Dear Editor:

When I was a senior in college at the University of Maine in 2012, my capstone paper was about polarized discourse in mass media. People shrugged their shoulders then while in recent years it's never been more evident and wherever you sit. I'm someone that has a colorful and diverse past as my lawyer, Rich Elliott kindly puts it. A past that only I am responsible and accountable for. While, we all have our differences, and viewpoints that are always welcomed to speak and listen to at my table. The general consensus that I observe with everyone, whether you're a Trumper, Republican, Skittle head, Democrat, liberal, is that we're all upset about inequality. It would be nice if we were all treated equally and that there was a reciprocation with receiving with what we put in. Ironically like Ying and Yang, love and hate don't discriminate. As a God fearing man and a sinner, I have an abundance of love and a great hate too especially when I feed those oh-so-easy negative seeds.

Now is a time where our most vulnerable need us and unfortunately for us blue collar folks it falls on us heavy to take care of our people and out of our own energy, time and money despite its scarcity.

What started as court ordered community service as a teenager turned into volunteering opportunities, internships, religion and jobs 20 something years ago for me helping people and organizations with the maintenance, construction and repairs of various things from the ground up.

My sharp bite and challenge is to the wealthy that are getting wealthier. Corporations and people that come into our beautiful communities, reshaping them like an inexperienced butcher with lots of waste. Humanitarian efforts in organizations like Rebuilding Together doesn't happen very much anymore on this peninsula because you spend your winters down south. The list could go on but back to these hospitality corporations. I'm missing some of our people in Jamaica, more than likely dead, certainly displaced. Employees and loved ones of mine. You can pile them like sardines, pay them wages that us locals won't tolerate. But! What are you doing for them now?

Sammy Mayhew

Boothbay Harbor