Open Forum

We in the United States, are in a real battle for humanity both here in the United States and around the World. This is a war for humanity, that we should have joined, rather than commandeered.

The fact that the American voter, those that voted, elected people to represent us who were on the wrong side of history, really contributed to the present situation. Those U.S. elected officials;

1. Supported Israel, not just to defend herself, a nation hacked out of a foreign land by immigrants, but to use ever harsher military force to liquidate opposition.

2. Undermined the only body of world government that we have by: a) withholding our share of the supporting dues. B) Continually imposing our veto power against majority views. C) maintaining that the International Criminal Court, being formed, could have no jurisdiction over any U.S. citizen. D) the present administration has distanced us further by, refusing to recognize: (1) The Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming. (2) The UN Conference On Small Arms. (3) The World Conference on Racism. (4) The ABM treaty on Nuclear Weapons. (5) The Conference To Ban Land Mines. (6) The Conference to Ban Bio-Chemical Weapons. (7) The UN's efforts to supply family planning as well as food for the refuges and poor in war-torn and over-populated parts of the world.

3. In the name of free trade, our administration supports the turning over of the world's economy to big money and world corporations.

Because of, and regardless of these facts, it is our war, but while we seek world justice, not revenge, we must return to the correct side of human history.

Dennis G. Gordon

Nisswa

Robin Hood in reverse

While our nation was reeling from the Anthrax threat, and few people were paying attention, the House voted to give gigantic tax rebates to our country's largest corporations. The "stimulus" bill passed by the House of Representatives is an outrage and Americans need to know about it. This bill gives billions to the richest Americans and the most profitable corporations and almost nothing to those who need it most. It's Robin Hood in reverse -- steal from the poor to give to the wealthy. More than forty percent of the tax stimulus goes to the richest 1 percent of taxpayers while only 7 percent of it goes to the bottom 60 percent. Calculations by Citizens for Tax Justice give the details. This tax bill gives huge benefits to energy and mining companies based in or near Texas. The American public needs to know about this so they can raise their voices to stop it. I can't believe Congress would take advantage of this time of crisis to pass a law that so clearly benefits only their corporate backers, just when we need to pull together as a country. The right approach to stimulus is to put more money in the hands of everyday people who need it most - by extending health insurance benefits

and unemployment benefits, for example. People living on the edge will

spend the new money quickly on consumer goods, so it circulates through the economy, benefiting everyone. Helping people would make economic sense. Giving billions in tax breaks to America's biggest corporations doesn't.

Lisa Gurtin

Brainerd

KVBR memories

I would like to congratulate June Persons on being inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame. It is truly well deserved.

I had the opportunity to work as the morning host at KVBR-AM from 1986-1997. The thing that was so unique about KVBR in those days is one never really knew what the day would bring. We always had live guests. Many times those guests were very controversial, and Charlie and June were not afraid of controversy. They always believed people had a right to express their opinion, and opened up the airwaves of Brainerd for the people. And, believe me, they took a lot of heat for that. The fact that they continued to allow people that opportunity says a lot. They really cared about this community and its people. And I really believe they did a lot of good for this area.

When Charlie and June retired in 1994 an era ended in broadcasting. That's too bad. The family-owned radio station is the exception and not the rule anymore. Now it's all investment bankers and corporations that only look at the bottom line and not the community they serve. It's all ratings, and revenue. It doesn't seem to be about the people you live with and work with. I remember when my father died 10 years ago, Charlie and June gave me the time off I needed to be with my family, no questions asked. My son was always welcome at the station, and June usually had an extra cookie or two for him. Those are things that made me proud to work for KVBR. And really, name me another station where one minute you had a lady giving a recipe for lefse, followed by a heated debate over the latest goings-on in the county attorney's office?

Loren Thompson and Keith Moilanen are in the Brainerd Warrior Hall of Fame, and Charlie and June Persons in the Broadcaster's Hall of Fame. Not bad, not bad at all.

Dave Torkelson

Buffalo

Own up to your mistake

To the inconsiderate coward who hit my car,

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, I parked my Honda Accord in the Fleet Farm parking lot, with no available parking on the right side of my car and three feet from the yellow line on the left. When I returned to my car at 6:10 p.m., I noticed it had been hit. Whoever hit my car, hit it hard enough to put a six-inch long and half-inch deep dent above my front left tire. Four inches from the dent is an inch-long scrape down to the metal. My side mirror was bent in.

I don't understand how you could have not known you hit my car? Maybe you thought that my car wasn't very nice, so it didn't matter that you hit it? I may not drive a shiny sports car, but this is my car; I worked hard to buy it and I try my best to keep it in good shape. Maybe you thought that nobody saw you hit my car or maybe you were so embarrassed by what you did that you quickly left the scene? Or, maybe you just didn't care that you hit my car as long as your vehicle was okay? For whatever reason that you left, I think that you're a coward for leaving without a note.

Would it have been so hard to write an apology note to leave on my car? Was leaving your name and number too embarrassing for you to deal with this problem? I would feel much better about this situation if only you would have apologized to me in some way. Now I have to take time out of my school studies to write this letter. I hope that if this happens again that you will handle things differently by owning up to your mistake.

Caron Lockwood

Baxter

Selective news

Remember when Bush 1 pardoned Elliot Abrams, the assistant secretary of state under Reagan? Mr. Abrams had pleaded guilty to two counts of withholding evidence from Congress (i.e., lying) over his role in the Iran-Contra affair.

Bush 2 appointed Elliot Abrams to the National Security Council as director of its office for democracy, human rights and international operations.

Do you know why this hasn't made the news? One reason is the post required no Senate approval. Another reason is that the media are increasing controlled by ultra-conservatives with little regard for ethical representation.

David Brinkman

Brainerd

American Diabetes Month

November is American Diabetes Month, a month-long campaign dedicated to providing people with diabetes and their families the latest information. Diabetes education is a life-long process. People with diabetes who receive on-going education can learn to live well with diabetes.

There are 15.7 million people or 5.9 percent of the population in the United States who have diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1, which is an autoimmune disease in which the body does not produce any insulin, most often occurring in children and young adults. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. Type 2 diabetes is nearing epidemic proportions, due to an increased number of older Americans, and a greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Gestational diabetes develops in 2-5 percent of all pregnancies but disappears when a pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

With its complications of blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease and amputations, heart disease and stroke, and high blood pressure, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, at least 193,000 people die because of diabetes and its complications. The more carefully people with diabetes manage the disease, the more likely they are to reduce their risk for other serious health problems.

During American Diabetes Month, the Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter will hold an educational meeting on Clinical Research presented by Dr. Martha Spencer from the International Diabetes Center, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's Medical Center. For more information contact Mary Paine at (218) 828-1981 or call 1-800-Diabetes (342-2383).

Mary Paine

Brainerd

We'll keep the light on

To whom it may concern:

I want to say I see the time-honored tradition of helping oneself to someone else's possessions is still alive and well.

Kicking in the door is still the favored style of entry. Thank you so much for not disturbing the plants and for taking the time to unscrew the Cable connections from the TVs and VCR. I hope you get hours of enjoyment from the Playstation. Also you can rest easy knowing there was no police report made due to the fact I have no renters insurance that a report would be necessary for, and also knowing no investigation including fingerprints would be done by the local authorities.

The clock table is a very special item and is really the only thing I care about. It keeps perfect time so your next tour of duty will be timed just as well as this one. Next time, locking the door does no good. We'll leave the light on for you.

Keep up the good work.

William Booth

Brainerd