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Columns

  • Somebody, anybody, lend us your ears

    Communication may be the best thing that the human race has going for it. We just have to make ourselves use it and use it wisely. Whether communing with God, our spouse, co-workers, or anyone else, it only works if we commit ourselves to first being a good and open listener.

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  • The difference between passion and compassion

    It is my turn to write a column this week. And I ponder, as most of my fellow employees do, what shall I grace my reading public with today?

    I am passionate about the written word, be it fact or fiction.

    I find reading to be one of the most relaxing yet extremely energizing pastimes.

    However, writing is an expression of a deeper emotion — compassion.

    Passion alone can be somewhat selfish. When I say I’m passionate, I am speaking of my own needs and desires. It is a powerful yet touching reaction to those things.

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  • Stop the misclassification of employees

    A bill now making its way through the Kentucky Legislature would benefit the vast majority of small businesses that play by the rules when it comes to the practice of using contract labor.

    Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, passed the state Senate last week, and it deserves passage in the House, too.

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  • A grieving father’s plea for a gun ban

    Most of our top elected officials probably didn’t notice — they were too busy making fools of themselves over an idiotic budget “crisis” of their own making — but something worth remembering happened in Washington this week: A grieving parent pleaded softly for a ban on military-style weapons such as the one used to kill his son.

    Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee could not help but be transfixed by the witness who sat before them Wednesday, opening his presentation with a heartbreaking introduction.

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  • The unpopular party

    It is not just the winter of Republican discontent. It will in all likelihood be the spring, summer and fall, as well.

    The national party is leaderless and nearly issueless, but besides that, is thriving and in fine fighting trim.

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  • The new TV habit: One season at a time

    SARAH BERKSHIRE

    Guest Columnist

    sberkshire@thenewsenterprise.com

     

    A new entertainment avenue has emerged.

    Empowered by on-demand cable and online services such as Netflix, more and more Americans are “binge” watching, or viewing at least three hours’ worth of a television show in a single sitting.

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  • Love’s the higher law

    Note: This is the first in a weekly Lenten series on Christianity and pop culture.

    It was a rare bright morning in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, in October 2000, when I walked into a record store looking for a CD by Beth Orton and heard U2’s “Beautiful Day” for the first time.

    I was pleasantly surprised. Those guys were about to turn 40, and this was as good as anything they had recorded at their peak of popularity in the 1980s.

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  • When perfect isn’t enough

    A few weeks ago, I watched a movie on TV called “The Perfect Family.”

    Right away, just by the title, you know they’re not perfect.

    The main character is Eileen, the mother of the family. A devout Catholic, she attends Mass every day, and at confession she confesses every sin she can think of down to her gossipy thoughts.

    She serves communion and delivers food to the homebound. She’s careful to pray before meals and keeps a family altar in her home.

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  • Fairness doesn’t mean changing your beliefs

    By Nelda Moore

    Last month, the Bardstown-Nelson County Human Rights Commission (of which I am a member) hosted a workshop on “Fairness in the Workplace.” The Kentucky Standard ran a poll afterwards asking, “Does Nelson County need an anti-discrimination law to protect gays and lesbians?” More than 70 percent of our residents answered “no.”

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  • Kentucky Senate revives idea of nullifying federal laws

    John C. Calhoun lives again.

    The 19th Century advocate of the nullification of federal laws has been reincarnated as Jared Carpenter, a Kentucky state senator.

    The Berea Republican is the sponsor of a bill that would allow the state to ignore any new federal gun laws. It passed the state Senate by a vote of 34-3.

    In explaining the need for the measure, Carpenter mentioned that he couldn’t buy small-caliber ammunition because many Kentuckians are afraid the feds are coming to take their guns.

    Over their cold, dead brains!

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