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Letters to the Editor

Why the Fourth of July

To the editor: How invigorating to read words from those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in which they “pledge[d] to each other [their] Lives, [their] Fortunes, and [their] sacred Honor.” Firebrand Patrick Henry stated, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.” Thomas Jefferson correctly said, “I prefer dangerous freedom rather then peaceful slavery.” Those who mock the Founding ...

Missed opportunity to stop abortions

To the Editor Our Minnesota state legislators (Gary) Dahms and(Chris) Swedzinski missed a valuable opportunity to use our state surplus when they did not pass legislation to support funding for vasectomies for Minnesota men. Subsidizing the procedure for many Minnesotans would result in a greater proportion of wanted children, and would lessen the burden on family support coffers. Vasectomies are one of the best ways to stop abortions. Surely Dahms and Swedzinski would support that. It may be unclear to those who do not know biological science but all pregnancies, all abortions, are ...

Reasons for running for state Senate

To the editor: Have you heard the news? I am running for Minnesota State Senate, District 15. I am running because the current state of affairs is unacceptable. The inability of our legislators to compromise or find solutions has resulted in the Minnesota Legislature’s failure to pass a bonding bill or an omnibus tax bill. This leaves Marshall and other communities in the lurch, as funding requests are left unresolved. This is ridiculous. I am running because I am a connector who can bridge the divide. I can negotiate with people to find solutions because I understand both ...

Thank you, Mayor Byrnes

To the editor: This is a response to a recent letter arguing against our mayor’s actions last weekend. I would like to thank Mr. Byrnes for supporting and attending LGBTQ+ events in our city. I appreciate his desire to encourage inclusivity in our community and his courage to act upon his convictions. I grew up learning Biblical stories about a guy who long ago ran into lots of trouble with religious authorities when he befriended people like lepers, tax-collectors, and prostitutes as he angered his day’s establishment who constantly quoted scripture as justification for ...

Stand up against extremism

To the editor: My grandmother was a republican, a republican who raised me to be pro-choice. She remembered vividly friends lost to unviable pregnancies and women who had committed suicide when they were unable to receive an abortion. I’m 45, I don’t remember a time when women did not have access to this basic health care as a constitutional right. Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach has spent her career promoting extremism, and her husband has turned controlling women’s bodies into a cottage industry. The vast majority of Minnesotans do not want women to be prosecuted for having ...

Important part of Bible not shared in letter

To the editor: It seems the writer of Tuesday’s editorial (June 22) quoted the Bible for her own convenience and beliefs. However, she neglected to share a very important part of the Bible, which is the commandment that asks us to love thy neighbor as thyself. I am far from a student of the Bible, but I do feel quite confident that God wants us to love both our cis-gender and our LBGTQ+ neighbors. Guess I believe in a just God who doesn’t really care about gender preference. We are all God’s children. Thank you Mayor Byrnes, for welcoming everyone to the Pride ...