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Umlauts for all

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton struck a blow for ethnic and cultural diversity by ordering the Minnesota Department of Transportation to put an umlaut back on the Lindstrm, Minnesota highway sign. The sign had been spelled “Lindstrom” due to a federal highway regulation calling for the English alphabet only to be used on highway signs.

The move led to a letter to the editor in the Star Tribune on Thursday, which stated that English should be the only language of America, since the English got here first.?(Actually, Columbus was here before the English, and he was an Italian sailing under the Spanish flag. The French settled much of the continent at the same time as the English. And Leif Erickson is said to have arrived a five hundred years before Columbus. And the various Native American tribes were here a long time before that!) The letter writer says we should have only one language (using the phrase “e pluribus unum” in his argument, which is actually Latin) and conjures up the horrible prospect that New Ulm might be forced spell its name in German! (Let’s not tell him about the “Willkommen” signs on the outskirts of town.)

We say umlauts for anyone who wants them.

Transporting kids

It’s great to have programs over the summer for kids, like the Early Childhood and Family Education programs, or the Park &?Recreation programs, or the summer free lunch programs at the school. But there are some kids who have a tough time getting to them. Some kids need transportation, especially those who live three or four miles from the activity, with busy streets in the way. Often, the kids most in need of the services are those less likely to have transportation.

The District 88 School Board talked about this Thursday with ECFE?Director Betty Uehling. We are sure there are plenty of willing volunteers who would like to help, if the regulatory concerns can be satisfied. We hope it can be figured out before the summer starts.

Bon Voyage

The Rediscover North America expedition spent a week resting up from the first half of its journey from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Circle, and left early Thursday morning for the rest of its trip.

We wish the group of six, which includes New Ulm native John Keaveny, a good, safe journey.

Anyone who wants to follow their journey can track them on their web site, www.rediscoverna.com.

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