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The Maine Democrat — Letters to the Editor May 2008 What's A Little Competition Between Friends? By Henry Garfield It's hard to ignore the similarities between the competitions for the Red Sox center field job and the Democratic presidential nomination. Coco Crisp and Hillary Clinton are solid, battle-tested veterans, capable of stellar performances but with somewhat suspect credentials. Jacoby Ellsbury and Barack Obama are attractive unknowns who have dazzled in their first exposure to the big leagues. Like the two Democratic contenders, Crisp and Ellsbury are on the same team and are working toward the same goal: victory in the fall. Ellsbury electrified Red Sox Nation in 2008 with his, his timely hitting, and a solid performance in the World Series. But Crisp likely saved a few games with his defense over the long haul of the season, and is one of the premier defensive center fielders in the game. How did we get into these twin conundrums, in both baseball and politics? Once upon a time, there was a center fielder named Johnny Damon, who had long hair and a beard and the ability to turn a game with a timely hit or a piece of bravado on the bases. Though he never had a strong throwing arm, he could run down a fly ball with the best of them. He hit two home runs in the most glorious Red Sox victory of the millennium, the game seven blowout of the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. You hardly recognize him now, in left field and pinstripes, the sideburns all that remain of the hair, a shadow of his former self. Damon clearly left his prime in Boston , no matter what they're paying him in New York . Al Gore should have won the 2000 presidential election and been in the White House on September 11, 2001 . The twin blows of the Ralph Nader campaign and the Supreme Court ruling on the Florida vote saddled us instead with a protracted war and a looming recession. He has since gone on to greener pastures (pun intended), winning a Nobel Prize for his work on environmental issues. Gore, like John Kerry after him, wasn't an inspiring candidate, but in the 2008 political season the Democrats, like the Red Sox, have two stars vying for one position. Obama may be more exciting, but Clinton is the steadier, more dependable player. The presence of Obama and Ellsbury means that neither Clinton nor Crisp can ride out a slump without looking over their shoulders. Crisp hit an even .300 in 2005, his last year in Cleveland . He started off the 2006 season as Boston 's leadoff hitter, but broke a finger in the season's second series and was out for several weeks. He recovered, but his batting stroke didn't. He hit only .268 in 2007, but should have won a Gold Glove for his defense. At 28, he is six years younger than Damon. Ellsbury began the 2007 season in Portland , and blew through Pawtucket on his way to Fenway. A few days into his first call-up, he scored from second on a wild pitch, and it's been a love fest with the Fenway faithful ever since. He hit .353 in 33 games, and had that four-hit game in the World Series. He can make the plays in the field, too, though Crisp plays center when both are in the lineup. He is 24 years old. Fans and sports pundits are clamoring for Ellsbury to be the regular center fielder, just as many Democrats and editorial writers want the charismatic Obama to be the party's nominee. But as this is being written, one week before the Pennsylvania primary, both decisions remain difficult. Crisp has played well so far. In a Sunday night ESPN game against the Yankees, he scored an important insurance run by singling, stealing second, advancing to third on a fly ball, and dashing home on short fly ball by Ellsbury. Thing is, you reverse their positions and you probably still score the run. The two players, like the two politicians, bring similar sets of skills to the table. Ellsbury has great baseball instincts; Crisp has made the plays before. Obama gives the better speech, but Clinton has a more thorough grasp of the issues. My opinion will surely annoy many of my fellow Democrats and Red Sox fans, but here it is: All else being roughly equal, experience counts. Hillary Clinton should be the nominee, and Coco Crisp should be the regular center fielder. The attractive upstarts can wait a little longer.
Henry Garfield is the author of five published novels, including Tartabull's Throw, set during the Red Sox pennant-winning 1967 season. A great-great grandson of President James A. Garfield, he lives in Bangor , Maine .
