http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:22:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_325215648.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_325215648.html Earlier this month I spent some quality time in contemplation in a retreat house at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Part of the stay included attending late-morning Mass on weekdays with the Sisters of Providence in the chapel of Owens Hall. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:04:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_325180545.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_325180545.html Surreal is an overused word. So few moments in life actually live up to its definition. Your first fistfight. Climbing out of a storm cellar after a tornado. And shopping on Black Friday. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:01:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_325180208.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_325180208.html A CBS News poll of adults taken in early October asked: “Which of these comes closest to your view? Abortion should be generally available to those who want it. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_322211758.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_322211758.html Two images pop into my mind when smoking gets mentioned. One makes me grin slightly and shake my head. The other still tugs at me years later, and makes me remember a two-word promise. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:34:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_321233457.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_321233457.html Ever since I read “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, I have been an admirer of well-crafted satire, sarcasm and irony. Been known to use the persuasive little devils myself on occasion. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_320210321.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_320210321.html It’s too late for Halloween, but the holiday reminded me of our family ghost story. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:17:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_318234543.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_318234543.html My friend Bob Cameron died this past week. Among the many things I learned from our friendship was to never again hear that someone really old has passed, then respond with a shallow, “Oh, well, sounds like he had a good, long run. I guess it was time.” Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:08:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_318230914.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_318230914.html Today, and for the following two days, Tribune-Star readers are being treated to a remarkable series of editorials and essays produced by the Indianapolis Star. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:46:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_315214827.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_315214827.html Mike Lunsford writes like Pete Maravich shot jumpers. Sometimes, he makes the literary craft seem so simple, effortless, such as a short bankshot, flowing fluidly off the Pistol’s right fingertips. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_314230312.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_314230312.html As best I can remember, I have never dreaded a single birthday — and never really understood the popular inclination to do so. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:27:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_311232753.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_311232753.html Think antiabortion rights politics is simple? Take a look at the week Rep. Brad Ellsworth had. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:05:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_311230629.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_311230629.html In a pivotal scene in the film “Field of Dreams,” Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella feels unfairly excluded from the fun. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:29:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_307232905.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_307232905.html Among the many truths Joan Ryan shares in her new book, “The Water Giver,” is this:“You don’t need to go to a monastery in Tibet to learn about living in the moment. Just spend a month in an ICU.” Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:58:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_306195952.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_306195952.html Seems like only yesterday that my class at Yorkville High got together to check out how we had changed in 50 years. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:37:00 +0000 http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_304223901.html http://www.clintonherald.com/tribstar/opinion_columns/local_story_304223901.html As I was walking out of Wednesday’s Power of the Purse luncheon for the United Way, a woman said to me, “You know, for a small city, Terre Haute really does some amazing things.”