By Udi Ofer Last week, Americans got a front row seat to the two systems of justice we have in America, one reserved for rich white men and the other for communities of color. Unfortunately, though, many people may have drawn the wrong lessons from these examples. On Thursday, Paul Manafort, a white man, got a 47-month sentence for massive tax and bank fraud, far less than the 24 years recommended by prosecutors. People were outraged, rightfully pointing out that every day in America, Black people face harsher sentences for less serious offenses. Many even called for Manafort to receive more prison time as a way to address this inequity. One day later, another high profile case hit…

*** “Many people are skeptical about the marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say that Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home type, while Michael Jackson is more a homosexual pedophile.”   -Norm MacDonald, on Saturday Night Live 1994   “The family that accused Michael Jackson of molesting their child are just in it for the money.” “Macaulay Culkin knew him for years and says that Jackson never touched him.” “He seems like such a sweet, innocent man who just loves children.” “What kind of parents leave their son with a 35-year-old man, anyway?” We have all heard these excuses for Michael Jackson, or even thought them ourselves. As a society, we tried to con…

During National CACFP Week Capstone Community Action, a non-profit sponsor of the CACFP joins with Vermont family child care providers in acknowledging the many ways our community benefits from the CACFP. Children who are cared for by providers participating in the CACFP benefit by being fed nutritious USDA regulated meals that ensure their proper development. These children gain from early nutrition education that helps them establish positive eating habits that will enrich the quality of their diet throughout their life. Parents of children in child care are assured that their child(ren) receives high-quality meals. With proper nutrition, the child is less likely to experience illnes…

15 Vermont towns got 2019 started by passing a climate solutions resolution on Town Meeting Day this year, with more results to come. Last year, 39 Vermont towns passed the resolution, which brings the total 54. The results of 350Vermont’s two-year campaign indicate that many are calling for a halt to new fossil fuel infrastructure and a transition to renewable energy that is fair and equitable for all. Some resolutions included additional requests for specific emission reduction projects for their towns.  Last fall the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report calling for radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to limit global warming, yet Vermont emissio…

Green Mountain United Way and Tatum’s Totes’ are celebrating their third year as partners serving the foster children of Central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom. Through this partnership, organizations and individuals throughout the community have supported Vermont children entering into foster care by providing essential  items that go into Tatum’s Totes backpacks, and gifts to support foster  families at the holidays. This past December, employees at organizations throughout Central and Northern Vermont opened their hearts to foster children by contributing holiday gifts to over 260 children and families in Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans, and Washington Counties. The outpouring of…

By G. E. Shuman              Sometimes we can be shown a truth and witness a lesson to be learned about some big thing we are going through, because of some smaller incident or observation that we experience. These things become object lessons from real life; they are parables that are more than stories, but real-life evidence that the bigger thing that we fear will be okay. Such is, in my belief, a thing that happened to my wife and to me just last Tuesday.             For many days before last Tuesday Lorna and I had been worrying, talking to each other, and also praying about something that was about to happen to some members of our family. Being proud parents, grandparents and grea…

Oscar Winner for Best Animated Film                              *** There was a media backlash against “Bohemian Rhapsody” for winning the Golden Globe for Best Drama and “Green Book” for winning the Oscar for Best Picture.           Backlash is an understatement. It was more like a coordinated firestorm of internet fury. If you google Bohemian Rhapsody Deserved to Win and Green Book Deserved to Win, you get a grand total of TWO articles praising “Green Book.” The dozens of other articles are expressions of righteous outrage over the tragedy of these mediocre old-fashioned movies winning major awards.           Well, I thoroughly enjoyed “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Green Book.” The…