Drag versus assault rifles

Here are two hypothetical, but very real, situations that your child, or our children, could be exposed to.  (Children belong to all of us, as a society.) First, being exposed to people oddly and scantily dressed, wearing Mardi Gras style makeup, and exhibiting what some call “adult” behavior, rated “R”.  It’s called drag. Second, being shot or threatened with an AR-15 style assault rifle. Which would be your first priority to protect our children from?  The leadership of today’s Republican Party says the first one is the most dangerous, the “drag” displays.  That’s their bigger focus.  They are passive-aggressive on the second, or even worse, are silent on it. I know what harm might come to children from watching popular network TV programs weekdays between 7 and 10 pm, and we’re OK with that.  Turn on one of the networks at any point in that time frame, and within 10 minutes we’re almost guaranteed to see a gory shooting, a gun waved menacingly, a beating, an explosion, a sexual threat to a woman, or a knife.  If I bet $10 on that, I could make a living off those bets.  I don’t know what harm, if any, might be caused to my children from seeing people in drag. I’ve also read of the effects to a child from AR-15 style rifle rounds.  I can’t say them here; the paper would refuse to print them due to causing nausea in many people.  (Find them yourself; it’s not a simple “deer rifle” wound.) I’m an atheist, because I don’t believe in any man-made religions.  They’re all man-made.  But many of the Christian churches have chosen to support the Republican’s leadership.  I think I know what Jesus’ priority would be.  It’s past time for some adults to grow up, and man up.

A. Martin – Merrifield, Minnesota

Too much consumerism

It’s wiser to be a participant than a card-carrying, rampant consumer. Once I was required to carry on me a military draft card that threatened my choice of a future. Being a pacifist resolved that trap. The marketing of consumerism is a new ploy of how much one can devour in their lifetime. It’s a magnification of hedonism under the guise of gratification.

Gerald Norrgard – Duluth, Minnesota

New bus plan bad for seniors, shoppers

The DTA is touting their new bus route plan as a better bus plan come next month.  But they have eliminated several routes and several bus stops.  When it starts there will be fewer bus stops where many people get on and off on central entrance. For example there will be no bus stop from Arlington Avenue to the bus stop at door * in the mall than nothing till super  one. if people want to shop at the stores in the Stoneridge  Mall they have to either walk from Arlington Avenue or the Miller hill Mall.  If they want to shop at Aldi's Saver's or Pet Smart Door8 in the mall or Super one the same with the Target Shoppers. If a person wants to go to the Government Buildings or the Library they have  to walk to and from the transit center. For the Main post office 21st Avenue West and Superior Street. AT the same time they're adding routes that they had before but dropped due to low ridership.. Every time I've talked to them when they were taking comments about it and told them that their plan would be a hardship for many people especially Senior citizens the persons who UI would talk to just blew me off I was told that if I didn't like it just don't take the bus.I've had that before to when I would fill out their survey's and say  earlier Sunday service for  people who bus to get to church the person looked at my survey and tore it up saying that they didn't  want anything but praise.

Cecilia Hill – Duluth, Minnesota

Bait in the trash?  

The TV news reports the DNR is asking people who fish to put their bait in the trash.  Do you know what bait is? It's small living creatures who have a will to live and a life to pursue. Trash? Suffocate in the trash? Why are invasive species even allowed as bait? Couldn't the fishermen at least kill the little creatures quickly and bury them to feed plants?

Karen Moore – Duluth, Minnesota