Archive » April 2024 » Editorials

Graveyards should be a public trust

Mourners know the value of visiting a gravesite. But what about graves of generations past, when no family comes to visit? That’s when neglect often sets in.

Cities like Boston and Philadelphia that have wisely maintained their historic burial grounds are a beacon for visitors who learn about our nation’s history as they visit the sites.

We could do the same thing here.

Our throw-away society is poisoning itself: If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem

Litter is not just a consumer-created problem; manufacturers need to take responsibility for what they produce. A dog bone, for example, doesn’t need to be packaged in plastic. Recycling programs are essential but more can be done to curb consumerism in our throw-away society.

People with paralysis who have pushed through their difficulties need a system that gives them better support and helps them flourish

Jim Ambrose put it succinctly and forcefully: “The healthcare industry needs to come up with a different paradigm,” he said. The industry, he correctly explained, is geared almost entirely toward “short-term traumatic disability: you break your arm, break your leg, and then it goes away.” It’s not geared toward caring for people with any long-term conditions, including paralysis, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy. That needs to change.

Archaeology can help us uncover our past — but only if we preserve the sites

We hope others see the value in preserving the sites that hold clues to our past so that future generations will know from whence we came.