Open Forum

I am the parent of a ninth grade student who stayed home today (Monday). The written excuse I send with her tomorrow will simply state that she was at home today because I believe the legacy of Dr. King deserves contemplation and celebration.

I cannot in good conscience blame the attendance office for the blatant disrespect that the district shows this American hero. I can however voice it here.

The justification, is that children can learn about Dr. King far better in a classroom than at home. Really? I thought we were coming to a place in life where we were finally taking on responsibilities as parents, and not expecting our teachers to raise our children for us.

I was always taught that our values and lessons should first come from home. Am I to believe that I am not capable of teaching my own child?

If this is in fact a justification, I am quite sure my child will learn about veteran's sacrifices far better in class on Memorial Day, or the struggles of the working class far better in school on Labor Day.

The simple fact is that today was a National Holiday, set aside to honor a man that changed this nation. He helped scrub out an embarrassing and disgusting stain on the face of this great country, yet this school district chose to have our children treat it as any other day. Shame on you.

Colleen Kounkel

Brainerd

Doty supported pro-abortion speaker

Well, he did it again. For the second time Rep. Al Doty, who claims to be pro-life, voted for the election of pro-abortion Margaret Anderson Kelliher as Speaker of the House, one of the most powerful offices in state government. She'll make it much harder to pass pro-life legislation. This vote can't be called pro-life.

Also, during the last campaign, Doty refused to answer the questionnaire sent by Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) to all candidates. The questionnaire had to be answered correctly if candidates wanted to be considered by MCCL for endorse-ment. Doty refused by saying he wasn't answering any questionnaires.

That statement was false. The Morrison County Record, Oct. 19, 2008, carried a news release from the National Rifle Association. (NRA) announcing their endorsement of Doty. They stated: This rating is based on your positive responses to the NRA-PVF candidate questionnaire Apparently, this endorsement was more important to Doty than the pro-life endorsement.

Doty also received endorsements from labor, education and other organizations. I wonder how many of them required correct answers to their questionnaires. Obviously, Doty wasn't at all interested in the MCCL endorsement. That's not the action of a true pro-life legislator.

Clara Kedrowski

Little Falls

CLARA KEDROWSKI is a vice chair with the Morrison County Republican Party.

Competition for worst president

In an Open Forum letter printed on Jan. 22, 2009, the associate chair of the Crow Wing County DFL stated, For now, all we know is that he's (former President George W. Bush) the worst president so far. I would ask him to please explain who we are. He didn't ask me and many others I know. I'm afraid I'm going to be long dead before the Bush haters put a sock in it.

On that same day, President Obama ordered the closure of the Gitmo Detention Facility and prohibited coercive interrogation techniques. For now, all I know is it is more dangerous to be an unborn baby in the U.S. than it is to be a terrorist in our custody.

Sure makes me proud and leaves me to question how so many can act like this is our finest hour.

G.W. and more than a few others might have some real competition for worst place if this keeps up.

Pete Abler

Crosslake