South Haven working-class hero downplays his value: ‘I’m nothing special’
“If you want to be a hero, well just follow me. A working-class hero is something to be.” - John Lennon Gary Shaffer didn’t understand why I wanted to meet...
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Depictions of God reflect ‘egocentric bias’
What does God look like? An old white man with a long white beard? Someone with a clean-cut look and darker complexion? Possibly a young woman with a peaceful smile...
America is brimming with Spanish-speaking bilingual residents, so get used to it
I didn’t know that the refrigerator delivery men who arrived at my home earlier this week were bilingual. It was only after I showed them my beat-up old fridge, and...
Landscaping efforts spruce up stretch of Broadway in Gary
For the first time in my life, I noticed scenic landscaping in downtown Gary. Yes, I was born and raised in that city. Yes, I’ve driven down Broadway hundreds of...
‘Semi Queer’ book reveals lives and struggles of gay, trans truck drivers
At a truck stop in South Holland, Ill., a man looked at Dana Rose Gropp and asked, “What’s a pretty thing like you doing here?” Gropp, who’s been hauling loads...
Valparaiso ‘fire chaser’ defends his role in lucrative fire restoration industry
Today’s column is the third in a series about a family’s efforts to rebuild a ruined home and scorched lives after a house fire in rural Valparaiso. Shawn Blank can...
Obama’s lecture reminds Americans how a U.S. president should speak, act
It was so refreshing to watch a U.S. president deliver such an eloquent, humanized speech on an international platform, using just the right touches of humor, candor and caution. Of...
Nothing screams ‘I NEED GLASSES!’ like squinted eyes and a confused look
I knew I was in trouble when I had to squint to find a wall sign for the optical center inside the Target store. I stood in the middle of...
Walmart accused of ‘legalized shakedown’ after alleged shoplifting at Portage store
The 23-year-old man and his fiancée were accused of shoplifting at the Portage Walmart in May. They were approached by one of Walmart’s asset protection personnel and taken to a...
Reconciling self-contradictions is a life-long challenge
Our lives are littered with self-contradictions, though we prefer to keep them hidden. We conveniently ignore many of them to keep us sane, others to make us feel smarter than...