Rick Haglund writes, “It once seemed unthinkable that Michigan, home to a powerful United Auto Workers union that organized automakers through such historic events as the “Battle of the Overpass” at Ford Motor and the Flint Sit-Down Strike at General Motors, would join mostly southern states in trying to crush labor unions.”
Opinion
Nate Turner writes that some Michigan officials “have failed to understand their own state’s history dealing with a deadly virus. The 1918 influenza epidemic proved that statewide restrictions work and should be enforced even if officials don’t agree with them.”
Infrastructure is important for everyone. We need a strong public system for roads and transportation, for drinking water, for energy. And when that system is neglected, we all bear the burden as a society.
Teacher Justine Galbraith writes, “Who are we to you? If we’re indeed essential, tasked with propping up our entire society: Pay us. Care about our health. Value our LIVES over a few months of your kid’s education. If we’re what we suspect – expendable, disposable – be ready for more of us to walk out the door. Many of us already have one foot out.”
WSV’s Torrey Brown writes about an offensive Valentine’s Day themed image that circulated through the Los Angeles Police Department last week. The image makes light of George Floyd — who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 — with a caption that read, “You take my breath away.”
WSV’s Beca Welty writes, “February in southwest Michigan might seem like an impossible time to enjoy your favorite meal on the deck of your ideal restaurant, but Martell’s in Kalamazoo has transformed that dream into a reality. Like a few of their sister restaurants in the Millennium group, Martell’s has installed cozy igloos for outdoor dining, and I was one of the lucky few to indulge in the experience.”
WSV Columnist Amy East writes, “The reality of higher education in our country is far from ideal and far from available for everyone. […] The cost of education keeps going up while the quality of education suffers.”
WSV Columnist Aundrea Sayrie writes, “Love him or hate him, Donald Trump is an effective leader. Here are four things about his leadership style that make him effective.”
Columnist Stephanie Chang writes, “The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought financial havoc on many. It has magnified the systemic sexism and racism in housing and has the potential to leave millions of people — especially women and their families — homeless come February, unless we take quick action.”
Watershed Voice Columnist Charles Thomas writes about his upbringing, and the greatest gift his father ever gave him.
“No matter what you believe, who you voted for, or what you think of either candidate, I urge you to continue to educate yourself and think with empathy, because if you stop caring, the other side has already won.”
“And then we move onto the elves who TP the house. In this Covid world we all know that toilet paper is worth more than gold right now. Why are you wasting perfectly good TP? Are you going to recycle it and reuse it after it’s done its job? Is that weird? Is reusing toilet paper a thing?”
“I want to imagine that those in leadership couldn’t possibly be so willfully ignorant of the complications impacting the Black American experience. The conscious omission of our history, and history and reality is gaslighting at its finest. It’s cruel.”
“Trans people are not dangerous, but are, in fact, one of the most marginalized, abused, and harassed groups that need to be protected, rather than excluded, by our laws. And it’s ignorant to believe that giving trans women rights will somehow impede on cis women’s rights, in the same way one would never concede that giving black people rights will somehow lessen white people’s rights.” — Zoe Thomas
How did we get here? How did we get to a place where facts are not facts and opinions are? When did things change from seeking the truth to seeking something to fit our own narrative? The narrative I would like to address in particular is that Barack Obama created division in this country.
I wanted adult conversation. To feel like I had someone in my corner when I felt like I was failing. I wanted someone to go to coffee with. But I have to admit, making mom friends is hard. Like really hard.
In the real world, recovery from addiction is often a lengthy and agonizing process, both for the addict and their loved ones. Recovery happens in fits and starts and repeated relapse is almost always part of the marathon road to sobriety. In fact, real world recovery looks less like that The Bold and the Beautiful storyline and more like the public trials being faced by St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough.
“Tuesday’s debate was another missed opportunity for Donald Trump to create unity, by showing a desire for equity and justice for all American citizens. Instead kerosene was added to the fire.”