Sean Dietrich Articles

Sean of the South | Oct. 10, 2024

The aftermath of hell and hurricanes OPINION — It’s all gone.That’s what the lady on the news said.She was an older woman, being interviewed by a reporter. Giant news camera shoved in her face.The lady sounded like she was in a uniquely frantic state, poised somewhere...

Sean of the South | Oct. 3, 2024

Going through Tennessee OPINION — The first day of autumn is almost here, and Tennessee is experiencing the birth pangs of fall. The colors are changing, the air is crisp, the natural scenery has become purely college football paraphernalia.It’s a fine morning to...

Sean of the South | Sept. 26, 2024

Back to the future OPINION — I’m in the airport. There is a tiny robot cruising around, delivering food to customers. Kids are following the robot, laughing. People are taking pictures.It seems like everyone is talking about AI. It’s on the news. It’s in every...

Sean of the South | Sept. 19, 2024

The Good 'Ol Days OPINION — The news is in. Less than one third of Americans have ever written a physical letter in their lifetime.Which isn’t surprising inasmuch as studies find that 76% of American students lack basic writing skills such as grammar, spelling, and...
More letters to Dear Sean

More letters to Dear Sean

BY SEAN DIETRICH OPINION — DEAR SEAN: All I want this year is for this girl in my third period class to go on a date with me, but she’s way out of...

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More letters to Dear Sean

All the purty horses

BY SEAN DIETRICH The day before New Year’s Eve. I was stuck in Birmingham rush hour. A ten-mile line of standstill traffic stretched before me. It...

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More letters to Dear Sean

The Giving Tree

BY SEAN DIETRICH Merry Christmas, Layla Grace. I got your name from the church Christmas tree. It’s kind of like Angel Tree, where you buy gifts for...

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Christmas Prayers

The side-of-the-highway café was decorated for Christmas. Plastic balsam trees on formica tables. Beside the napkin dispenser, a nutcracker soldier...

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More letters to Dear Sean

Sean of the South

Relax, you're going to be okay You’re going to be okay. That’s not an opinion. It’s not a guess. This isn’t some trite little catchphrase from some...

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More letters to Dear Sean

The 11-year-old in the house

BY SEAN DIETRICH There is a little girl in my house. She is 11. She is currently playing piano in my office. She is blind, so she plays by feel. She...

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More letters to Dear Sean

From the files of ‘Dear Sean’

BY SEAN DIETRICH DEAR SEAN:I’m not sure what to do. My teenage son died in an accident three years ago. … A few months ago one of his good friends...

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