TO THE EDITOR:
It has come to my attention that Becker community members may not believe the Constitution is being taught at BHS. I would like to assure everyone that students study the Constitution in many classes, including two trimesters during their senior year. Their instruction focuses on the rights and responsibilities of elected officials and citizens. It also reminds students that We the People means everyone. To accomplish this ideal of We the People, students must see themselves in the curriculum. When students don’t see themselves in the curriculum, they often don’t see themselves in the school, the community, or the world. I believe we should teach about the Constitution in ways that include all voices. We can support the constitution and Indigenous, LGBT, Black, and Brown students. The Constitution’s 7,000 words are amazing, but it has its flaws, which have been corrected (partially) by its amendments. We need to move past either/or and think about this as both/and. The Founding Brothers created a document that allowed for change, and therefore, greater inclusion as our nation grew. For example, if not for the 15th, 19th, 23rd, and 26th amendment, only land-owning, white men would be allowed a voice and a vote.
Sincerely,
Dr. Heather P. Abrahamson,
Becker, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
Volunteering has looked very different for many people in the past year with Covid-19 restrictions and that includes the Catholic Charities Central MN Foster Grandparent Program. The Foster Grandparents would normally be in the classroom tutoring and mentoring students, now they are looking at creative ways that they can still serve youth without being at the sites or schools that they serve at.
Some Foster Grandparents have been pen-pals to students, some have been doing non-contact prep work, some have been volunteering virtually via computer with students, some have video-taped stories that can be played for students, some have made phone calls to students, some are in the classroom and some are on hiatus ready to go back when allowed. Foster Grandparents are always eager to help “their kids” and miss being with them.
Thank you to the Foster Grandmas and Grandpas and to all volunteers who have had a different roll during Covid-19 and have continued to help others. National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent and support to causes they care about in our community. Thank you for making our communities outstanding.
Pat Braun
Area Supervisor
Catholic Charities Central MN Foster Grandparent Program
TO THE EDITOR:
Portland, Oregon: rioters barricaded the ICE headquarters with people inside and set it on fire. In 1998, Joe Biden called black people PREDATORS! Now, about all the democrats have going for them is the constant racism, or racist battle cry. During the Trump adm, illegal immigration was DOWN by 95% , Now, UP over 100%. When you invite them in, they come. Why are democrats against “purging” dead people from voter rolls? We all know. Send out ballots and anyone can fill them out, no ID, no signature verification. 1983, Biden said packing the court was a “BONEHEAD” idea. Now, not so much. Biden and democrats have created the greatest super spreader of all time with their open borders. Every Texas rancher has said that under Trump there was border control and they are begging Biden to do the same. Why is it that none of the disastrous border issues are covered by the left wing media? Finally, crime is exploding in every major Democrat run city and I think we all know why. 200,000 businesses have closed permanently and PP still gets $500 million yearly from taxpayers. Bottom line, the adm allows over 20,000 illegal children into this country but we destroy our own. Oh, and don’t forget, 52 police officers have been killed in 2021 but I guess that isn’t newsworthy.
Regards,
Gordon Schmidt
Loretto, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
By chance, I caught most of the Becker Bulldogs girls basketball game on April 6. Having grown up in Elk River, I feel an affinity with Becker, so I was glad to see them beat the Hill-Murray Pioneers, and looked forward to the championship game set for April 9.
I tuned in as the National Anthem was playing to see the Marshall girls with their hands on their hearts. The camera then showed the Becker team. To my amazement, not one member of the Bulldogs had hand on heart; all had their hands behind their backs. I was so appalled, I turned off the game.
The Becker teachers and coaches have failed these student athletes. These girls now have an award, but they are evidently unaware that they have something far more important. Steams of immigrants crossing our southern US border as I write this know what these girls don’t know, or have not been taught to appreciate. To be born a citizen of the United States, or to have the opportunity to live here, is something people die for every day. No other country, even with our flaws, can compare to the liberty and freedom we have in this country.
