We will consider two submissions per writer per month. Letters: 250 or fewer words. Commentaries: 400-500 words. We don't accept submissions containing too much personal information, name-calling, attacks, allegations, insinuations, hate language, potentially libelous statements or statements that are not factual, direct endorsements, solicitations, URLs, phone numbers, addresses, or material pulled from other sources without attribution. Email submissions to news@nvdaily.com, post online at nvdaily.com/opinion, or mail to 152 N. Holliday St., Strasburg, VA.
Education, both formal and informal, can take many forms and can happen anywhere. Upon completion of a career military service, my grandparents settled in the Rockfish Valley in Nellysford, Virginia. Just as her father had done, my grandmother spent her childhood in Nellysford. She was natur…
As President Biden has declared that the pandemic is “over” let’s examine the “science” of COVID-19. Unfortunately, many politicians utilized the pandemic to gain political leverage and additional power. In addition, two major government agencies now believe that COVID escaped from a Wuhan l…
Virginia is part of a regional program that is cleaning the air we breathe, while also bringing money to the Shenandoah Valley for flood preparedness. But Virginia’s membership in this multi-state effort is threatened.
I suspect many remember the 1983 hit single "99 Luftballons" or "99 Red Balloons" by the German band Nena. The lyrics tell a story — 99 balloons are mistaken for UFOs causing pilots to investigate. Finding nothing but balloons, the pilots put on a large show of fire power. The display of for…
To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them. — George Mason
Hop aboard as we go back in time to those teenage years visiting with friends and never forgetting to bring along that little record box filled with the hits so we could all enjoy some of the current sounds from the hot singles charts. Remember how we took turns giving them a spin on that sp…
John Adams, the second president of the United States, and Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, were instrumental in laying the foundation of this great nation. They were friends before they were enemies.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. — Plato
I was a member of the fitness center on Hisey Avenue in Woodstock, both before and after its acquisition by Valley Health. Although there were signs for many months that Valley Health was losing interest in the center (staff positions were not backfilled when vacated, the cleaning service wa…
Yes, as the song suggests, the world needs love, replacing man’s inhumanity to man. Our moral compass is failing. We need change in world-wide behavior. It has been said that when we know better, we do better. Understanding usually precedes change.
We will soon observe the 291st birthday one of the founders of this great nation — George Washington, born on Feb. 22, 1732. The intent of Presidents Day is to honor the legacy of all presidents, but I believe this marginalizes his unparalleled accomplishments. Washington single-handedly lea…
Patriotism "is the feeling of love, devotion and sense of attachment to one's country. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings, language relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects.” Patriots enable service in local comm…
From the very beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s ambition has been focused on restoring both the grandeur and territory of the former Soviet Union. It is also my opinion as a former senior War Planner for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that our debacle in Afghanistan was clearly the c…
Front Royal is a good place for parents to take charge of the education of their children. It has ample opportunities for everything from complete homeschooling to partial homeschooling supplemented by limited classroom education. Warren County’s school board elections draw great attention f…
The Jan. 10 Commentary piece by James Poplar was fraught with fabrications, innuendo and outright misrepresentations and compels a response. Objections written in the online comments section of the commentary produced a defensive accusation of “personal attacks” by the author.
I applaud the efforts of the editor of the Northern Virginia Daily to publish contrasting opinions, however I am struck by the difference in language and persuasive techniques by voices on the Right and the Left. Fact-checking also suggests that the sources of information to back their biase…
Let me start by saying why I agree with Churchill’s famous statement about democracy being the “worst” form of government — except for all the others.
As chair of the Warren County Democratic Committee, I am excited to announce our Candidate Interest Open House from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Warren County Community Center, 538 Villa Ave.
The Republicans’ winning control of the House of Representatives, as I indicated in an earlier column, might turn out to be more of a liability than a benefit to the Party. I can see how I could be wrong about that, but I’m sticking with that prediction.
Some believe that the privileged rich, especially those who have inherited wealth, contribute little to working men and women. Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, whose great-grandfather amassed an unprecedented fortune in the shipping and rail industries, defied that notion.
As Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet vacillated between “To be or not to be that is the question,” perhaps for residents of the Shenandoah Valley a more applicable soliloquy is “Rails to Trails” or “Rails and Trails” what is best for both our environment and economy. Undoubtedly, many have heard o…
Let me take you back to the day of the banana split. Years ago the local drugstore was the place to go for those scrumptious refreshments. Yes in deedy, refreshments at the drugstore. That's when most of these stores had a counter with stools where you could get a hot dog, a bowl of chili, h…
Editor:
In the pages of the Daily, Democrats consistently label members of the Republican Party as “fascists” and other derogatory names. As a member of the Republican Party who grew up in a Democratic household, I find this deeply disturbing. I contend that all people are individuals and should not…
Editor:
A news story back in October stated that Valley Health System was experiencing staff-shortages and an increase in premium pay. But do not forget since they followed the mandate of the COVID shots, VHS got $126 million dollars through the assistance programs such as the federal CARES Act, the…
Christmas is celebrated every year, but do those celebrating really know what they are celebrating? Likely not, for there would be a great "rush" to find Him! Sadly, the babe, (Jesus Christ; God born on earth) would one day say; " ... narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be t…
Permacrisis is the word of the year according to Collins Dictionary. It sums up the anxiety caused by the rapid fire problems of the last decade. However, we are at a time in human history with great potential. Nutrition, medicine, literacy, a reduction in poverty, fewer famines, transportat…
In December 2018, I stated in the Northern Virginia Daily: “Although we as a nation have our problems, the United States remains a great nation and an example for the world to emulate. Let’s count our blessings and attempt to work together in the Shenandoah Valley for the greater good of the…
In the last three years the U.S. Supreme Court has frequently enforced and strengthened the Constitutional protection of the right to the free exercise of religion. It has also vindicated the right of the people to keep and bear arms and held that Second Amendment rights are just as importan…
Dec. 17 is National Wreaths Across America Day. The Narrow Passage chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will honor local heroes at 14 cemeteries in Shenandoah County. This effort was started at Arlington several years ago by an individual wanting to recognize …
Despite the constant exhortations of numerous Democrat operatives, pundits and even President Biden that “the fate of democracy” was in peril on Election Day, our democracy survived intact. We also recently witnessed Speaker Nancy Pelosi graciously accept her defeat and prepare for GOP contr…
By John Clem
When will we have our fill of the destructive extremes of partisan rhetoric in America? I believe most supporters of both major parties share that regret. These harmful extremes are fueled in a particularly inflammatory manner by people who invoke the name of God to accomplish a purpose that…
“There can be no denial…that school shootings have increased since God was removed from schools,” John Massoud wrote in a Commentary to the Daily on Nov. 22. True, but to present this as causative is irresponsible. School shootings have increased since we have removed asbestos from schools!…
From Virginia Code 1-240.1: A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent's child.
Newly-elected President Obama infamously espoused this view shortly after his 2009 inauguration, during a meeting with congressional Republicans. Mr. Obama smugly told GOP leaders that “elections have consequences,” and, in case there was any doubt, “I won.” Our recent election has proven ag…
The midterm elections seem to have set American politics up for some new forms of turmoil. Most of it will grow out of the Republican world’s disappointment with the outcome.
Unlike their Greatest Generation predecessors, many Vietnam veterans returned home from war to both an unappreciative and hostile country. In previous wars, victory parades and jubilant celebrations marked the end of the conflict and celebrated our veterans return. However, during Vietnam an…
I was once a Republican in this country, which prided itself as a two-party democracy. I represented the counties of Shenandoah, Rockingham and Page and the city of Harrisonburg for a time in the Virginia state legislature.
Some books ARE offensive. Thank heaven! Books can be for sheer enjoyment, be informative, expand one’s horizons, and even eye-opening. They may confirm one’s beliefs or challenge them. What some deem inappropriate, others may see as a catalyst to change. Banning books in school libraries is …
If you’re not better off than you were two years ago, does that mean you won’t be better off in the future?
I’m just a mom who worries about what I see. What I feel cannot go unsaid. My grandparents bought our property over 72 years ago. I have lived here my entire life (if not continuously) moving back in 2007.
Many of us will soon be exercising our right to vote — the foundation of our representative democracy that has stood the test of time for almost 250 years. However, I suspect many have already made up their minds on how to cast their vote — those who are Democrats will vote for their party’s…
I attended the 6th Congressional District candidate forum on Oct. 1 hosted by the American Association of University Women, and the contrast between the candidates could not have been more stark.
We have a historic chance to improve life in the Shenandoah Valley. For too long, voters have followed along in a hollow tradition, a perpetual vote for the Republican Party. This year voters have a real choice, an opportunity to improve their futures and their children’s.
Italians love politics. From the fall of 1922 to the fall of 1943, however, they were deprived of real politics under a one-party dictatorial fascist government. This ended with the split of the ruling Fascist Party during the Allied advance through Italy in World War II and a 1943-45 civil …
A recent Letter to the Editor chided Republicans leaders for attempting to repeal legislation modeled after a California law that requires all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in our state to run on electricity or hydrogen by 2035. As the letter correctly pointed out, “the plan allows for a su…
The mid-terms thunder nearer. Polls show inflation remains America’s primary concern. Running a close second is abortion — 16% of respondents affirm its personal importance. How many worry about democratic efforts to turn back the Dobbs decision is unclear.
Commented