Opinion
by Char Miller | Special to the Courier The significance of the news that San Bernardino County has closed the Tesla Supercharger station in Upland is perfectly captured in the canvas sheaths that now cover nearly all 64 charging pedestals. The whole thing looks like a cemetery. As grave are the implications that Elon Musk […]
“In an era where headlines move faster than ever, trust in the institutions that deliver them is unraveling. Nowhere is this more evident than in the growing skepticism — and sometimes outright hostility — toward mainstream media. Once considered a cornerstone of democracy, the press is increasingly viewed with suspicion. Politicians, pundits, and even citizens themselves are working, knowingly or not, to discredit journalism at the exact moment it’s most needed.”
“On Saturday I managed to get my kids up and in the car ‘at the asscrack of dawn,’ as my daughter put it (8 a.m. to you and me), for a drive up to Tehachapi and a day of rural detective work. The aim was to locate the home my grandfather built — pretty much by himself — in the 1970s on the outskirts of the high desert town about 140 miles northwest of Claremont. That we made it up there in time for breakfast is a small miracle. With summer here, the ‘kids,’ 15, 19, and 23, are all sleeping well into the afternoon, so sitting down at Henry’s Cafe for chicken fried steak and biscuits and gravy at 10:15 was a rare mid-morning victory.”
“The issue of immigration affects me on a personal level. My parents emigrated legally from Germany to America in 1958. I’m first generation American and was born at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in 1960. My parents went through the arduous process of submitting lengthy documents, finding a sponsor, providing proof that they would be able to financially support themselves without state assistance and then … they waited in line. After a long while they finally received that coveted green card. I wonder how today’s immigrants who follow the same process feel about those who simply stroll across the border.”
“It’s not every day you see Trump supporters demanding transparency about Jeffrey Epstein’s dark dealings. But this moment cuts to the heart of why the First Amendment matters — and why the truth shouldn’t depend on which side you’re on. Even in America, powerful forces try to hide uncomfortable facts, testing whether we still believe in the public’s right to know. The Epstein case is a reminder of how easily silence can protect the powerful, from presidents to business leaders, while victims and the public are left in the dark.”
“When we talk about free speech and the First Amendment, it’s easy to think of them as national issues — battles fought in Washington or on cable news. But the truth is, the fight for free speech happens right here, in Claremont, every single day. That’s why we say free speech is local news.”
“Us men get up on tall ladders to retrieve Frisbees off roofs. In the rain. We drink too much, and a little more, then fall down. For most of our teens until an undetermined age, possibly forever, we’re driven by primitive forces, unfettered by common sense, caution, or even reality, all in the service of attracting a mate. In short, we do dumb stuff.”
“‘We’re just trying to put energy into our frustration,’ said 71-year-old Patricia from Norco, who was carrying a handmade, quite well rendered ‘No Kings’ sign and declined to provide her last name. ‘The therapist tell you, ‘Take your grief and move with it.’ It’s kind of grieving the loss of your country, but you can’t completely give up hope.’ Indeed. Once again a protest, though modest, left me feeling hopeful, an emotion in short supply for many of us these days.”
“Life is a carnival,” as the old Band song goes. “Two bits a shot.” Or it’s a parade. Free for the looking. At least it is in Claremont on the Fourth of July.
“Want to become a U.S. citizen? Up until recently one avenue was to be born here. Another way involves a 100-question oral citizenship test. The first question, under the heading ‘American Government,’ subheading ‘Principles of American Democracy,’ is ‘What is the supreme law of the land?’ The answer, of course, is ‘the Constitution.’ Is it though?”
By Peter Weinberger | pweinberger@claremont-courier.com At the Claremont Courier, we believe deeply in the power of a free press. It’s not just our job — it’s our purpose. And it’s protected by one of the most essential rights we have as Americans: the First Amendment. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of the […]
Many high school and college theater students graduate with a sense of confidence and confusion. For aspiring actors, the pursuit of professional training can feel like a daunting journey, teeming with conflicting advice and seemingly endless methodologies.
“The party was on at Claremont Manor, as Fred Williams turned 100 on Wednesday. Sure, he gets around a little slower these days, but Williams is still doing it on his own, without a walker or a cane. And above all he is as charismatic and engaging as anyone half his age.”
By Madeleine Farr | Special to the Courier I find it exceedingly embarrassing to be an American. I’ve sat on the couch for several minutes trying to select the best examples as to why I feel that way, and I’m overwhelmed. All one really needs to do to understand this is to step outside of […]
“On Saturday, I discovered the antidote to Trump’s anarchic maelstrom: I joined some 5,000 people for Claremont’s No Kings protest, where I was struck with a feeling I hadn’t known in some time — joyous optimism. I saw many familiar faces, and met folks from surrounding communities, all gathering peacefully to declare that enough is enough.”