Mary Keyes Rogers | Author

Could our Independence be Problematic?

June 27, 2020

Independence Day, our nation’s birthday party, is almost upon us. This year, it appears that our party balloons are deflated a bit, someone has pawed an early taste of frosting off the cake, and the pretty little candles stand a bit askew. Many party guests are behaving as exhaus… Read More >>

Ageism in action: From “OK, Kiddo” to “OK, Boomer”

Nov. 30, 2019

Ageism is not attractive coming off the tongues of those demanding I become “woke.” This Baby Boomer would like to state the obvious, that ageism is no different than racism, sexism or any of the other discriminatory “-isms.” To know my age tells you nothing about wh… Read More >>

Please Don’t Make Me Almost Kill You

Oct. 5, 2019

I wish I could tell you that on the many occasions when I’ve said, “Oh my God, I almost just killed that person,” that it was simply a figure of speech. But in fact, I do almost kill people on a fairly regular basis. Maybe I almost killed you.
 
Countless ti… Read More >>

A Case for Patriotism

July 27, 2019

Well, that was unexpected.
 
On the Fourth of July, my husband’s USA cap and my American flag shirt evoked dirty looks and obscene words about our current president as we walked in downtown Traverse City.
 
“Are they talking to us?” Honestly,… Read More >>

Parents, Get a Life!

June 1, 2019

I spoke with a woman whose 30-year-old children still drop off their dirty laundry to her each and every week. She doesn’t mind because she figures this is the only way she will get to see them. Are you kidding me?
 
Just as teenagers go through a healthy and natural pe… Read More >>

Believe It or Not

March 23, 2019

Back in high school, there was a week each year when the Life Skills class would bestow a baby doll with an egg inside to each student who then attempted to balance the lifestyle of a teenager with the 24/7 reality of caring for a helpless infant.
 
Real parents, with real ba… Read More >>

Modern Elders

Jan. 12, 2019

Each of us has a role to play in keeping young professionals in our region. In my case, it’s a matter of returning a favor granted to me when I was a young professional. 

There is a new business term: modern elder. Like other cultures hold their elders in high esteem, dig… Read More >>

A Family Reunion Gone Very Badly

Nov. 17, 2018

When it came to my attention that my deadline for this column would coincide with the midterm elections, I figured my rage or joy would fuel my words. Hardly.
 
Election day came, and then it went. Meh. Some wins, some losses. I am happy to see the U.S. House go blue, but I s… Read More >>

Bystander failure?

Sept. 15, 2018

From across a four-lane thoroughfare, I witnessed something. It was Labor Day weekend, and I now find myself feeling ashamed by how I responded — or rather, how I failed to fully respond. Maybe.
 
I think when you and I hear stories of bystanders failing to help a stran… Read More >>

A Shew of Illumination

May 19, 2018

For anyone with an overactive love for snow, they can still find a dirty pile of winter stubbornly refusing to melt. But there is reason to believe that this seemingly never-ending season is in fact behind us. I ask you to look ahead a bit, I ask that you think about where you will find you… Read More >>

Something Surprising

March 24, 2018

Full disclosure: I have never touched a gun. I am terrified by guns. My only interaction with guns has been my emotional response to the aftermath of horrible events. My position has always been this: The fewer guns, the better.

Honestly, have you read an opinion piece (in … Read More >>

Prisons and Jails: The New Asylums

Jan. 20, 2018

When did Americans decide that incarceration was acceptable housing for the seriously mentally ill?

According to one advocacy agency for inmates: In 44 states, a jail or prison holds more mentally ill individuals than the largest remaining state psychiatric hospital; in every county… Read More >>

Standing Up To Sexual Harassment

Oct. 14, 2017

Sexual harassment in the workplace gets our attention when it’s national news. But it happens everywhere. Even Up North. How well does our community stand up to harassment and criminal sexual conduct in the workplace?

For any woman who has had their boss put his hand on her kn… Read More >>

Suckers, Fools, Chumps, and Pawns

Aug. 19, 2017

There are days when I feel like the grouchy old man on his front porch in boxer shorts, fist in the air, veins bulging at the temples, screaming at the neighborhood kids: "This country is going to hell!” I'm not mad at the kids on my street. I'm mad at America and Americans. Yeah, I'm… Read More >>

A Dear John letter to CNN

July 8, 2017

Dear CNN,

I think we both know it’s over. After 37 years together, I’m leaving you. 

This shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. You must have noticed that I’ve been avoiding you and, on those rare times when we are together, you must have detect… Read More >>

Run the country like a business? Please don't.

June 3, 2017

When it comes to running our government, I’ll take a career politician, non-profit director or government bureaucrat over a CEO-citizen every time. The oft-made campaign promise of “If elected, I promise to run this [county/city/country] like a business!” leaves me slack-j… Read More >>

A Small Victory for Civil Discourse

Feb. 25, 2017

After this blistering election season and divisive first month of the new administration, one can only imagine how many friendships have been damaged or destroyed by the hot rage of political opinion. I’m not referring to the unfriending of the acquaintance of an acquaintance on socia… Read More >>

2017: The year of the woman

Dec. 17, 2016

Year of the woman? Yes, I know that our nation’s first female presidential candidate lost to the misogynist. I know how dark things look right now for the men and women who support the progressive agenda of equality and protecting women’s rights.

Had Hillary Clinton actu… Read More >>