TO THE EDITOR:
More people seem to be accepting social law over God’s when it comes to abortion. The Bible says God creates all and killing God’s own is a sin which leads to death in the new life lost and possibly the sinner as well.
RM Welle
Becker, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
Solar electric is one of the cleanest energy sources available today. The panels contain only materials in “solid state” form – mostly aluminum and silicon (the main component in natural beach sand). They do not contain liquids that can leak and pollute the air or the ground water. I look forward to the day clean electricity is powering my home and autos – replacing coal, gas and ending the ethanol mandate. Various anti-solar articles that I have read mention loss of farm land, disrupting animal and insect habitat, etc. – for opposing solar fields. This is almost laughable when I look at the disruption created by the ethanol industry. The massive amounts of fossil fuels, fertilizers, chemicals and water necessary to grow 30 million acres of corn for ethanol – makes the disruption by solar panels minute in comparison. One acre of solar panels produces more energy than 40 acres of corn ethanol. Solar fields can also be designed for multi-use of the land – such as raising sheep, growing crops that like shade, honey production, etc. – let’s move our electricity generation into the 21st century.
Ronald Geurts
Big Lake, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
As a child, if a kid feared something they were called a “scaredy-cat.” Sherburne County had a plethora of people running for local offices, relying on a campaign of fear. Illogical and unfounded; A drumbeat of fear. Fear of Black, Indigenous, People of Color; different sexual identification; immigrants; stolen elections. Fear makes some carry a gun. Have we resorted to scaredy-cats to lead us? Before the internet, we talked. We discussed issues, shared fears, and sought truths. We were taught critical thinking. When we had to write a paper in school or college, heresy wasn’t enough. We had to research it, citing our sources. In today’s world, that only happens in school. I’ve share something called a media bias pyramid to help people seek unbiased sources to sort through the rhetoric and get to the truth. I’ve found most people have no desire to do that, or to go to factchecking websites to learn the truth. They are content to reinforce their fears. Since politicians want to be elected, they are happy to do that. Freedom of speech is a cherished freedom. Abuse of that freedom is threatening the very fabric of our democracy. I, too, have a fear, the downfall of democracy.
Nancy Hassett
Big Lake, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
The 11/5/22 Patriot had a front page article about a Becker woman who had a panic attack because Stellis Health in Monticello required her to wear a face mask to an appointment. While we’d all like the right to always do as we please, as members of a community, we have a responsibility to others. Currently in Minnesota there are three infectious diseases going around: Covid, RSV, and the flu. Unlike other businesses, health care facilities are a place where sick and vulnerable people gather in close contact. Clinics and hospitals have a responsibility to protect their patients and staff from harm, so they require masks which can slow or prevent the spread of airborne illnesses. A panic attack may affect someone for a day, but most infections diseases will make someone sick for days or weeks, possibly requiring hospital care, with a great chance of spreading the disease to others. We may not like wearing a mask, but we have a responsibility to do what we can to protect others in our community and that includes supporting decisions made by health care facilities to protect people from getting sick, or spreading an illness to other patients or medical staff.
Teri Bayer
Becker, MN
