Columnists

THE PUBLIC EYE:A Tale of Two Countries

Bob Burnett
Sunday June 20, 2021 - 11:53:00 AM

In 1859 Charles Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Hmm. Dickens was writing about the French Revolution but his words are relevant today.

The United States is teetering on the edge of revolution. -more-


ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Mentally Ill People and Disturbed People Should Not Have Access to Any Weapons

Jack Bragen
Sunday June 20, 2021 - 11:38:00 AM

Necessarily, a person who perpetrates a mass shooting is mentally disturbed. Those with a known history of psychiatric issues are not permitted into law enforcement jobs. -more-


SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces

Gar Smith
Sunday June 20, 2021 - 11:51:00 AM

Say "Hello" to Mr. Mopps

At the beginning of June, the display windows of the Mr. Mopp's store on MLK debuted a new selection of books with titles reflecting the seeming return of post-pandemic normalcy. The array of books had one thing in common—the word "hello" in their titles. The ranks of welcoming titles included: Hello Farm, Hello Bear, Hello Lighthouse, Hello Rain!, Hello Moon, Hello World, Hello Universe, Hello Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Say Hello, and Hola Cangrejito (that's "Hello Crab" in English).

With the store's doors reopened in accordance with gubernatorial decree, it was finally possible to casually walk into the longtime-and-still-standing landmark and meet the book-lover in charge of choosing which books to put on display. The window wizard is Mopps' staffer Clare Doornbos and she has already rolled out a new selection of titles to engage the eyes of passing pedestrians. The current theme celebrates the world of "young artists." Trot on over with your junior Picassos and Kahlos and give it a look. -more-