Eric Lee As I am writing this, we are fast approaching Christmas. If you are like me, you have been rushing headlong toward this time. Every year, I intend to make time to sit in stillness amidst the cold, dark quiet of winter, and every year it seems I fail miserably. But I have had one great fortune this year and last. As an actor at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, for … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Teamwork and sportsmanship
What are we teaching our kids? I recently attended both seventh and eighth grade girls basketball games in a school district in a land not-so-far away. At this event, I witnessed something quite disappointing. Much to my dismay, the referees didn’t appear to care about the safety of the players. They rarely called fouls, charging, traveling, or double-dribble. As I said … [Read more...]
You can lay the groundwork for reforming congress
The first three words of the U.S. Constitution are, “We the People.” The Constitution itself, our institutions of government, the democratic process — all were established to give Americans a voice in their own governance. We are still striving to make that vision real for all, but we are closer than ever. So let me ask you some questions about Congress today. Do you think … [Read more...]
Celebrating small businesses – supporting our local economies
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation We have a lot to be thankful for and much to celebrate at Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). The businesses we invest in each and every day through our various loan and equity programs, technical assistance and other programming are reaping benefits not only for these local entrepreneurs, but for all of southern Minnesota … [Read more...]
Enough is enough with the Bible bashing!
By Pastor Stuart Weist Preston, MN I have been reading, in ever increasing frequency, articles and commentaries which make outrageous, false, and audacious claims regarding the Bible, faith and Christians. In the December 4 commentary section of the Journal was one such article written by Donna Buckbee. In her comments she attacks various aspects of the Bible, as well as … [Read more...]
Letter about County Board making the right decision…
To the Editor, The Fillmore County Board of Commissioners made the right decision in not approving the sale of the Larson farm to the DNR as reported in the December 4 edition of the Fillmore County Journal. The DNR doesn’t need another 100-200 acres of cropland under their control, even if some of it is highly erodible land. Most of the farmers in the east end of Fillmore … [Read more...]
Give me that old time secularism!
By Donna Buckbee Rushford, MN Here is some common ground: Everyone who has ever read the Bible — Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, atheists, everyone — agrees that there is much in the Bible to revere. Of course, each person engages in a process of selectivity to determine which passages they find worthy of reverence. Personally I find repugnant those passages that … [Read more...]
Why I hope I’m wrong
So, I’m granted a space here on a semi-regular basis to give commentary, because apparently someone thinks my words are worth reading... or at least that they needed some soft-headed Lefty to point and laugh at. I do my best to present my side of the story in a way that’s entertaining and tries not to wag a finger too much, even if I often feel like I’m watching the guy from … [Read more...]
Letter about Electing for a better future…
To the Editor, How has Christianity and our Republican controlled government become so perverted? Republicans wave the flag, talk like Christians, and promise the world, but it’s all lies. The odious nature of virtually all Republican plans is obvious. They seek to cut taxes on the super wealthy and raise taxes on lower incomes. As they stock the courts with conservative … [Read more...]
Balancing out the lobbyists
One of the quirks of life in Washington, D.C., is that pretty much the only people who don’t refer to lobbyists by that name are, well, lobbyists. They’re “policy advisors,” or “strategic counsel,” or “public relations advisors,” or lawyers, or even just “consultants.” Whatever they’re called, though, they play a huge role in making policy. For the most part, they are able, … [Read more...]