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Letters To The Editor

What ever happened to U.P. nice?

Th the Journal editor: As I sat in church this past Sunday, I reflected on the two recent gun tragedies — one in Providence, Rhode Island and another in Australia — at a time of the Christian season of Advent and the Jewish season of the Festival of Lights. These horrific events should cause us all to reflect on just where the human race is going and why we are so polarized and divided. Some of our national leaders are trying to make a difference, like Spencer Cox, Republican governor of Utah and Josh Shapiro, Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, who recently made a joint appeal ...

Misplaced trust

Recently, Upper Peninsula state Reps. Greg Markkanen and Dave Prestin joined 11 other state representatives and nine colleagues in the state Senate in signing an “urgent request” asking U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to “deploy official election monitors and provide comprehensive oversight for Michigan’s 2026 primary and general elections.” The letter stated: “Our concerns center on Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who, as the state’s chief election official, will oversee the 2026 elections while simultaneously appearing on the ballot as a candidate for ...

GOP House missed mark

To the Journal editor: Please check out what our Republican State House did in Lansing (recently) They cancelled almost $645 million in work projects that were approved and ongoing into 2026. Speaker Matt Hall said "not all of them were waste, abuse and fraud." I wish he would show at least one case that was! By pulling this bizarre and egotistical move, Matt Hall threw away $48 million that will be returned to the feds and he lost Michigan $245 million that came from matching funds and other sources besides taxes. (Numbers are from Bridge Michigan, Dec. 10) How is that for managing ...

Coach’s departure should be treated more respectfully

To the Journal editor: I am very disappointed with (the) headline you chose, "Out on the street," for your (Nov. 8 sports) article concerning the resignation of Coach Shane Richardson from Northern Michigan University’s football team. I found it very unkind and actually very cruel, especially considering how hard Coach Richardson has worked to renew the tradition Wildcat football. I hope that in the future, if you ever find yourself in a difficult life situation, people will treat you with more kindness and consideration than you have shown Coach Richardson and his family. John ...

Solutions for homelessness are there

To the Editor: The last several weeks have brought the issue of homelessness into painful focus in the Marquette area: 1) Room at the Inn, the homeless shelter on Washington Street in Marquette, continues to operate over capacity and right now needs overflow emergency housing to keep individuals from having to sleep outside and risk injury or death from cold exposure. 2) The Salvation Army has again stepped forward to help organize an emergency overflow shelter for some individuals and families in their chapel. However, it may take up to a month to open this shelter. 3) Some ...

What would founders say?

To the Journal editor: This week, we watched Ken Burns epic, “The American Revolution” on PBS television. It caused me to pause and ponder the utter irony of the juxtaposition with the present state of our country’s politics and government. The show basically tells a story of the true American patriots …with their cold hands, wet clothes, tired, lonely, hungry bellies, doubt, and fears who persevered through intolerable conditions to wrest themselves from an authoritarian regime. The endured atrocious conditions in the field to ultimate success in battle, and to deliver ...