Author

George Ayoub

George Ayoub

George Ayoub filed nearly 5,000 columns, editorials and features in 21 years as a journalist for the Grand Island Independent. His columns also appeared in the Omaha World-Herald and Kearney Hub. His work has been recognized by the Nebraska Press Association and the Associated Press. He was awarded a national prize by Gatehouse Media for a 34-part series focusing on the impact of cancer on families of victims and survivors. He is a member of the adjunct faculty and Academic Support Staff at Hastings College. Ayoub has published two short novels, “Warm, for Christmas” and “Dust in Grissom.” In 2019 he published “Confluence,” the biography of former Omaha World-Herald publisher and CEO John Gottschalk.

COMMENTARY

Real education problems, not contrived ones, need attention

By: - October 31, 2022

Our future is on the ballot November 8. Sure, races for governors, U.S. senators and a majority in Congress may capture headlines, but perhaps the most critical decisions we make will be closer to home: Who gets to sit on Nebraska’s Board of Regents, State Board of Education and dozens of local school boards across […]

COMMENTARY

Most important story of our times continues

By: - October 24, 2022

Keeping up with the news requires diligence these days. Headlines continually crackle with reports of major missteps, critical announcements and shouts and murmurs about both. Note: That’s news in the mainstream sense, not a million takes on social media or the latest from unclebob.com from the pajama-ed Uncle Bob in his basement. Among the crowded […]

COMMENTARY

Hindrances, impediments and photo IDs

By: - September 26, 2022

If I’m supposed to feel safer, I don’t. If I’m supposed to break out in a freer and fairer dance, the music is silent. If I’m supposed to recognize an uptick in integrity, I missed it. From the sky-is-falling department comes the latest installment of Nebraska’s decade-long attempt to change the state Constitution. This time […]

COMMENTARY

Punts, passes and political debates

By: - September 12, 2022

The debate over Nebraska gubernatorial debates continues. In the scheme of all things political, that may be down the list of importance, what with election deniers running for office, threats of violence against the FBI for doing its job and a continued sundry of silliness and lies passed on as political information. Nevertheless, debating season […]

COMMENTARY

Hit me with your best shot of science

By: - August 29, 2022

The recent photographs from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope mesmerized millions of Earth-bound mortals, myself included. On display was both the spectacular beauty of deep space and the power and creativity of science. Shortly after those photos arrived on our timelines did we learn of the uptick in cases of polio in the U.S. On […]

COMMENTARY

Three lives from both sides to inspire

By: - August 19, 2022

In a world of loud mouths, liars and cynicism, be Vin Scully. In a world of hypocrites, sycophants and political opportunists, be Bill Russell. In an atonal world of calamity, discord and despair, be Joni Mitchell. Vin Scully, Bill Russell and Joni Mitchell reminded us this summer of what can be best about us — […]

COMMENTARY
Nebraska State Capitol Building

No welcome wagon, no planks, no problem

By: - August 9, 2022

Registered Nebraska independent voters know the litany of slurs about their political (un)affiliation: wishy-washy, fence-sitting, unprincipled, dithering, shilly-shallying, dilly-dallying or just plain weak. The list is longer. I’ll spare you further lowlights. To be clear, one must be a registered voter to qualify for the index of insults above. Blowing off your civic duty is […]

COMMENTARY

Prayer as supplication, not as schoolhouse wedge

By: - July 26, 2022

The Supreme Court should house our best legal minds, but the majority’s recent opinion on prayer in public schools needs a better reading of the room. To summarize: The Supremes, by a vote of 6-3, decided that a public high school football coach’s prayer at the 50-yard line after games was a permissible exception to […]

COMMENTARY

Keeping it simple at the ballot box

By: - July 7, 2022

This November I’ll be a single-issue voter, a practice I once considered short-sighted, even radical. Dire circumstances call for dire measures. My single issue is not a usual suspect: abortion, guns, taxes, inflation, or my 401(k)’s health. Nor is it character, although if it were, imagine the turnover in Congress and selected legislatures, boards and […]

COMMENTARY

Serious problems need serious ideas

By: - June 17, 2022

My friend Michael is studying in Peru this summer. He recently watched a political rally on a plaza near his school. A young Peruvian joined him on a bench, explaining to this American that the annual event featured speeches by candidates for local offices. He told Michael that Peru has many problems: grinding poverty, poor […]

COMMENTARY

In defense of wokeness

By: - May 23, 2022

He called me “woke.” I took it as a compliment. It wasn’t … what with the curling upper lip, narrowing eyes and withering tone. He was busting my chops. Such is the state of wokeness, a once-useful aphorism nearing 100 years old but recently abducted by culture warriors looking for converts and political candidates hoping […]

COMMENTARY

Voters are safe from falling skies 

By: - May 3, 2022

The protocols for wearing an “I Voted” sticker need updating. What are the ground rules if you fulfill your civic duty a month before the May 10 primary? Is it proper to exercise your enfranchisement by mail and then show up at work or school or the market sporting the iconic red, white and blue […]