To our letter writers

THUMBS UP: The end of the election campaign season is in sight. We’re sure there will be many sighs of relief when that happens.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have shared their opinions through The Journal’s Letters to the Editor section through the election season and throughout the year. Thomas Jefferson once said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” We’d like to think the free flow of ideas that our nation’s First Amendment protects is an invigorating alternative to bloodshed in the nourishment democracy. So is voting. We hope everyone will take their opinions to the ballot box on Tuesday.

Redskins revolt

THUMBS UP: Good luck to the organizations and activists that are planning to demonstrate outside the TCF?Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday during the Minnesota-Washington NFL game. Activists are hoping thousands will join them in protesting the use of the nickname “Redskins” by the Washington football team.

It is the most blatantly racist nickname in sports. There are “Braves,” “Indians” “Warriors” and “Blackhawks” in other professional leagues, but “Redskins” is an obvious slur.

Local governments, like the Hennepin County Commissioners, can pass all the non-binding resolutions they want about wanting the name changed, but nothing will change until the general public gets upset enough to put pressure on the NFL and the Washington organization to change the name. A good, big protest will be a good start.

State trip goes to…

THUMBS UP: Two fine local football teams were competing Friday night for the Section 2A Football championship. This was written before the game, so we don’t know if New Ulm Cathedral or Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s will be going on to the state football tournament.

So we’ll say, “Congratulations (winning team name here)” and let the reader fill in the blank.

We are sure that whichever team wins will be a wonderful representative for the area.