District 719

Returned from Wolf Ridge with gratitude

My daughter and I returned from the Wolf Ridge environmental trip last week. As a parent chaperone for the trip this year, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the fifth-grade teachers who accompanied us from Redtail Ridge Elementary. Without the tremendous amount of work they put into this trip, it definitely would not have been the success it was.

I was immediately encouraged by the enthusiasm these teachers have for each and every student in the group. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and the organization that went into preparing us and the students for the experience was impressive. The teachers brought knowledge from past Wolf Ridge trips and professional expertise in managing groups of children, which taught us and inspired us as chaperones to do our best in our roles as assistants. They were the cheerleaders for the chaperones who were not accustomed to leading 15-18 kids.

The teachers were the only adults that knew all of the children, and the children had a sense of familiarity with their teachers that they did not have with the chaperones. When the homesickness set in for some, the kind words of encouragement, the hugs and the “magical” lemon drops were more comforting coming from their teacher than they were coming from the chaperones. It meant the world to the kids to have their teachers there, witnessing their triumphs on the ropes course and rock walls. The pride on the faces of these teachers as they shared in “their” kids’ successes was something I’ll never forget.

While the groups were out exploring the woods of the North Shore, the teachers were taking turns sitting alone in the health office waiting to dispense medications and band-aids. The teachers were discreetly washing bedding for a child who had an accident during the night. They were giving chaperones advice on how to help keep the kids engaged, on task and learning. They were our support during the week. The teachers were the glue holding everything together. The teachers were on duty 24 hours a day.

Any additional compensation the teachers were paid during this week most certainly fell short of the sacrifices they made and the value they added to the experience.

I would also like to thank the families of these teachers. Their families had to be without a mom, dad, wife or husband for the week, and it was a sacrifice for them as well. Thank you to the administration in the district for continuing to support the teachers and the Wolf Ridge program. To the Friends of Wolf Ridge organization, I express my gratitude for funding the staff on this trip. It is truly an amazing experience for these children.

For five days the students, teachers and chaperones became a family laughing together and crying together. We were learning about our environment and about each other. It was an experience that I was privileged to be a part of and I thank the teachers for that.

Nicole Thomas

Savage

Editorial

We choose our religious involvement

Martin Bracewell’s editorial last week raised my ire. (“Separation of church and everything?” Nov. 5.)

The gist of his message is that Christians are “persecuted” in America for their beliefs. This is laughable. The definition of (religious) persecution is “a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate a people because of their religion.” This is not happening in a nation that is over 78 percent Christian.

Instead, what is happening is that true patriots in this country are calling attention to the fact that a small group of “religious” fundamentalists are trying to enshrine their religious beliefs as law.

One of the reasons America was settled was to escape religious oppression. The founding fathers were very aware of the danger of religion-influenced government, and addressed this in the Bill of Rights, which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Bracewell’s article says he finds it strange that many people fear that Bachmann and Perry might try to establish a theocracy. It isn't strange at all; both Bachmann and Perry have publicly stated that they want to turn their religious beliefs into law, which is the very definition of a theocracy. One need only look at Iran to see how a theocracy looks.

It’s as simple as this: we can practice – or not practice – the religion we choose, and no one has the right to make the choice for us. That extends to laws based on religious beliefs. That's what America is about. The exercise of – or lack thereof – my religion does not, and cannot, take rights away from anyone else.

It is the hypocrisy of the right wing that they constantly bemoan the government interfering with their lives, yet at the same time want to interfere with our lives by making their beliefs law.

Michael Stoos

Savage

Politics

Who is Kline really out to serve?

I am writing in response to John Kline’s guest commentary, “Minnesotan’s feeling the clamp of regulatory burdens” (Nov. 5). While Rep. Kline’s expressed interest in “working together on behalf on the Americans [he serves], including the 15 million unemployed,” I have to question who he is truly interested in serving.

His “regulations tour” serves as a perfect example. Instead of organically meeting and receiving feedback from his constituents, Kline elected to tour sites specifically selected to benefit from an agenda that he, by his own admission later in the commentary, has already chosen to pursue in Congress. This is roughly the equivalent of Gov. Dayton coming out in favor of the state funding the Vikings stadium in its entirety and then touring the Wilf Mansion on a “stadium feedback tour.”

What are the burdensome “regulatory roadblocks” that Mr. Kline encounters on his tour? The first is an EPA regulation to restrict dust. Admittedly, this sounds ridiculous. That is because it is. As the Washington Post pointed out on Nov. 2, a proposed rule to regulate dust does not exist, and never has.

Congressman Kline moves on to the EPA’s proposed rules to restrict the already “over-regulated” cement industry, and while he seems eager to parrot the industry’s doomsday job projections, he never goes so far as to say what the regulations propose. Well, namely, they are asking the cement producers to cut back on the amount of mercury (a toxic poison that can cause premature death, impair childhood development, and cause a host of respiratory and heart-related issues) that they emit while producing cement. Is it entirely unreasonable that the Environmental Protection Agency attempt to curtail the amount of poison in our air?

