Culture
Rethinking Militarism
We have a culture in this country of violence and militarism. Many of our national myths are based on violence. The six-gun toting cowboy, the tough cop, the military hero, and mafia godfather are typical Hollywood themes. Even our national anthem is all about war and “bombs bursting in air.”
Around patriotic holidays, like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, this culture is promoted with speeches honoring the “sacrifice” of our troops. They died to “defend freedom” and protect our way of life. Implied in these stories is that our many wars were necessary ...
VOTE WITH YOUR MONEY….BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS
VOTE WITH YOUR MONEY….BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS.
By Virginia Kirsch
As you shop this week, look for products made in Wisconsin.
Here are reasons to buy local….
Biggest job creators. Local businesses are the largest employers nationally.
Circulates more money in our own community and grows the tax base.
Helps local non-profits as local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners.
Encourages local “character” and culture.
Reduces environmental impact.
Gives better customer service.
Local owners re-invest ...
Remember Those Who Have Given So Much for Our Freedom!
This Memorial Day, and in the days that follow, please take a moment to thank the men and women who have given so much in the service of their country.
I was raised in a Marine Corps family. My father was a career Marine* and my mother was the daughter of a career Marine. Born in a Naval Hospital after WWII, I spent the next 20 years surrounded by Marines and personnel from the other branches of our Armed Forces. I knew how dedicated they, and their families, were to protecting our freedom. They’ve earned our appreciation. It’s up to us to honor their dedication by ...
A LITTLE QUIZ ABOUT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
The following quiz was written by Rev. Emily C. Heath at the United Church of Christ and was published online by the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, and elsewhere. The Rev. Emily C. Heath is a United Church of Christ minister currently serving as Senior Pastor of the Congregational Church in Exeter, New Hampshire, and a writer and public theologian.
"How to Determine if Your Religious Liberty Is Being Threatened in Just 10 Quick Questions." Just pick "A" or "B" for each question. Please do not copy off your neighbor's quiz.
1. My religious liberty is at risk because...
Farmers say Budget Damages Farm Research, Schools and Conservation Input – By State Senator Kathleen Vinehout
“It’s very important that we are here today,” the farmer from Independence told me. “In fact, it’s more important that we be here than anywhere else.” Here was in my Capitol office. Local farmers were visiting as part of Ag Day at the Capitol.
The weather that day was dry and warm. It was perfect for getting early spring chores done. Instead, these farmers drove hundreds of miles to meet with their legislators.
They were on a mission to change parts of the state budget that hurt rural communities. The first thing on their mind – in every group that ...
FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF “SELMA-MONTGOMERY MARCH”
Rev. Janet Wolfe, a retired Presbyterian pastor in Marshfield, Wisconsin, commemorated the 50th anniversary of her participation in the Civil Rights movement.
Fifty years ago, Rev. Wolfe was a student at U of Colorado in Boulder. She boarded a bus with 32 others and headed for Alabama.
She attended the last day of the Selma-Montgomery March on March 25, 1965. Fortunately, she recorded her experiences and here is an excerpt:
“After wading in a mixture of mud, rain, and old orange peels for 5 ½ hours, we began marching through the Negro section. The spectators ...
Normal Relations With Cuba Long Overdue
This is the second in a two part series on Cuba by Philip Anderson. The first article in this series can be found archived under the author’s name. Mr. Anderson is a twenty year veteran of the U.S. military.
Establishing normal diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba is long overdue. For over 50 years we have bullied and threatened this small, poor nation for no good reason. Not only has our animosity toward Cuba been irrational and unnecessary, it has been a complete failure. President Obama should be praised and supported for finally considering improved ...
HOW DO WE FORGET?
How do we forget over two hundred years of the Wisconsin dream? How do we look at what our fathers and mothers bequeathed us, and throw it all away for the promise of more jobs, or less taxes? Are we so much less than previous generations that we can throw out any measure of the ideal we expect for our children and our children's children? I am asking these questions of my neighbors and fellow statesmen, because that is exactly what Scott Walker is asking us to do with his current budget proposal.
In one fiscal proposal the governor is asking us to dump the Wisconsin ...
WALKER’S SHALLOWNESS
A letter to the editor
Oh what a difference a week can make in the lives of people in the news. If you doubt me, check with newscaster Brian William, former Olympian athlete Chris Jenner, Or, closer to home, Gov. Scott Walker. At least Jenner wasn’t caught lying, but rather being honest.
The last week of January was good to Walker. His speech to conservative and reactionary Iowans went over well though, of course, he was preaching to the choir. But then came his February 1 interview with ABC’s Martha Raddatz, who quizzed him on foreign affairs matters, and his ...
SAVE THE U.S. POST OFFICE
As a child, growing up in rural Wisconsin, I remember the excitement of watching for the mailman. We loved the surprises waiting for us in our mailbox. Today, many people still depend on the U.S. Postal Service. It delivers everywhere. Many small businesses depend on it for their business. Independent newspapers need it to deliver their papers and to keep independent journalism alive.
Recently our mail delivery has slowed down. Why? On January 5, 2015, many distribution centers were closed in an effort to cut costs. This slowed down the processing of mail.
Why does ...
