Greg Gross

Religious freedom is the heartbeat of America's 249-year history, a principle etched into its founding and vital to its identity. Under the current administration, countering religious persecution abroad must also be a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. The recent nomination of former Representative Mark Walker as ambassador for International Religious Freedom signals a bold commitment to this cause, particularly for Christians facing erasure worldwide.

Guest column Posted 7/17/24 My 25th high school class reunion was this month. While some like to relive the memories of North Scott, the school experience was traumatic for many of us. I was the target of bullying and harassment on a consistent basis. Those weren’t glory days; they were hell. And yet, I had certain generally positive experiences (e.g., Lancer Productions, choir, some friendly classmates, and a handful of teachers who tried to establish a safe and affirming environment).

Gross is currently a travel adviser and cultural travel specialist and lives in San Diego. It was in 1992, with the merger of The San Diego Union and the San Diego Evening Tribune into a single newspaper, that the U-T Border Team was created. Its editor was Aida Bustos, who would prove to be one of the best editors I had in 42 years of journalism. Two reporters were assigned. Fernando Romero, formerly of the Tribune, was one. I was the other. Fernando and I were polar opposites in many ways.