Rep. Kline also bemoans the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an institution insistent on “dictating where a private business can and cannot create jobs.” What Mr. Kline doesn’t mention is that the NLRB has sued to prevent Boeing's South Carolina plant from opening because there is compelling evidence that Boeing elected to build the plant in South Carolina purely to spite the machinists’ union that comprises much of Boeing’s workforce in its home state of Washington. This, if true, is a violation of U.S. law.

What is appalling is less the action of the NLRB, but rather the fact that the House of Representatives proudly passed a bill to curtail the power of the NLRB, an independent institution whose sole purpose is to enforce United States labor law. The details aside, the fact that a dispute between whether jobs exist in Washington or South Carolina is near the top of Kline’s list for creating “new” American jobs is perplexing.

Congress’ approval rating is at an all time low, largely because our elected representatives are perceived to be beholden more to political party and big industry than to their constituencies. Mr. Kline’s commentary, while adorned in shades of populism, does nothing to argue that perception.

Jesse Christensen

Savage

Spirituality

Evidence of God is basic cause and effect

It is sad that in this nation there are still some unbelievers in God. Yet the evidence for God is so clear that the psalmist said, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

The very essence of the scientific method in common with all human experience, involves the basic principle of cause and effect, which says that no effect can be greater than its cause. From nothing comes nothing. The universe did not come from nothing but from God. There must therefore be a first cause of all things, which has at the very least all the characteristics that are seen in the universe, which has been produced by it.

Thus the first cause must have intelligence, because there are intelligent beings in the universe, and the universe itself is intelligible, capable of being studied and described intelligently. It is an “effect” which must have an adequate “cause,” and such a cause must therefore have intelligence in such a high degree as to practically be “omniscient” (all knowing).

Similarly, the first cause must have emotional attributes, since such things as emotions exist in the world. The highest and most noble emotion, most men would agree, is that of love. Thus, the cause of love is one who possesses love in a very high degree.

Furthermore, the attribute of the “will” or volition is very prominent among men and, since it did not produce itself, the great first cause must also possess a sovereign will.

Then there are tremendous reservoirs of power and energy in the universe, spread over innumerable suns and inconceivable distances, and the first cause of such vast sources of power must in itself have even more power and therefore be, as far as we can judge, omnipotent (all powerful).

Since space and time are also real “effects” and since our scientific studies have been unable to place limits on either space or time, their original cause surely must be both omnipresent and eternal as well.

The cause is a great person, and is exactly such a person as revealed in the Bible, the one who created and upholds all things and to whom every man must account for his actions in the last days. The bible will tell you how sin entered the world.

Evolution is not really a science but a religious philosophy. It may be the religion of many scientists, although it is not because of the actual data of their science but because of their intellectual and moral preference for this kind of faith. The faith of biblical Christianity is diametrically opposite to that of evolution, but is fully supported by science and the real facts of life. Evolution has no scientific evidence.

How should we live? The Bible has the answer, read it and follow its teachings. Read the last chapter of Revelation and though there is turmoil we will win in the end. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. It’s the only way to live.

Elio Guidarelli

Savage

Optimist Club

Showing support encourages youth

Since 1954, Optimist International has promoted a program titled “Youth Appreciation.” During the week of Nov. 13-19, our local Optimist Club joins many others in recognizing the positive actions and contributions of young people.

Around the world, children and youth are volunteering and engaging in service projects in record numbers. They are a big part of making their communities, their nation and the world a better place. The energy of these young people can be seen as they mentor children younger than themselves, teach others to read, raise money to help others less fortunate then they are, help care for our environment and develop service projects to meet a variety of community needs.

When young people are engaged in service, they experience their own power to effect change, become more connected to people who are different than them, understand the connections between the real world and what they are learning in school, and become engaged in the life and issues of their communities. They also are more likely to stay in school, more likely to vote when they are of age, and less likely to engage in antisocial behaviors.

Our world needs the enthusiasm, energy and ingenuity of youth. Please join us in recognizing and acknowledging the efforts of our local youth. Take the time to support and show our youth that we care for them. Help us nurture our future leaders so they will continue with a lifelong path of service and civic engagement.

Young people need to know that they are treasured as individuals and that their positive actions and choices are greatly appreciated. Through our loving care and guidance, today’s youth have all the potential it takes to make our world a better one.

Leanne J. Weyrauch

Prior Lake Optimist Club

MNDOT

Savings could have gone to other projects

Did you see the Monday, Oct. 24 front page Star Tribune story about the “unsafe” Highway 52 between Rosemount and Rochester where there have been a number of fatal accidents, and that MnDOT doesn’t have the money to do anything about it?

Then, do you remember a year or so ago when a private citizen came up with a better idea of how to design the 169-494 interchange area and how that idea would have saved MnDOT at least $100 million, maybe more. That option would have preserved Friendship Village’s (a retirement community) access to 169 and 494, and would have been much better for their access for health, fire and police protection.

For those who drive that area, they know that MnDOT’s plan is what is under construction and those potential savings just weren’t needed. What is $100 million anyway?

Well, that money could have been used to do what is needed to make Highway 52 a safer highway with money leftover to do other things than MnDOT needs to do. They talk about resurfacing projects that are needed but no money to do them. Can you imagine how many of those projects could have been done with the $100 million that should have been saved at the 169-494 interchange?

Ray Brandt

Burnsville