To the Editor, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America became our first “sanctuary denomination” in order to help migrants. It’s time for Christians to stand against Trump and denounce all his works and all his ways. With some conservative Christian sects supporting Trump, one wonders if some of these churchgoers even try to follow Jesus. Not only did Jesus ask you to … [Read more...]
Why are you so angry?
Boy, it was a little fun triggering people last time! I even wound up being the top Google result for “chumps & grifters,” which is neat. #humblebrag But I’m not going to spend my time here picking apart responses I got to my last column, instead I want to look at the bigger picture and simply ask... why are you so angry? Are you angry because I haven’t spelled out … [Read more...]
Democracy won’t die if we don’t let it
Democracy’s premise is that ordinary citizens can make solid decisions on complex issues. But this basic principle and the structure of laws and practices erected over the centuries to safeguard it are being questioned as rarely before. It’s not just that political leaders in various western democracies seem to have little regard for the norms and procedures they inherited. … [Read more...]
We belong to one another
To the Editor, As an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and as a concerned citizen of the United States of America, in light of the recent shootings in El Paso, Tex., and Dayton, Ohio, I think it is important as civil, faith, and public communities learning and existing with one another that we remember that we belong to one another – that our … [Read more...]
Election integrity in America
Here in America we are fortunate to have a system that encourages free and fair elections; or that is what we aspire to. We go to great lengths to protect the integrity of our elections, and rightfully so. The people who serve in government should reflect the wishes of We The People. America worries constantly about interference from foreign entities, as recently evidenced … [Read more...]
Devil’s Advocate…Climate change mythconceptions Pt. 3
By Aaron Bishop Harmony, MN Mythconception #9: A Newsweek article in 1974 stated we would be “a frozen ice cube” by now. I believe the goal of this mythconception from an online commenter in the online Fillmore County Journal is an attempt to convey an air of wild guessing or pure speculation when it comes to the science of climate change. Never mind the fact that … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Recognizing farm families
In this week’s edition of the Fillmore County Journal, you will notice an advertisement that we hope will become a long-term feature dedicated to recognizing our area farm families. Our local farm families have such an impact on our lives, and a good majority of the population has become disconnected from the farm. It’s not our fault. I didn’t grow up on a farm and I don’t … [Read more...]
Letter about climate change
To the Editor, In “The Professor forgot to tell us something,” (FCJ, Monday, July 8, 2019) Col. Stan Gudmundson resorts to an old rhetorical trick: If you don’t have the facts on your side, attack the source. The facts are these: the Earth is getting warmer, and emissions of carbon dioxide caused by human activities are the major cause. The article that Jeff Erding cited was … [Read more...]
How should Americans engage globally?
I’ve been struck recently by news coverage of climate change and humans’ degradation of the planet. Two opposing themes keep appearing. One is the sense that, as individuals, there’s little we can do; the forces are too large. The other – and I think many Americans would agree with this – is that as citizens of the planet we have a responsibility to protect it and to pass it … [Read more...]
SMIF Stakeholders on the Bus – Regional bus tour visits Mower, Fillmore and Houston Counties
Every summer I look forward to Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s (SMIF) annual bus tour. For the fifth year, SMIF staff and board spent the day visiting partners who are making a difference in their community. This year we traveled to the eastern part of our 20-county region – Mower, Fillmore and Houston counties. We started out the tour by enjoying a meal from SMIF … [Read more...]