TO THE EDITOR:
I am writing this to say thank you to the editor of Patriot, Bill Morgan. Thank you for taking responsibility for what I believe was an honest mistake. Thank you for not burying an apology in the back of the newspaper. I find this refreshing, especially in a day where the media is quite often wrong and never apologizing when they are or if they do it’s a small retraction on the back page. We need more editors like him. So thanks again Mr. Morgan. Keep up the good work,
Ben Steiskal
Becker, Mn
TO THE EDITOR:
I want to publicly say “thank you” to the Patriot Newspaper for having the courage to print all viewpoints regarding issues important to the welfare of our community. The Patriot Newspaper’s adherence to the principles of the First Amendment and Freedom of Press allows all our citizens’ voices to be heard. It is at the very heart of a free society. Something we hopefully all learned in High School Social Studies. The day that we give into fear of personal attacks and threats of cancellation to keep us from expressing our honestly held viewpoints is the day we begin to lose our sacred birthright as Americans. We were handed down a precious gift from those who came before us in the form of the Bill of Rights. Let’s not be the first generation that fails to safeguard and pass it on to the next generation fully intact. I would urge all of us to support our local Patriot Newspaper and all of the people and businesses whose advertising dollars keep it in circulation. It is our voice in our community. Let’s work together to keep it alive and well.
Chris Klippen
Clear Lake
TO THE EDITOR:
Last week the Patriot’s editor published an apology for not adhering to the paper’s self-imposed rule to not publish letters to the editors regarding elections within one week of that election. The editor’s mistake was not a violation of any state law or regulation. It was an inadvertent oversight that did not result in any harm to the successful outcome of the Becker bond referendum. After the referendum an executive of the Becker Education Association spoke to the School Board during its November meeting. He called the editor’s inadvertent oversight “malicious” and demanded that the school’s contract with the newspaper be cancelled. This type of “cancel culture” ultimatum has no place in our community, nor in the administration of our schools. A mistake was made and acknowledged. That should be it. The Patriot is an important partner in our community. Significantly, it offers an opportunity for community input, for instance, with submitted articles and LTEs. The content of LTEs permits “the little guy” who cannot afford an expensive ad to let his opinion about important community activities be known. Responses to LTEs can offer corrective information or a different view. This is the true essence of our First Amendment freedom of speech. I appreciate the paper for giving us that opportunity and urge our community and school to continue to support it.
Betsy Armstrong
Becker, Mn
