Antifa. Where does this word come from? Literally, it means Against Fascism. What is fascism? The Nazis, were fascist. They believed white people (Arians) had a God-given duty to enslave or exterminate everyone else. In the 1920s and ’30s Germany was in terrible shape. They lost World ...

The crackdown and overreaction to last week’s Capitol Hill riot is so lacking in proportionality as to constitute pure pretext for what has and will continue to follow. In the last few years, there have been widespread riots, two attempted coups, and an election awash in fraud. Following ...

In response to Richard Makuch’s column of Dec. 14 headlined “Working for dream is no privilege,” I would like to point out that his discussion not only is illogical, but also shows a profound misunderstanding of the concept of “white privilege.” In his column, he describes the ...

A recent article in the OBSERVER was headlined “New York attorney general seeks to dissolve the NRA.” The New York attorney general sued the National Rifle Association, seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over claims that top executives used monies for ...

What a fool I am. I thought this Christmas was going to be different. Christmas 2020 was going to be the Christmas where I finally had obtained the perfect gift for my wife. I had visions of my wife becoming uncontrollable in never before experienced joy when she unwrapped the world’s most ...

I have been around this country now for many decades. Yet, I have never witnessed a sadder day in our history than this past Wednesday when a mob took control of the United States Capitol building. It was made especially sad because it was incited and supported by the President of the United ...

This is in response to the commentary noting turbines in Lake Erie would be “irresponsible.” (Dec. 26). To tell you the truth, my first thought on reading the commentary on wind turbines in Lake Erie was, huh? Climate change won’t be mitigated by renewable wind power? Turbines are a ...

Trust me, dear reader, I know nobody likes to listen to anyone else describe their ailments and maladies. It’s quite acceptable to go on (and on) about our own – that no one else wants to have to listen to. Got it? I do. BUT Twice this year I have ended up in Westfield at their ...

I would be remiss if I didn’t start this article with a sincere wish that everyone may have a very happy and prosperous New Year. May this pandemic that has taken over our minds, soon be quickly dissolved. Throughout my adult life I have not endorsed any particular church doctrine, ...

Resourcefulness appears to be one of the common threads that run through the tapestry of life. I remember well the frigid, blustery and wind driven snows during the winters of my youth back in the Depression days of the mid 1930s. Our family farm home was located in the Boston Hills of ...

Many believe solar power is better than using fossil fuels for energy. They argue solar technology has the potential to help the environment and make communities more energy independent. Federal and state incentives have also made renewable energy very attractive to developers. As with any ...

Begging your pardon, but I fear President Donald Trump is not done with his yet. There is more chaos to come. Trump began using his pardon power very early in his term. One of the first was “America’s toughest sheriff” Joe Arpaio, known for his cruel treatment of immigrants. Trump ...

I was raised on a dairy farm and so living with animals was a part of my growing up. Back in those days, we had a relatively small number of milking cows — 30 to 40 — and so each one had its own name. My favorite cow of all time was Doris. She was a large, mostly white Holstein who was ...

Ramon and Marla came for family counseling. They had spoken with their family physician a week earlier. Marla presented a frightful story about her mother, Cicily, who resided with them. I barely explained privacy laws when Maria burst out crying. Ramon held her tight in his arms. He whispered ...

Back when I was in my early 20s, I started a tradition with my mother. I would call her right after midnight on New Year’s Eve and wish her a Happy New Year. No matter where I was, what I was doing, or what time zone I was in. Over the past 30 years, my wife Kelly and I have celebrated ...

During this past political campaign there was a lot hysteria going around about “Democratic Socialists” and “Right-wing Extremism,” as if both the extremes of the right and the left were becoming a huge threat to the Nation. In my view, such fears, though real, should not be ...

Wind and solar projects raise a lot of fear and anxiety in Chautauqua County. These projects, which provide clean, renewable power are designed to mitigate climate change. These projects offer significant local benefit — but you wouldn’t know it from listening to the strident voices of ...

I am appalled at the behavior of certain members of the Dunkirk Common Council. What has happened to civility and common courtesy? The animosity between the council and the mayor is on display for all to see and read about. Meanwhile, the growth of the city has been put on hold so that they ...

To say that we have faced a difficult year would be an understatement. Death, illnesses, loss of income, opposition to political parties, refusal to follow guidelines for healthcare, social and racial injustice have influenced our thinking and feeling states, creating fear, anxiety and ...

These comments are in response to the Editor’s corner column (Dec. 11) where a discussion of current environmental threats to the health of Lake Erie includes the future possibility of offshore wind turbines. The column refers to the collaborative report, “Our Water, Our Future” issued ...