Archive By Section - Columnists
Saad Karamat: Focus on Muslim humanity
Four California Muslims ages 21-35 have been arrested on account of their plans to join the Taliban and kill Americans. These arrests come as a big hit to me as a 23-year-old California Muslim.
Jim Mullen: Some years, you just want to stay home
Almost everyone we know has packed up and gone south for the winter. The ones who haven't left yet will be gone soon. Our friends who live south of us are leaving to go even farther south. I have never been to Belize or Costa Rica or the Cayman Islands, but I constantly hear people say they are going back for the fourth or fifth time because they liked it so much. They also have much more money and time.
Brian Springer: Community makes a life wonderful
"It's a Wonderful Life" has always been one of my favorite movies, and the older I get, the more I can relate to its life lessons and subtextual meanings.
Jan Ting: Fear not the fiscal cliff
The so-called "fiscal cliff" is the confluence of three separate legal events on Jan. 1, 2013: expiration of a temporary payroll tax cut, expiration of the so-called "Bush" income and estate tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003, and mandatory spending cuts also known as "sequestration." Many commentators are expressing concern that unless Congress intervenes by Jan. 1, the economy will suffer a serious setback. But I don't think that's the worst thing that could ...
Danny Tyree: Philanthropy adapts, is entering the 21st century
Just as Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season for brick-and-mortar retailers and Cyber Monday launches the online shopping season, we now have #GivingTuesday (the day after Cyber Monday) as a starting point for charitable acts by individuals, groups and companies.
Nat Hentoff: US needs second Declaration of Independence
My spirits were temporarily lifted when, last week, the Washington, D.C.-based Daily Caller website reported "more than 675,000 digital signatures appeared on 69 separate secession petitions covering all 50 states, according to ... requests lodged with the White House's 'We the People' online petition system" ("White House 'secede' petitions reach 675,000 signatures, 50-state participation," David Martosko, dailycaller.com, Nov. 14). Moreover, in various parts of the country, citizens infuriated for various reasons by the re-election of ...
Kathryn Lopez: This holiday season, avoid being materialistic
For as long as I can remember, I've always thought about waking up obscenely early the morning after Thanksgiving, to check out the goings-on at the toy or department store. Not because I wanted to shop, but to visit the safari - it's always struck me as quite the exotic mystery, why anyone would want to walk away from a calm morning with family or friends to fight for a parking spot. Of course, now ...
Michael Reagan: It’s time for the GOP to reach out to others
Forget Republican comebacks in 2014 or 2016. Unless it gets its head and its heart straight, the party might never win the popular vote or the White House again. The GOP today is not my father's party. And until the hierarchy of the GOP stops talking about how great Ronald Reagan was and starts embracing what he really stood for, the party of conservatism is destined for the ash heap of history. Ronald Reagan was ...
Steve Lunetta: Renovation reveals new tax rip-offs
Our money pit known as the Meadview house is coming along nicely. For those of you who are unaware, Trish and I bought a fixer-upper disaster in Placerita Canyon last year. Every spare dime has been going into renovations. And aspirin to relieve my headaches. Living in a fixer-upper is certainly a challenge. There is always a project going on with the accompanying dust, mess and commotion. Everything is higgledy-piggledy. And for a neat freak ...
David Hegg: We all win when we partner to solve a problem
There seems to be too much "either-or" thinking today. It happens in marriages, in friendships and in politics. "Either-or thinking" is what I call it when two people or groups have opposing ideas and are on the road to an all out fight over which idea will prevail. The byproduct of such sentiment is competition that usually devolves into hyperbole, cynicism, personal attacks and fractured relationships.
Tim Myers: Council hesitant on speech issues
Why do "The Jersey Shore" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" command (relatively) large audiences?
Frank Ferry: Celebrate holidays in Old Town Newhall
The holidays are here and a host of festive opportunities perfectly suited to the season are available in Old Town Newhall.
Betty Arenson: With job title comes responsibility
Democrats prevailed on Nov. 6 and you won't forget that. The media dishes daily doses from all sorts of pundits and yahoos spewing their claptraps on how Republicans were and are wrong. As is typical of Democrats getting the job, they reject the responsibility that goes with it. The media supports the duplicity on every level.
Tom Purcell: Federal government has turned into a money factory
Good morning, class," says the sixth-grade teacher. "Today, we have a special guest from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving. Mr. Bob Johnson is going to tell us how money is made. Feel free to ask questions."
Charles Vignola: Conspiracy of fools by conservatives
As someone who works in Hollywood, I find the concept of conspiracies very entertaining. Some of my favorite movies and TV shows, from "The Parallax" to "Homeland" revolve around grand, byzantine plots engineered by shadowy figures to manipulate the masses, thwart democracy and control the world.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Tom Purcell: Are humans getting dumber?
The report said people are getting dumber - at least I think that's what it said, but the big words kept throwing me off."
Diana West: Setting the record straight on Joe McCarthy
Freshman Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is just the latest in a long series of public figures to be reviled for "McCarthyism" following his recent questioning of Chuck Hagel, President Obama's nominee for secretary of defense.
Joe Guzzardi: Obama pushes amnesty
After President Obama left for a three-day Florida golf vacation that included a round with Tiger Woods, the White House announced his latest immigration plan.
SCV Voices: From SignalSCV.com
Editor's note: On last Tuesday's Kevin Buck column "Straw men live in glass houses," one poster on SignalSCV.com asked the question, "In your opinion, what are the five biggest problems America faces right now?" Here are some responses from his fellow posters.
David Hegg: What makes right, right?
I recently met a man who was the epitome of post-modern thought in that he did not believe in absolute truth.
Tim Myers: No money, no county
I love history. I plan to purchase the Blu-Ray of the recent film "Lincoln" and rewatch certain key scenes 100 times in a row, unapologetically.
Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall
In Santa Clarita, the arts influence our community's quality of life. Without even realizing it, the arts act as an economic driver - creating and supporting jobs, generating revenue and serving as a cornerstone of the tourism industry.
Steven and Cokie Roberts: Voting reform
"Obama's proposed voting commission under partisan fire from both sides."
Alice Khosravy: California is at bottom for business
Just a few short days ago the lanterns fell, bringing an end to Chinese New Year season for 2013.
Joe Gandelman: America’s poop deck politics
It's the ultimate stomach turner: how Carnival's 893-foot-long cruise ship Triumph, along with its 4,200 passengers, was stranded due to a fuel engine leak for five days with no food, little water and few working bathrooms.
Kevin Bayona: China's rise is challenge to U.S.
The start of the 21st century has brought with it an avalanche of international problems such as war, economic recession, nuclear proliferation, and rising global competitors. Although all these issues merit individual attention and consideration, I think the unrelenting rise of China presents the largest and most significant global challenge to the United States.
