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Semantics don’t change the facts

Letters

To the editor: Politicians on the right in the U.S. House want to call dissatisfied constituents anything but what they really are. They refer to them as “a vocal minority,” “special interests,” “Antifa” (see Jan. 6), “outside agitators,” “paid protesters,” etc. In order not to meet with these real people with real concerns about the real direction of our country, especially in light of the big bad bill, which is many things, but beautiful is not one of them, these cowardly lions (Maybe they could blame their failures to meet and greet on “bone spurs.”) hide ...

Looking at empathy

Columns

The word empathy is used a lot. Sometimes it is confused with sympathy, but they are different. When you feel sympathy for somebody those are your feelings, experienced by you. Sympathy involves what you feel when you witness another person’s suffering or terrible misfortune. You may feel compassion, pity, sadness, or sorrow for him or her. So what is empathy? Empathy is your ability to understand someone else’s feelings. In a way, it is something like putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. It involves recognizing, understanding, responding to, sharing, or even ...

Focus on mental health first

Columns

When tragedy strikes close to home, it leaves a mark that, hopefully, never fades. The recent shooting at Annunciation church and school has shaken Minnesotans to our core. Parents, teachers, neighbors, and all of us are asking the same question: how do we make sure something like this never happens again? Gov. Walz and many Democrats in the legislature have been quick to use this tragedy to focus on what kinds of guns should be banned and what new gun ownerships restrictions can be put in place. I understand why that is the instinct, but I believe we will be more effective if we ...

Sharing tailgating tales

Columns

Time was when tailgating was universally frowned upon. Tailgating meant that an obnoxious motorist was following your vehicle so closely that he could read the care instructions on the tag of your T-shirt. Tailgating has since taken on another meaning. This term is now used to describe the pregame eating, drinking, and socializing that takes place in the parking lot of a sports venue. If your team is on a winning streak, it’s a pre-celebration celebration; if your team has been losing lately, you can commiserate with other fans and mutter, “Wait until next year!” I’ve lived ...

Respecting others

Letters

To the editor: We always enjoy reading Randy Krzmarzick’s column, “Weeds.” He is always very thoughtful and reflective. His most recent one, about piles of rocks, spoke about how we treat our neighbors and can make things better with positive comments, avoiding tendencies that show contempt and a lack of forgiveness. Krzamrzick is one of the reasons we subscribe to the Journal. We could not help but think of the rocks that the Children of Israel piled up to remind them of what God had done for them (Joshua 4). We need civility and not revenge. Paul and Jeanette Boehlke New Ulm

Stacking up rocks or knocking them down

Columns

I walk or jog on Sleepy Eye’s Lake Trail. The trail has been a blessing. I used to run on the shoulder of Highway 14. That has become insanely busy. I was afraid of getting sucked into the wake of a semi-truck and ending up in Brookings. I mostly go on the quieter west side of the trail. In part of that, there is a field on one side and woods on the other. In the trees, there is a rock pile. There are rock piles all across the Corn Belt. Some of these are as old as when the first settlers came and began the work of turning prairie into cropland. The one we have in our grove is for ...