Developing an Identity
We have nothing but the greatest admiration and respect for the good people who created All Maine Matters and turned it into the powerful force that it was, representing those who otherwise had no voice. We accept this challenge, and we hope to continue the tradition that has been set out before us.
My greatest fear is that we'll screw it up, or that we'll let you down in some manner, and I do not want this to come about through false expectations.
We're new to this, so please be patient with us. As individuals, we may do some things a little differently. Just as a new family moving into a house that you have vacated might want to make some changes, please understand that it's not a reflection on you. Let us know if we're about to do something stupid, such as removing a load-bearing wall, for it is our desire that All Maine Matters serve the same purpose today as it did ten years ago. Maybe there are some things that we just don't get yet and if so, I'd appreciate it if you took the time to educate us.
We're fortunate to have some of the people who worked with All Maine Matters in the past with us today, some who helped us with our first issue and others who have come forward to volunteer with the next. For that we are most grateful.
This is the second issue of the reincarnation of All Maine Matters. We hope that we have fixed the problems that jumped out at us from the first issue. A couple of paragraphs from the Benedicta profile turned up at the end of the Oxbow profile. While this is the sort of error that may occur from time to time, we hope that we have avoided them in this issue. We also hope that you can read the numbers on the crossword this month. On the screen, it looked just fine, and it wasn't until we saw it in print that we realized how difficult the numbers were to read.
For those of you who missed it last month, an interactive version of our crosswords, one that actually allows you to work the crossword online, will be available online at www.allmainematters.com/crosswords.html
This month's crossword will be about historical place names in Maine. The clue might be an old name for a town, or perhaps the name of one of the plantations that joined together to form the town that we now know. Or vice versa: the clue might be a town that exists today, and you'll be asked for the historical name. This is the 21st Century, so don't be afraid to use Google.
Our writing staff is made up of people whom I believe have the best interests of Maine at heart, but that doesn't mean that we will always agree with one another. I don't always agree with things that I've said myself, so I guess that's to be expected.
I suppose we could insert the standard disclaimer, saying that the views expressed here are those of the author, but I trust that you're all smart enough to know that.
Some, but not all of us, are Republicans, and some of us who are Republican seldom vote that way. All Maine Matters is not an organ of the Republican Party. I know of at least one Libertarian, and a member of the Constitution Party, who would object to that. I don't know if he'll come through with it in time for our February issue, but there is at least one Democrat who has promised us an article. We don't check Party affiliation at the door.
All Maine Matters is a conservative publication, although there are a great many people who call themselves conservatives who I wouldn't lock hands with. It's a matter of semantics, I suppose.
But I don't speak for All Maine Matters. My own views are just that, and nothing more.
I don't even know why you're reading this.