Open Forum

I am a member of the Brainerd High School A Cappella Choir.

A Cappella has a long tradition of being an excellent choir. Over the years the choir has performed all over the world.

Due to the recent budget cuts 2.25 music positions are being eliminated. Our beloved, respected and dedicated choir teacher, Mr. Stubbs, will be losing his position. All elementary choirs could be lost as well as a lot of the middle school music program. The BHS Band will also lose its current teacher, Mr. Berggren.

Although my main concern is A Cappella, my memories of my past choirs are wonderful and I want all kids to be able to have these experiences.

We need to raise funds to keep the music program intact for one year.

To those who have nice memories of school choirs and want to help, you can send checks to:

Music Matters, PO Box 234, Brainerd, MN 56401. Checks need to be made out to "Brainerd Public Schools Foundation - Music Matters Funds"

Hopefully we will be able to save two teachers from losing their jobs and keep the excellent reputation our music program has.

Libby Chastain

Rural Brainerd

BHS 2009

More thoughts on fluoride

I hate to add to the debate on this subject, but everyone should look into this and find out what the truth is. Just because Ann Landers wrote a forward in a book doesn't make it acceptable. It is a toxic waste from aluminum and other products being used for mass medication. Found on a Web site Mercola.com. If you check it out by looking at Newsletter Archive-Fluoride revisited there is some information about it there. I'm not saying it is all true, but I don't think the book "Health Robbers" is any more factual. Why would nine European countries ban its use from its water supply.

Larry L Potter

Brainerd

Veteran unhappy with Coleman

In 2002, when Norm Coleman first ran for the U.S. Senate, he traveled around the state trashing Sen. Wellstone's record on support for the military. Coleman said that he'd be a stronger advocate for American soldiers than Wellstone. "They do need to be second to none in terms of training, in terms of equipment and in terms of pay," he said. "They do need folks at home who will stand with them unquestionably."

Not only that, but Norm Coleman also criticized Paul Wellstone on support for veterans benefits. After the campaign was over, and Sen. Wellstone was no longer with us, Coleman felt it was safe to dial back his rhetoric a bit and allowed "I know that Sen. Wellstone was a powerful champion for Minnesota veterans. I shall do my very, very best to carry out that part of his legacy."

Questions of Coleman's election-year sincerity aside, whatever happened to his supposed zeal for giving the troops all that they needed in training, equipment, and pay? And, have we been witnessing the senator's "very, very best" attempts to emulate Paul Wellstone's renowned advocacy for Minnesota's veterans?

Not likely. In his one term as a U.S. Senator, Norm Coleman has voted against funding for veterans health care at least eighteen times. He's even voted for Republican budgets that actually cut funding for veterans. That probably explains why he's received a 40 percent rating from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and a 'D' grade from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

It's been five years since the invasion of Iraq which Sen. Coleman had so vigorously promoted and defended. He's consistently chosen to side with his party and his president instead of supporting veterans and active military. From a veteran's perspective, I think we've seen enough.

Jim Bootz

Chair

DFL Veterans Caucus

Minneapolis

Hassler left his imprint

With his passing, I wanted to share a few thoughts about Jon Hassler. I did not know Jon personally, I only knew of him, but I do have a few things in common with him. We both grew up in Staples. We both liked to write about life here in Minnesota, and we both shared a passion for writing and story telling. The fact that he never quit is mute testimony to that. There the similarities between us end. They end because Jon was in a league of his own, and an accomplished writer. But it was his example that drives the rest of us fledgling writers to somehow try and emulate him.

Writers can and do leave an indelible written mark on society. The spoken word goes only as far as the ear and the brain that interprets it, but the written word is here for the ages. Jon left his imprint, and for decades not yet lived, people will enjoy what Jon had to say, and the stories he had to tell.

Mike Holst

Crosslake

Do only felons have rights?

Justice: I am writing this after 22 months of trying to get a person who assaulted me with a weapon and permanently injuring me, into court. On March 21, I was in court for the sentencing of one of the defendants. However I was told that the one who actually assaulted me would not be tried for what he did to me. Apparently it would be too expensive. On that point I would have to agree because this man has already cost me a major portion of my life and also cost a lot of other people their jobs because of what he did. I was also told that he was too dangerous. On that point I have to disagree. I myself feared him for a very long time after he assaulted me, then I came to the realization that he is nothing more than coward. After all he is a big man physically but he felt he needed a weapon to go after me. After fighting for almost two years I have come to the conclusion that I am going to be denied my right to due process and that the only ones who have rights are felons. Does not the law understand that seeing justice done is a major part of emotional healing for victims?

Linda Sweeney

Staples

They had the courage to vote yes

Three cheers for the "Override Six Republicans" that had the courage to do what was right in speaking out and voting to overturn Gov. Pawlenty's veto of the Minnesota state transportation bill. At least they spoke from the heart!

I also noticed that "Kisser" Michelle Bachmann spoke against those six that didn't go along with the party line of vote, regardless if they were right or wrong. Nothing in her mind is good for the people that the Republicans are against! Well, this is only the beginning! Time will tell.

James Cummings

Nisswa

The failed referendum will cost us

This is in response to a recent Open Forum letter from Mr. Begin. He was patting himself on the back over all the businesses and jobs he saved from his part in defeating the I.S.D. 181 referendum. I really don't understand the thought process behind his thinking. I guess that there won't be any negative effect on the local economy when we have a few million dollars of school district payroll gone from our community. How can Mr. Begin not see the impact of these lost jobs to our community? Also, I suppose there won't be any strain on local businesses when district families are paying almost $400 per sport or activity at the high school level. Wake up Mr. Begin! Be proud of the fact that you have helped to divide our community and harm our local economy. The failed referendum will cost the people in our district more money in the long run than the tax amount of the referendum. Our family will end up paying almost 10 times the amount for our sports and activities than our referendum amount would have been! That sounds like a great deal! Let's pay more for fewer teachers, fewer education opportunities, and larger classrooms! In the future, please don't do us any more favors Mr. Begin.

Vince Kline

Baxter