ...
  

• Assist or resist: A choice must be made NOW

  By Reade Brower - Aug 09
  There are many opinions being written about two recent mass shootings in Ohio and Texas. This will not be one; this will be about humanity and how ...
  
• Common Sense

  This is what brave looks like

  By Reade Brower - Jul 18
  With permission from John Curran and the Lowell (Massachusetts) Sun, we share a piece that originally appeared July 3 in that newspaper and ...
  

• Why you got to be so rude?

  By Reade Brower - Jul 04
  This week three readers wrote passionate emails; their displeasures with our newspapers were different, as were their approaches. Two were direct ...
  

• Youth and the pendulum theory

  By Reade Brower - Jun 20
  High school graduation is upon us. Young people have begun to empower themselves, while adults in charge continue to let them down. Those in ...
  

• Truth sets you free; seeking personal best

  By Reade Brower - May 30
  “Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a children's chant, a retort to bullies on the playground. Our president ...