AARP tour in The County a success
To the editor:
On behalf of AARP Maine, I would like to thank The Aroostook Medical Center and Aroostook Agency on Aging who worked with us to host the AARP Maine Voter Engagement Tour recently. We held community conversations in Caribou, Ft. Kent, and Madawaska. I also want to thank the hundreds of County residents, many of whom are AARP members, who generously shared their thoughts and concerns during these events.
While AARP is strictly non-partisan and does not endorse any political candidates or contribute to their campaigns, we are committed to helping Mainers and their families get the facts on candidates’ positions on issues of importance to people 50-plus. These issues include Medicare and Social Security, affordable housing and utility costs, and staying in one’s home and community as long as possible. By listening to the voices of Mainers throughout the Tour, we are better equipped to bring their voices to Washington and Augusta in 2015.
We look forward to returning to Aroostook County very soon to follow up on these conversations as we prepare for the 2015 legislative session in Augusta. To find out more about our work in Maine, please visit www.aarp.org/me.
Lori Parham, director
AARP Maine
What are the kids listening to?
To the editor:
Because of the many political ads that have been played on the radio lately my wife and I have been listening to the radio much more than usual. I must say that I was totally stunned and appalled at most of the songs that are being played on the radio nowadays.
They could not be dignified or one should not dignify them by calling them songs. They were made up of one word or sentence that was repeated over and over again in an uncontrolled hollering or tortured voice. At the least there was no melody or rhyme and were appallingly in poor taste. The songs showed no creative ability in this generation that they tell us is so sensitive and creative.
When will someone have the charity or the sense to stand up and say, “The Emperor has no clothes”? When will someone have the charity to stand up and tell them they can’t sing or that they have no talent?
I wouldn’t mind if the DJ would say, “We are now going to hear some uncontrolled ranting and raving,” but please, for goodness’ sakes, don’t call them songs.
Bernard L.A. Ayotte
Caswell
An open letter to USM President Flanagan
To the editor:
It is from Utah that I am writing to you to ask you to do everything possible to save the USM French major. My husband and I lived in Maine, both north and south, for many years. We spent 20 years in southern Maine and I had the opportunity to teach a good number of French courses at USM and to know Nancy Erikson.
I will not repeat the many good reasons to keep French at the University, you already know them. But I do want to express my dismay at the decision to cut the French major from the programs offered at the University.
We are now residing in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the whole state there are 14 elementary schools that offer French dual immersion programs, two of which are in Salt Lake City. The teaching of French begins in the first grade. Other dual language immersion schools teach Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, German.
Utah values languages. This is a very progressive state in regard to the world of business. Utah has been attracting more and more businesses like Goldman Sachs. Knowing at least one other language is an asset.
Maine is the ideal place to build a strong French program at all levels of education. Maine should be the leader in the study of French; its rich past and its proximity with the province of Québec provide a strong foundation to encourage, develop the teaching of this language. Isn’t it ironic that Utah is far ahead of Maine in that field?
For several years, I taught Adult French Education in Portland. My students came from all walks of life and backgrounds. There is a great interest among the population of Maine to learn French, to know it so as to have meaningful contacts with French-speaking people, to discover its culture and enjoy it, and for business.
In conclusion, I renew my plea to you to find a way to keep the French program at USM and help Nancy Erikson make it stronger.
Marie-Josèphe Silver
Salt Lake City
University officials appreciate support
To the editor:
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire University of Maine System, we want to thank the voters for approving funding to build a new animal and plant disease and insect control lab for Maine. The new facility will enable us to provide better public health services to Maine families as well as carry out research critical for Maine’s agricultural and other natural resourced-based industries.
For a century the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension has been putting university research to work in homes, businesses, farms and communities across Maine. We are proud of this legacy of service and are grateful to everyone who cast a vote in support of our work on behalf of the people of our Maine.
Susan Hunter, president
of the University of Maine
James H. Page, chancellor University of Maine System
Mainstream perception based on outdated delivery system
To the editor:
On the surface our society seems to be caught somewhere between twisted hate, tough love, and compassion. These are the messages delivered by our elected officials and from traditional corporate broadcasting.
There are information sources available from individuals more interested in the structural changes necessary to fix our broken political and economic situation. Mainstream perception is focused on century old concepts that do not contend with the technological changes in our society and the problems that have been produced.
There is a tremendous drag on progressive information becoming widespread. The interests of the very small minority who have conquered the system are the predominant force in our culture. Overcoming resistance to workable solutions may prove to be an insurmountable task with devastating consequences.
Wilbur Clark
Presque Isle
