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Letters To The Editor

First they came …

To the Journal editor: This came to me a few weeks ago, and I put the words together and shared it first on Feb. 22. However I feel it is important I share my thoughts with a wider audience. First they came for diversity, and I did not speak out because they hid it behind silly terroristic acronyms like DEO and WOKE insteading of spelling it out and humanizing our stories. Then they came for the LGBT people, but I did not speak out because I was not LGBT and the only thing that was in the news was transgender which I don’t understand. Books disappeared and I did not speak out ...

Unethical activity observed here

To the Journal editor: In summer of 2023 one of our bird alliance members was observing an active osprey nest in a tall snag in a lake. The adults were attending the nest which contained young ospreys when a drone approached and hovered just above the nest, which caused the adults to flush from the nest. The osprey is a large, fish-eating raptor which suffered a worldwide population drop from DDT poisoning, habitat loss and persecution along with the bald eagle, sandhill crane and many other species. The Michigan population historically was decimated, but the Michigan Department ...

Bergman off base

To the Journal editor: U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, who lives in Louisiana, not Watersmeet, and who taxpayers paid a salary of $174,000 in 2024, and lodging and meal reimbursements of $44,079 in 2023 (Bergman’s reimbursements were the highest in congress) will not face his constituents in person in Michigan. I, on the other hand, am using my unpaid time to fight for democracy and vulnerable people, and I was willing to have my heart broken by listening to Bergman’s constituents at the recent empty chair town hall meeting in Escanaba. This is what I said to Bergman’s empty chair: ...

Got to love U.P.

To the Journal editor: Coming soon, spring flowers on the way leaves on the trees, green grass and most of all dry roads better driving for me. The seasons of change is not the same weather being in Hawaii in the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s nice weather year-round, but being a so-called looper from the U.P. of Michigan I don’t care for all that. Also, in the U.S. Air Force in Miami, Florida, for two years it was not for me lots of people, hurricanes, and pretty hot. Also, most don’t know way down south the daylight hours. Don’t change much in winter. It’s darker for almost 8 ...

Hold Trump accountable

To the Journal editor: The Ojibway people who originally occupied this area had what they called grandfather teachings. These were character traits that tribal elders tried to instill in younger tribal members for the good of the entire tribe. There were seven grandfather teachings: Wisdom, humility, honesty, respect, bravery, love and truth. I have asked myself how many of these traits have been displayed by Donald Trump. The answer is none. I have added some additional qualities that are possessed by people I respect and admire. My list includes compassion, empathy and a sense of ...

Trump, Vance disappoint

To the Journal editor: Today before the world I am ashamed to call myself an American. I’ve long since reconciled with the flaws in this American enterprise because I convinced myself that the fundamental values and principles of decency and respect held by the men and women we elect will ultimately override and diminish those flaws. (Recently) though, as I watched and heard the president and vice president of these United States berate and demean the president of another country, I lost all of what little faith I had left in this American experiment to work. A colleague in ...