Jan- Feb 2008 LETTER ON PLUM CREEK PROPOSAL To the Editor: As fourth-generation residents with long family ties to the working forests of the Moosehead Lake region, we urge you to help us protect Moosehead from the inappropriate development proposed by Plum Creek. Like many other residents we love living here. After all, we have a national treasure in our backyard! This beautiful, forested, lake landscape with the wildlife that lives in it is also our golden goose. We have a wonderful quality of life and the precious gift of a nature-based economy. If we take care of them, our natural resources will provide us with diverse products and tourism opportunities that are self-renewing and low impact to the environment. This is good for us and a good thing for all Mainers. Moosehead Lake and the North Woods of Maine represent an incredible opportunity to save a natural treasure for residents and visitors now and generations to come. We must balance our use of these resources with respect for and protection of them. The better stewards of the resources we are, the more we will get back in return. In Greenville, we have been blessed with a brisk economy for at least the last five years. This blessing has brought with it an explosion of development in Greenville and the area. As the gateway to the Moosehead Lake region, we are therefore already very challenged by the current rate of growth to maintain our small-town character and way of life. We want to keep intact our real, woods-town feel with our locally owned stores, restaurants, and businesses, safe streets, and busy, attractive downtown. We like our quiet, country woods roads, star-filled night skies, and clean, natural surroundings. This makes us unique and attractive as a tourist destination. The large-scale development proposed by Plum Creek in the unorganized territories around Moosehead Lake would destroy forever what is different and special about this place. Let’s keep Moosehead Lake, the surrounding mountains, forests, and waters someplace to which we can all escape. This is why people choose to live and vacation here. Let these woods remain free of the gates, traffic, crime, trash, noise, lights, pavement, and pollution that would inevitably come from the large resorts, golf courses, and sprawling development in Plum Creek’s plan. Plum Creek purchased this land inexpensively, knowing it was zoned for forestry and primitive recreation. They assured us all that they would not seek to develop it. They had their chance to live up to their words and manage the forests, wildlife, and watersheds properly. They could have provided continuous, valuable timber for them and good jobs for us. They could have shown respect for our forest heritage and the natural resources we value. They chose not to do any of these things. Now we must choose to do what is in our best interests for the present and the future. Keeping this land zoned for forestry and primitive recreation is the right thing to do for the economy, for the environment, and for the people and creatures that live and visit here. It will allow us to preserve public access and the authentic, wild feel of the area. This is the basis for our nature tourism economy. We have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of those in other places, to make informed choices, and to be involved in the decision-making process that affects what happens here. The water, air, and wildlife belong to all Mainers. So we all have the responsibility to protect them. Of course change is inevitable, so let’s make it positive change that benefits everyone. We have one chance to make sure that development is quality, not quantity. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity! The Moosehead Lake area is filled with independent, creative, and intelligent people who choose to live here for the way of life. We accept responsibility for our livelihood. Neither we, nor LURC, however, are responsible for ensuring enormous profits for corporations and landowners, especially at our expense. LURC works for Mainers and we need them to uphold their purpose and goals by protecting the natural resources we all own. Plum Creek has no inherent right to rezoning and should not be rewarded for mismanagement of these precious resources. At the very least, Moosehead and the people of Maine deserve a better plan. I urge you to write to LURC and attend or testify at a public hearing. For information on the proposal, the hearings, and how to contact LURC go to www.maine.gov/doc/lurc. Please help us protect Moosehead! Christina Pritham Liros and Joseph W. Richards TITLE: The Age of Consequences Nov-Dec 2007 LETTER ON MAINE'S MOVIE POTENTIAL— Victoria Rowell was born in May of 1959 as a ward of the State of Maine. Her unmarried, aristocratic and mentally ill mother was incapable of taking care of her and her unknown black father was simply not around. This beginning, in and of itself, has been the demise of many children born into the system of state appointed care. For Vickie it was actually the first of a series of events that on the surface seemed tragic and in the end proved to be lucky turning points that