Open Forum

For most of us living here in the Brainerd lakes area, Memorial Day signifies the beginning of warm weather, barbecues, golf, fishing, boating, gardening and numerous fun summertime activities. But, do we realize, that if not for the men and women who have served in the armed forces and fought battles for our freedom, would we be able to enjoy any of this?

I would like to take this opportunity to urge everyone to attend the "Freedom Celebration" that will be taking place at Heritage Assembly of God Church May 26 and May 27 honoring our United States armed services, past and present. This annual Memorial Day celebration is an amazing production of our local musical talent directed by Kara Craine. Countless hours have gone into this musical tribute. Please mark your calendars and give our soldiers, past and present, the honors and recognition they so dearly deserve!

Connie Christensen

Brainerd

Wallin was elected to represent us

Unfortunately, some insulting, narrow-minded people have abused the Vox Pop to complain about Mayor Wallin's reciprocating visit to Sweden.

It's easy and cowardly to criticize anonymously. Don't these people realize that the Dispatch is read on-line in Sweden also? How embarrassing and insulting. Anyone from Sweden thinking about coming to Brainerd will probably think twice after reading the negative responses to Mayor Wallin's visit to their country. Sweden just sent three students here and I'm sure they didn't receive any flak from their fellow Swedes. Someone complained that no one in Leksand has heard of Brainerd being their Sister City. The probable reason is that no one has done anything to promote the program before Mayor Wallin. I know people in Brainerd who weren't aware of it before the Swedish girls came to visit. Just e-mailing with people isn't how you promote your city and foster international relationships.

Mayor Wallin was elected to represent Brainerd. He is going to Sweden so Brainerd, after 19 years, will participate in the Sister City Program. It's $4,000 that some are having a cow about, yet I didn't read any personal attacks on Bob Olson when he voted (then back-peddled his decision) to spend $100,000 of the taxpayer's money to pay a firm to promote the 1/2 percent sales tax. Or when Mark O'Day and Bonnie Cumberland voted to bail out the Brainerd Oaks project for a chunk of change. It's funny that people squabble over $4,000, but not when $100,000 or $1,000,000 of their tax dollars are jeopardized.

The writer of the Open Forum on 5/14/07 must be bored if he reads the delinquent taxpayer list, to find elected official's names so that he can make irrelevant comments. Also, your ramblings about a sister city in Iowa were ludicrous.

Amy Price

Brainerd

Use moderation in free speech

If you should read our Constitution, you shall find no reference to any god, and the only reference to religion is Paragraph three of Article VI which I will again quote.

"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

And yes, Jefferson with the help of another of the liberal first presidents, of United States wrote The Declaration of Independence.

Which started;

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to separation."

Those whom are referred to as our founding fathers felt it important to seek common ground with all, and would not use divisive language that one so often hears from the devout. If you read letters of the more personal nature, you will find more reservations regarding organized religions, and often the historical reasons for those reservations.

Real and effective freedom of speech should always be valued, but without moderation, unless it is meant to inflame, it is wasted. Today's statements by our administration, the Islamic extreme, and the Israeli extreme should attest to that. Also the waste of lives should be totally evident.

Dennis G. Gordon

Nisswa

Vote for Doug Houge for District 5

Please, no career politicians making hollow claims of past successes representing us as county commissioner. Jinx trusted Doug Houge, appointing him to the important planning board. Houge will represent us as Jinx did, doing what's best for the county. Jinx gave of his time; take time to vote. Vote Houge.

Bob Ferrari

Crosby