Breaking News

Letters To The Editor

Honor teachers

To the Journal editor: Once again, a third of the Opinion page of The Mining Journal contains public school and public school teacher bashing by Cal Thomas (Nov. 8). It seems that he is denial of what the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states. The words “separation of church and state” do not appear in the U.S. Constitution, but the concept is enshrined in the very first freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Known as the establishment clause, the opening lines of the First Amendment ...

No easy answers in Mideast

To the Journal editor: This battle between Israelis and Palestinians is both new and old. The hostility, violence, and tragic losses in Gaza are likely to continue and worsen over many months, meaning that the Israel-Hamas war will be with us through the rest of 2023 and, likely, some of 2024. If hostilities spread to the Gulf, this conflict will have the potential to severely impact international markets with particularly devastating effects on struggling economies and populations around the globe. While it is difficult to “put feelings aside and only think rationally and ...

Violence, religion and hope

To the Journal editor: The heart-breaking recent loss of over 4,000 children’s lives in the Middle East, perpetuated by religious extremists, approaches limits of human comprehension. Such brutal violence is not new. But perpetration of these actions by leaders in the 21st century, now with access to nuclear weapons, is terrifying. The blood of children staining a landscape that served as the very origin of three great religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam – is being justified by those in authority as collateral damage. This kind of reasoning is an insult to human ...

Giving thanks

To the Journal editor: We are now into the month of November. Soon comes the snow, a change in seasons, colder temperatures, longer nights. But also, it’s later in the month, we celebrate one of our major holidays: Thanksgiving. Time to think about being thankful. It’s a day long ago when those who came to have freedom and a new life — a better place to live. Back then, it was the so-called little things to give thanks, some food on the table, a home to live in and family was very important. Help one another and be thankful to the Lord to take time and to realize many of ...

Vinnies thankful

To the Journal editor: Thanks to all who responded to the plea for help to fill the shelves at the Ishpeming Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Since the end of August, the pantry has received an overwhelming outpouring of generosity from individuals, churches, organizations, and businesses within the Marquette County area and beyond. In this timeframe, the pantry received $10,700 in monetary donations to purchase frozen meats and other food staples; more than 176 grocery bags of food; 390 lbs. of frozen, grass-fed beef from a private individual; and 891 lbs. of ...

Roundabout badly needed

To the Journal editor: I just read “Marquette City Police reminds drivers to slow down in the winter,” The Mining Journal, Oct. 31, page 15A. Very safe and excellent advice. The article also pointed out extensively the merits of roundabouts, their safety records while reducing speed. As soon as I read it, my thoughts went to the intersection of Marquette County roads 480 and 553. Presently, it is a four-way stop and traffic is backed up in all directions daily at all rush hours. Hands down, that intersection is the most needy of a roundabout in the county, maybe the ...