Opinion
Education and the final plantation | Walter Backstrom
During the 1860s, slavery was legal, and teaching blacks to read was illegal. Fast forward to 2009: African…
Walter Backstrom
Opinion
Press 1 for English | Walter Backstrom
I am a patriotic American. Still wanting to do my part for the economy, I bought a watch,…
Opinion
I am guilty of being an extremist | Walter Backstrom
I have been accused of being an extremist, angry, negative, loudmouth, trouble-making Uncle Tom — and black. All…
Opinion
Letting go of that rock to embrace forgiveness | Walter Backstrom
Forgiveness often seems far away in this season of giving. Forgiveness is one of the hardest acts a…
Opinion
This time, I really mean it | Walter Backstrom
For politicians in Olympia, talking about true educational reform is like the cheating husband who tells his wife,…
Opinion
Republicans give conservatives a bad name | Walter Backstrom
The three most important moments of my life have been: 1. When I became a believer in Jesus…
Opinion
True education reform in Washington state | Walter Backstrom
When President Barack Obama rolled out a $4.3 billion stimulus package for education, Washington state’s initial share was…
Opinion
Sit down and eat some candy | Walter Backstrom
Dr. Martin Luther King sacrificed his life so this wouldn’t happen in 2009. This is a cautionary tale…
Opinion
I am mad as hell | Walter Backstrom
Recently, I received several e-mails accusing me of being an angry black man. I will admit to being…
Opinion
Preachers, politicians and maybe the truth | Walter Backstrom
I attended the Pray for Washington rally a couple of weeks ago. The rally was in Olympia, which…
Opinion
Walter Backstrom’s primary election endorsements
I have struggled, deciding whether to endorse certain candidates. I am proud that The Mirror decided to endorse…
Opinion
Three balls and two strikes | Walter Backstrom
In a baseball game, you have two teams and an umpire. The umpire is like the police. He…
Opinion
You have got to be kidding | Walter Backstrom
Leave it to the bureaucrats and the politicians to get it wrong again. The state of Alabama has…
Opinion
How I became a feminist | Walter Backstrom
A feminist is a person who believes in equal rights for men and women. I did not have…
Opinion
Won’t these people ever leave? | Walter Backstrom
Have you ever had the experience when your nephew contacted you and said he needed a place to…
Opinion
Does God have an iPod? | Walter Backstrom
There was a report that recently stated that because of MySpace and Facebook, families are spending less time…
Opinion
Tax cuts don’t guarantee you a spot in heaven | Walter Backstrom
Remember your first date? You really liked him. You had a great time. Heck, you thought he might…
Opinion
How to continue improving Washington state’s schools | Walter Backstrom
The school year is coming to an end. Over the past nine months, I have written about ways…