would ultimately converge to enrich her life in a way that very few of us are fortunate to experience. Today at 48, Victoria Rowell is an award winning actress and author who credits the deep love and commitment of the foster women who raised her for building her self-esteem, so that she could not only tolerate her foster care life, but revel in it and excel because of it. As I spoke with Victoria in November of 2007 it was clear that, even over the phone, I was talking to a passionate, intelligent woman with great focus that has a deep drive to tell her life story so that other children in the same situation can dream and believe in themselves. The promotional tour for her award winning book "The Women Who Raised Me" has kept her on the road for almost 200 days since the book's release in April of 2007. The results have been amazing as over 100,000 copies have been sold. "The Women Who Raised Me" is also published in Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria and a paperback version set for release in the spring of 2008 guarantee that her inspirational story will be told again and again around the globe. Home Box Office is currently considering the book to option the movie rights. Sounds like this would be a great movie to shoot in Maine, hire Maine people and tell a wonderful Maine story. Unfortunately, as much as Victoria would love to see that happen, she will have little control over where the film is shot. If HBO chooses to option the story they will have complete control over where the film is shot and the construction of the story. Because Maine can be replicated through movie magic in states that have passed deeper incentives, even Victoria's drive and passion to have the potential film shot in Maine will have a limited impact. When Victoria was born a group of concerned citizens came together over the course of her life to advocate for her. Today there is a group of Maine citizens advocating for the film industry in Maine and ultimately for Victoria and her story. They are negotiating for additional film incentives so that we can ensure that beautiful, empowering stories like "The Women Who Raised Me" can be filmed over and over again in Maine, employing Maine citizens in well paying jobs and branding Maine as the wonderful place that it is to live and raise a family. I would challenge you to purchase of copy of "The Women Who Raised Me", read it and ask yourself if this story embodies the independent and supportive spirit of Maine people. Then think about what a tragedy it would be if the film version is shot in another state. Hopefully, this process will prompt you to call or write your state senator and legislator encouraging them to vote for additional film incentives. If we all chip in we can accomplish the same thing that Victoria Rowell's foster parents accomplished with their love and devotion to Victoria. We can all become the foster parents of film in Maine and help to build the self- esteem and economic stability of every citizen in Maine. The Maine Democrat serves over 23,000 readers throughout the state of Maine. It brings them up-to-date on issues, highlighting the work people in Maine are accomplishing to make a difference. It's inclusive and progressive and has won acclaim for its in-depth interviews. The magazine style covers topics thoroughly. The publication is bimonthly and covers stories that will have an impact in the lives of everyone who lives in Maine. From coverage at the State House in Augusta to reports from Machias to Kittery the newspaper covers events that will form what the future of Maine will be like. Solon is located in Central Maine, which makes it a central place for a home base since the publication is about what's happening everywhere in the state of Maine. It is the first state-wide news-style magazine of its kind. In 1828 the first Maine Democrat was published in Saco and ceased publication in 1878. The reinvented Maine Democrat hopes to inspire like minded people to become actively involved in their communities and state politics. It is a volunteer run publication whose dedicated personnel believe that everyone can make a difference. The publication is printed in Augusta, by union workers. To Contact: Please submit ideas, articles, & news to: The Maine Democrat Ramona du Houx, PO Box 311, Solon, ME 04979 (207) 643-2795 To Subscribe: Please Support Your Only Truly Statewide Democratic Newspaper! • Where else can you find information on what Maine’s elected officials are accomplishing for the state? • Where else can you read the entire story with long quotes from the people who are making a difference? • Where else can you find in-depth profiles? The hard work of people making a difference needs to be continually highlighted. Their stories inspire others. Please, help this volunteer-run publication get the news out!! A year’s subscription is just $20.00. That's six bi-monthy issues. Please send your— Name: Address: Along with your check or money order to: Ramona du Houx, PO Box 311, Solon, ME 04979. Not paid for by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
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