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By JOHN SHEIRER

I spent part of Election Day in my community college classroom with introductory literature students. We watched videos of Richard Blanco’s and Amanda Gorman’s 2013 and 2021 inaugural poems. The students loved Blanco’s powerful imagery depicting the...

By JOHN SHEIRER

My wife, Betsy, and I went to bed last night and finished our daily Wordle (third guess, 93 skill, 32 luck). Betsy read a chapter in her book group book while I returned some work emails. Then I surfed social media while Betsy rolled over and fell...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Yesterday, when I was walking our cute, smart dog Libby through our neighborhood, a gaggle of strangers rounded the corner and approached us. “Hey, what are your policies for this neighborhood!” they shouted. “When are you going to tell us where you...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Here’s a true/false question from my introductory literature midterm exam: “The use of first-person narration means there can be only one character in a story.” The answer is, of course, false, an easy question for anyone who has paid attention in...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Dear Mr. President: Here are some thoughts about the recent debate based on my decades of teaching public speaking and persuasion. This will be tough love because I know you’re strong enough to handle it.With all due respect, we thought you’d do...

By JOHN SHEIRER

About 20 years ago, I was driving the speed limit on Route 9, staying in my lane, keeping a watchful eye, and thinking about the errands I needed to complete that day.Then I saw a black SUV speeding toward me from a side street on my right. I assumed...

By JOHN SHEIRER

During the afternoon of May 10, 1994, I stepped outside into reduced light to see silvery, crescent-shaped shadows shimmering dreamily beneath a mid-sized maple tree. Then on August 21, 2017, I joined my wife Betsy near the Smith College greenhouse...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Dear Friends,As April 15 approaches, I keep hearing complaints about paying taxes. I may not support everything the government does with the tax money I pay, but I understand the basic importance of paying taxes as part of our shared civic...

By JOHN SHEIRER

My wife Betsy and I recently heard a CNN political commentator tell us for perhaps the hundredth time, “We have to understand Trump supporters.”“Have you noticed that they never ask people to understand Biden supporters,” Betsy said. Her astute...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Last summer, I asked my boss about taking some time off to address a medical issue. “As the human body ages,” I said, “strange things happen.” We laughed.“You must have lots of sick time saved up after working more than 30 years,” he said. I showed...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Four years ago, my column in this newspaper predicted that Donald Trump would lose the 2020 presidential election. Readers who opposed Trump told me, “I wish I had your optimism,” or “That’s what you said in 2016,” or “His crazies have gotten worse...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Nearly 40 years ago, I entered a college classroom as the instructor for the first time. I was a 23-year-old graduate teaching assistant, charged with my very own section of English composition. Twenty-five students silently inspected me as I placed...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Considering the terrible situations in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere, the effects of climate change across the planet, the Republican debacle in the House of Representatives, and the continued Republican subservience to their...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Some people say that political parties hurt America. I disagree. When people work together, we accomplish more than when we operate individually. I also believe in airing healthy disagreements to understand various viewpoints and develop productive...

By JOHN SHEIRER

During my three decades working at a community college, I’ve had the honor of serving on two dozen search committees and chairing half a dozen. Seeing the many people who I helped hire doing great things for our college over the years has been deeply...

By JOHN SHEIRER

As we assembled outside Dunkin’ Park in Hartford for Asnuntuck Community College’s 2023 commencement, I was surprised to see Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Back in April, Blumenthal marched in a national championship parade for the UConn men’s...

By JOHN SHEIRER

When I walk our dog Libby, a little, shaggy, sweet-natured border terrier, through our neighborhood, I can safely predict two things. First, everyone will love seeing Libby. Second, Libby will love seeing everyone.One of our neighbors calls Libby “The...

By JOHN SHEIRER

When President Donald Trump was indicted on April 1, my thinking totally changed. After years of being a liberal/Democrat, I’m now all-in on MAGA thinking. That April 1 indictment finally “woke” me to the treachery of the socialist left. Sure, CNN...

By JOHN SHEIRER

‘Old people need to take a driving test to keep their license!” That’s a topic young students sometimes propose during the persuasion unit of a composition or public speaking course.One fortunate aspect of teaching at a community college is that I...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Donald Trump and his supporters are currently the leading purveyors of “alternative facts” and “fake news,” but they didn’t invent these phenomena. They simply took advantage of a political climate that discouraged critical thinking and promoted...

By JOHN SHEIRER

Growing up, I attended a tiny Lutheran church near our family farm. During a Christmas service four decades ago, as our beloved pastor was delivering another soft-spoken sermon about kindness and grace, thick sheets of snow thundered down the pitched...