It’s really too bad that the students in the Becker public schools are growing up without knowing this.
Thank you,
Georgia Dietz
St Paul, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
In your article, Cen. Minnesotans tell Xcel, “We’re no Fools”, Xcel asserts that a new gas plant in Becker is needed to meet customers’ electrical needs in all weather conditions. That is not true! Multiple reports, including the “Minnesota’s Smarter Grid” study, clarifies that wind and solar energy will meet the future demand for power, including at peak times of use, because we have the technological capacity to develop the necessary energy storage to meet that demand.
Xcel also states the new gas plant will have 90 percent fewer carbon emission. In reality, the combined methane emissions during fracking, flaring, transportation, and burning gas will have worse impact on the environment than coal. Methane is 84 times more dangerous to the environment than C02.
Multiple studies have indicated that a new fossil gas plant is economically unsound. Xcel’s 2019 Colorado Energy Report states: “We are not building any new gas generation, reducing the risk of stranded costs.” Xcel is currently proposing to build a new billion-dollar fracked gas plant in Becker Minnesota. The burden of those stranded costs will be placed on customers’ shoulders.
Wind, Solar, and energy storage works! We cannot replace one problem (coal) with another (fracked gas).
Chuck Derry
Clearwater, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
When it’s school referendum time, we’re often encourgaed to vote yes “for the children”. This time, that’s not the case.
After last fall’s survey, I agree there is an argument to be made for increasing our hands-on science labs and maintaining our facilities through repairs, upgrades and staff. However, I was disappointed to see that the school district greedily lumped all of their financial requests into one question.
Every. Single. Request.
But the biggest disappointment of all — “transitioning” of students. This idea, conveniently absent from the community survey, includes moving fifth grade students into the middle school. How often do we complain that our children grow up too quickly? While I am appalled at the irresponsibility of the “git ‘er done” referendum question, the travesty dubbed “transition” is my primary concern. Ironically, I’ll be voting no “for the children.”
Danae Giebenhain
Becker, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
Patriot, you really got my hopes up when I read a brief April 8 article that there would be a longer one on April 15 about a Sierra Club press conference held to expose the financial and environmental risks that will result if Xcel builds a new billion-dollar fracked gas plant in Becker. “Finally, something about the gas plant”, I thought. This is because I had read numerous Patriot articles submitted by Xcel which showcased any minor move they made to support renewable energy but, without fail, neglected to mention the gas plant.
Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed reading the April 15 article. Instead of reporting the facts presented at the press conference or investigating their veracity, the Patriot had Xcel rebut every point with tired industry misinformation about how great fracked gas is - all points designed to manufacture the reader’s consent.
Patriot. This barely qualifies as journalism. And to the reader -- Don’t be fooled by the Patriot’s allegiance to our corporate overlords. In Colorado, Xcel has said “no” to new gas plants; why a billion dollar “yes” here? Is it because Xcel has the Patriot in their back pocket? Get the facts. Save the planet. Stop this plant.“
Nancy Hassett
Big Lake, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
The world is upside down and the media is playing us. Think about what they talk about daily, fear and race! It is time to NOT trust everything they say or show. Do your research & open your mind. Climate change or climate emergency will be their next tactic. Censorship, cancel culture, wokeism, rioting, racism, lock downs, defunding the police, propaganda news and critical race theory are tactics that need careful attention. Our children & grandchildren are depending on us! Following are just a few examples, because of the limited space: COVID-19 death, drama and the vaccine; January 6th raid on U.S. Capitol; Russian collusion hoax; BLM organization hoax; 60 minutes editing of Desantis story; Jeffery Epstein child sex trafficking scandal; NY Governor Cuomo under investigation; 2020 Election fraud; Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal; Illegal Immigration – the cages? When President Trump was in office he was raked over the coals for how people were treated; now the media is OK with how Biden is handling it even though it is 10 times worse.
Wanda Herkenhoff
Becker, MN
