Posts Tagged ‘Wakefield Human Rights Commission’
Sentimental journey
So, it’s settled. A majority of the Wakefield Town Council gets to define what “Official Town Sentiment” is. The Council voted earlier this month to give itself the power to determine what constitutes Official Town Sentiment, at least in terms of which flags can be flown from town flagpoles as an expression of such sentiment. […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Community, History, Humor, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 1 Comment
Tags: American Flag, Boston, Christian Flag, election, First Amendment, flag, flagpoles, flags, Humor, Juneteenth, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, Mehreen Butt, News, Official Town Sentiment, Old Glory, Opinion, Politics, POW-MIA, Pride flag, Stars and Stripes, Supreme Court, symbol, Tom Mullen, US Supreme Court, veterans, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Town Council, Wakefield Veterans Advisory Board, Wakefield Warrior, Warrior logo, WHRC
Flagging allegiance
There aren’t a lot of human rights violations in Wakefield, Massachusetts. So, to justify its existence, the Wakefield Human Rights Commission has to find things to do. I just wish they’d stick to discussing their favorite Girl Scout Cookies and leave our country’s flag, holidays and traditions alone. The Wakefield Human Rights Commission (WHRC) recently […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, History, Humor, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 4 Comments
Tags: America, Americal Civic Center, Edward Dombroski Jr., flagpoles, flags US flag, genocide, Girl Scout Cookies, History, Humor, immigrants, inclusive, Indians, Indigenous People, Juneteenth, land acknowledgement, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, Native Americans, Old Glory, Opinion, oppression, patriotism, Politics, POW-MIA flag, Pride flag, School Committee, Stars & Stripes, Thomas A. Mullen, Town Council, United States, veterans, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield Town Council, Wakefield Warrior Logo, welcoming, WHRC, woke, wokeism, wokism, Youth Council
Happy fall celebration!
When we spoke of a war on Christmas, they rolled their eyes. They told us to “grow up” when we wanted to keep our high school logos. They said cancel culture was a myth. Now, they can’t believe that the forces of diversity, equity and inclusion want to cancel Halloween.
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Community, Humor, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 4 Comments
Tags: cancel culture, Columbus Day, COVID, Critical Race Theory, culturally responsive teaching, diversity, equity, fall celebration, groupthinkHalloween, Humor, inclusion, Julie Kukenbergerger, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, Melrose, Melrose Public Schools, Opinion, Politics, School Committee, schools education, social justice, students, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Warrior Logo, War on Christmas, Youth Council
Decolonizing Columbus
I love Columbus Day because it reminds me of a bygone era before children were taught to hate their own country, its founding and its history. Now, we teach students that they live on stolen land and are descended from genocidal oppressors. Must do wonders for their social emotional wellness. Our local Human Rights Commission […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, History, Humor, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 3 Comments
Tags: America, Christopher Columbus, Columbus Day, explorer, Galvin Middle School, General John Galvin, headdress, History, humor Wakefield High School, Indians, Indigenous People, Indigenous Peoples Day, Majorettes, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, Native Americans, Opinion, Politics, restorative justice, schools, Wakefield, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield School Committee, Wakefield Warriors, Warrior logo
Policy of truth
“We’re only getting rid of the Warrior logo. The Warrior name can stay.” How many times did we hear those soothing words of assurance over the last year? I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it and I don’t believe it now. Even before they cancelled the logo, I said, “They’ll be back […]
Filed under: Art, Columns & Essays, Humor, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 18 Comments
Tags: Cyrus Wakefield, definition, dictionary, Eagle Feather, Hiker, Humor, immigrants, Indian, Lakers, logos, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, Native American, Opinion, policy, Politics, Richard Bayrd, School Committee, schools, team names, violence, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield High School, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Public Schools, Wakefield Warrior, war, warrior, wicker, Youth Council
2020, we hardly knew ye
We couldn’t wait to kick 2020 to the curb, and indeed it was a rotten year in many respects. The pandemic brought illness and worse to the old and vulnerable. For the rest of us, it was a year of prohibitions: on going out to eat, on walking around the Lake, on attending church, on […]
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Tags: 2020, business, court, COVID coronavirus, DPW, Fire Department, flags, Humor, lockdowns, Mark Sardella, Memorial Day, News, Opinion, pandemic, plastic, police, Politics, prohibition, social media, straws, Town Meeting, Veterans' Day, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Warrior logo, Winship Mansion, wreaths, Youth Council, Zoom
Warriors forever
The writing has been on the wall for some time. The space on the Wakefield High School field house facade where the Wakefield Warrior logo was once proudly displayed has been conspicuously empty now for at least five years. Ever since an ill wind reportedly blew the Warrior off the building, the School Department has […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, History, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 11 Comments
Tags: American Indians, cancel culture, Dick Bayrd, Galvin Middle School, Humor, Jack Galvin, John Rogers Galvin, Leonard Bayard, logo, Mark Sardella, mascot, Massachusetts, Native Americans, NATO, Opinion, Politics, racist, Richard Bayrd, Saugus Sachems, U.S. Army, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield High School, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Warriors, warrior
Reasons to be cheerful
If you approached the 2020 Annual Town Meeting with a touch of trepidation, you certainly weren’t alone. There were several articles on the warrant that had the potential to make Wakefield a less safe and more restrictive community.
Filed under: Columns & Essays | 1 Comment
Tags: bias, Black Lives Matter, BLM, businesses, coronavirus, COVID-19, Humor, Mark Sardella, merchants, Opinion, plastic bags, plastic straws, police, Politics, prejudice, School Resource Officer, Town Meeting, transparency, voters, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield High School, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Police Department, WHRC, woke, WPD
Christmas List 2016
Well, it’s that time of year again. The holiday season is upon us and that means it’s once again time to review my annual Christmas list. My list includes gifts for both naughty and nice, because who am I to judge? So, without further ado… To Selectman Peter May: automatic canine voter registration. To Fred […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Humor, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 1 Comment
Tags: Albion Street, Americal Civic Center, Betsy Sheeran, Brighview Senior Living, Christmas, d-Con, Dan Benjamin, Designer Lawn Sprinkler Service, Dr. Seuss, elf, Fred Rich, Grinch, guns, Jennifer Migliore, Lake Quannapoeitt, Mark Sardella, Merry Christmas, Mike Collins, Nathaniel Gayman, Nobel Prize, Patrick Bruno, Peter May, Rose Morgan, Roundup, Street List, Uniratians, Wakefield Civic League, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield Massachusetts Paul DiNocco, Wakefield Police Department, Wakefield Public Schools, Wendy Dennis, White Christmas, Will Ferrell, Words with Friends
The Spirit of Giving
‘Tis the Christmas season, and Mr. Paid Reporter Man is filled with the spirit of giving toward the naughtiest and the nicest in Wakefield. He’s made his list and checked it twice. If you don’t find your name on his list, perhaps you haven’t been sufficiently naughty or nice. To the Lake Quannapowitt Water Quality […]
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Tags: Alison Simcox, Brian McGrail, Bronwyn Dell-Volpe, Christmas, Colonial Point Apartments, Conservation Commission, Dan Lieber, Dennis Cloherty Heron Pond, Douglas Heath, Fred Rich, Humor, Lake Quannapowitt, MBTA, Michael Collins, Pat Bruno, Politics, Richard Stinson, Robert McLaughlin, Robert Mitchell, Seth Moulton, Shaw's, Stephen P. Maio, Thomas Mullen, Wakefield Civic League, Wakefield Human Rights Commission, Wakefield MA, Wakefield School Committee, ZBA