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The human obligation toward animals

Commentary

It was drilled into me at an early age that humans have an obligation to properly treat and take care of animals. Much of this training came from being the son of a dairy farmer. The cows really came first on the farm and taking proper care of them was foremost. Some of this sense of obligation or responsibility was, of course, driven by economics. The cows and the milk they produced were the primary source of revenue for the farm. Just think about it—a cow which may weigh 1,200 lbs., can, in one season of milking (10 months,) produce 20,000-25,000 lbs. of milk. A milk cow is an ...

Nation indebted to freedom fighters

The OBSERVER’s View

They've never asked for thanks, but they've earned it a thousand times over. Every parade, every flag raised, every quiet moment of freedom enjoyed on a Monday morning exists because, somewhere, someone once stood between danger and home. Veterans Day isn't a gift to them; it's a reminder to the rest of us. Across the region, you'll find them everywhere--men and women who wore the uniform and came home to build lives, families, and towns that still depend on their quiet strength. They don't ask for recognition. They don't boast about their service. But the stories are written in their ...

Many of us are not aging with grace

Commentary

Getting old is not for sissies, so says Bette Davis. I think she may be right. I have passed the three-quarter century mark, but I never thought of myself as old until now. I’m fighting the thought, but some days are tough. A couple years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wasn’t worried. I had a very early diagnosis and an excellent surgeon. Two and a half years later, having dutifully taken the pill prescribed for follow-up, I find I’ve been shrinking, a side-effect of the medication. It may help prevent further cancer, but it for sure increases bone loss. Bone loss ...

Government has no worries over spending

The OBSERVER’s View

Dunkirk resident Linda Wierzba makes a lot of sense. Last week during the public hearing on the $32.2 million city budget — that includes a hefty tax increase — she made the obvious points. "In my household, if I went and just kept spending, spending, spending and not having the money to pay my bills, what would happen? My house would go into foreclosure, they'd repossess my vehicles. I just don’t understand the mentality of this city." She’s exactly right. But government never worries about rising costs because they know the taxpayer will ultimately pick up the pieces. It ...

Nature's fall colors not as appealing on ground

Commentary

It seems weird that November has arrived and so many leaves are still clinging to the trees. It also might seem weird that someone (like me) would look forward to their falling because it’s fun to rake them up into big piles and stuff them in bags. But this essay is not about the ...

Christian music strikes the right chord

Commentary

I heard it as a teenager. I said it as a parent and a teacher. You may have too. “How can you listen to that crap? It’s terrible. Do you even know what the lyrics are saying? That’s not music.” And you may have given or received the same response. “I don’t listen to the words. I just like the beat.” Or something to the effect of, “The artist is just expressing their emotions or making social commentary.” Or ” I don’t mind the profanity, that’s just the way that they talk.” I never actively looked for Christian-themed music until I taught my son’s Faith ...