Paul Hetzler

(02/19/08) Last week brought more tragic school shooting attacks, culminating at Northern Illinois University. A gunman entered a class there Thursday, killing six students and wounding 18 others before taking his own life. The man was a former student. Commentator Paul Hetzler remembers scraping very close to that edge of violence himself, and offers one answer to the question: why? -- and its flipside: why not?

(10/12/07) Red is this fall's color, at least in the North Country's woods. How leaves change color is pretty well understood; just why they do so remains something of a mystery. And why red, especially? Good question... for our commentator, Paul Hetzler.

(09/04/07) They're like a banner announcing the change of season -- the occasional spray of vivid red leaves along the roadside or the water's edge. They DO foreshadow the color change to come. But why so early? Commentator, and arborist, Paul Hetzler lives in St. Lawrence County. he says it has to do with the tree's balance sheet, as well as the time of year.

(05/18/06) President Bush is hoping for an election-year boost from a $70-billion tax cut package he signed yesterday. The measure extends a pair of tax breaks - one benefiting investors, the other upper-middle-income families. Democrats contend the tax breaks are another gift to the rich that only plunges the nation deeper in debt. President Bush's approval ratings are the lowest of his presidency, and congressional re-election campaigns are getting underway. The tax cuts are seen as one way the president can galvanize his and the GOP's core supporters. Commentator Paul Hetzler wonders how a significant chunk of that political base can go along.

(03/30/06) A poll released last week found that the public backlash over gay marriage has receded. In 2003, a controversial Massachusetts court decision to legalize same sex marriages stirred strong opposition. But the numbers out last week showed public opinion has softened. The poll by the Pew Research Center and the Associated Press found gay marriage remains a divisive issue, with 51 percent against. But almost two-thirds were opposed in February 2004. Strong opposition has dropped sharply, too, particularly among senior citizens and Republicans. On March 21, the New Hampshire House voted overwhelmingly against a proposed amendment to the state constitution to ban marriage between same-sex couples. Much of the opposition to gay marriage comes from conservative Christians. Commentator Paul Hetzler sees the issue through a Christian lens as well, but with a different perspective.

(01/19/06) Two recent executions in California drew attention from around the world. Former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams was put to death despite continued pleas from supporters that he had reformed and become a powerful voice against the violence he once practiced. Nearly blind and deaf Clarence Ray Allen was the oldest man ever executed in California. He was 76. His lawyers maintained that putting a sick old man to death constituted cruel and unusual punishment. But it wasn't these arguments that pushed Paul Hetzler to send us this commentary.

(12/20/05) It's not a good time of the year for everyone. The days are short. Dwindling light can trigger a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. But SAD doesn't say it all about depression, now or at any time of year. Commentator Paul Hetzler speaks from experience. more

(02/10/03) It's not just the blues. Depression can knock a person flat, for weeks, or months, or longer. Commentator Paul Hetzler knows the darkness well, but has found a thread of light, even there.