Notes on Nature, the Detroit Tigers & the Political Campaign

A look at what's happening in this neck of the woods

While we’ve been observing from afar the devastating flooding in Florida, western North Carolina, and parts of Tennessee caused by two back-to-back hurricanes, lower Michigan has experienced a mini drought caused by a lack of substantial rainfall over the past few weeks.

Burning bans and grass fires—the usual fare of spring when the vegetation is still dry from winter and the April showers have not yet brought forth the May bloom—were suddenly being issued and taking place. But a thunderstorm last night (Saturday) that included a heavy rainfall will, I assume, alleviate this situation for the time being.

Earlier in the week, many folks in Michigan and elsewhere, had the chance to watch a dazzling display of northern lights in the dark skies—a heavenly host, if you will. The cause, as I understand it, was a solar storm that sent gaseous flames shooting outward from the burning sun.

All of this is a reminder that Nature—that which we are part of—can be either deadly or a cause of wonder, a dreaded occurrence or a welcome relief, the particular depending on degree and human need. The annual flooding of the Nile River in ancient Egypt brought the sentiment onto the land, enriching the soil and allowing for the growth of grain that underpinned the emergence of civilization. But that onslaught of water is far less beneficial to the homes (and their occupants) that populate the ocean shorelines and riversides of those southeast states.

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The Detroit Tigers—an ‘also ran’ only weeks earlier—brought a little sports magic to their fans with an improbable run that got them into the play-offs and then saw them sweep Houston in the first round.

It looked like their Cinderella season might even put them into an American-League pennant clash with the New York Yankees. But after coming ever-so-close to clinching the Divisional play-off against Cleveland in game four, the spell was broken in the fifth and deciding game.

So, now we turn our full attention to the Detroit Lions to see if they really have all the pieces to take them to the Super Bowl. We got a taste of their magic last year and fans have been chomping at the bit ever since.

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And to continue using the ‘horse’ as an analogy, the polls indicate that we have a neck-and-neck, back-and-forth race for the Presidency between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, including here in Michigan which is regarded as a swing state. But adding to the drama are close races—again according to the polling—between Mike Rogers, the Republican, and Elissa Slotkin, the Democrat, for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Debbie Stabenow, and also the 7^th Congressional seat where I reside (now held by Slotkin) between the Democratic Party nominee Curtis Hertel and the GOP candidate Tom Barrett.

I don’t watch much TV (as I confessed in an earlier column), thus all the money being poured into this form of advertising, much of it negative, has passed me by. But I read the news, get the postcards in the mail or left at the door, and see all the yard signs, making me very much in the thick of the various campaigns.

Of course, I’m also a newspaper editor-publisher and have started publishing the candidate statements of those running for state legislative, county, township, village, school board, and library board seats in my coverage area. It’s a long list, requiring a lot of formatting and editing. Thankfully, in the age of emails, we no longer (accept in a rare case) need to re-type the submitted copy.

Some of those local races can be as contentious as the higher-profile ones, requiring me to be vigilant in fairness and equal treatment. Not all media subscribes to this approach, either taking sides without qualms or ever-so-slightly putting a finger on the scales for their preferred candidate.

Newspapers—usually the big metropolitan dailies—do make endorsements. I never have. I figure I best serve the process by getting as much information out to the public as possible in the form of election overviews, affordable advertising for those who wish to place an ad, and the candidate statements.

After that…Let the voters decide. But ALL THE VOTERS who are eligible to cast a ballot and that they be able to do so without unnecessary obstacle, undue hindrance, or even threat. And furthermore, that the process itself and the election workers manning it be respected.

There is also commentary which is also part of my job description and the purpose of this website. Being opinionated or taking a side is expected under this banner, but the goal (in my mind) has been to present a viewpoint supported as best possible by sound reasoning and applied principles. After that, the reader will agree or disagree, but in either case hopefully come back for more. It serves as part of the ongoing dialogue vital to a functioning, representative democracy that is “of, by, and for the people.”

My small part in this larger, grander purpose and pursuit.

Steve Horton is the editor-publisher of the weekly newspaper the ‘Fowlerville News & Views’ and has a new book out ‘What Say I: Social Commentary & Personal Reflections.’ He can be reached at hortonnotebook@gmail.com