Opinion

It’s Ramadan

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan began last week.This is known as one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims are obliged to participate.I recall my first Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and it showed the sacrifices that …

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Strange words that are surprisingly real

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. Maybe you’ve run across some of the same online word lists that I have – like “54 Everyday Things You Never Knew Had Names.” Or “34 of the Craziest Words in English.” Or “100 Totally Weird Words (Like …

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Tough love

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. Many years ago I was at CBU 402 in Annapolis, Maryland. The military was finalizing its war in Viet Nam and military units were feeling the pinch as financial cuts were taking place and units were watching costs allocated …

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Why so much vulger and crude language in Louisiana?

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. It would seem that the use uncouth swear words have become a way of description throughout the Bayou State, as well as across the country, from the President on down in recent years. The routine use of words that …

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A Message of Unity

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. Occasionally we find a message that stands the wear an tear of the years. Then light a bolt of lightning it suddenly springs forth as history has a way of repeating itself. The following if one of these and …

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Absurd drama, true love, real connection

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. I’ve probably told you before – because I tell you almost everything – that I get daily email updates from People magazine. They’re free. I don’t even know how I got on their mailing list.But, anyway, because I …

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America’s President

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. America has had numerous presidents of the United States. The current position is identified as the 47th president. Much history has transpired since George Washington led a ragged army, turned it into a force to be reckoned with and …

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Trump, “Old Hickory” and Louisiana

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. If you ever have a chance to walk into President Trump’s new oval office, the first thing you will see is a portrait of former President Andrew Jackson. A different painting of Jackson hung in the same location …

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This is our country

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. Many years ago I left the tranquility of Union Parish and spent my summer as a Committee Clerk of the Retirement Committee at the state capital in Baton Rouge. This was during the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature. …

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Laughing through the frost: wacky ideas

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. All the winter shenanigans around us this past month are pointing to a New Ice Age in my life.Yes, I’m ready to forget the longstanding advice of hunkering down with firewood, canned soup and thermal socks, and instead …

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