The higher court has ruled, the decision is final. The stay issued by the Appellate Court Chief Justice Alivina Aubele to postpone the removal hearing of Melanie Benjamin has been vacated. The Band Assembly, rather the RBC, (Reservation Business Committee who are actually the same people as the Band Assembly) cannot be held in contempt of court, and the removal of Melanie Benjamin stands.
So, what does that mean in English? The court of appeals decided the chief justice made a mistake in issuing the order to postpone the hearing. They withdrew the order. They canceled it as though it never existed.
But they didn't make the decision lightly. They took their time — nearly two full days — to come to a decision. In an 18-page ruling — a published document from the court — they explained how they came up with their decision. They cited similar hearings and rulings. They did some research. Their decision is final.
Once they made their decision, however, they basically slapped the hands of the Band Assembly. They said they were very disappointed the Band Assembly chose to ignore a court order. Even if they believed it to be invalid, it was still a court order and they should have taken a different route to dispute it, they said. The Band Assembly, or PBC, should not have just gone ahead and ignored it, the court said. "You cannot just take the law into your own hands," the ruling stated.
But after the court declared the order invalid, they could not go ahead and claim the Band Assembly was in contempt of the order, even if they wanted to, because the order was vacated. So they — Band Assembly — is off the hook on the contempt charge.
But the court decided they could issue a fine. They charged the Band Assembly $500 for ignoring the order. They slapped their hands and said they were naughty. It is unclear, even to the OSG (Office of the Solicitor General) whether the court is charging each member of the Band Assembly — there are 4 of them — individually $500, or it the $500 should be paid by the Band Assembly as a whole. The OSG is going to find out.
The $500 fine could be compared to taking a child's GameBoy away for a half hour as punishment for disobeying his parents. It doesn't hurt much and not for very long.
So once the order was declared invalid, the court agreed they had no jurisdiction under the separation of powers government to interfere with the removal process of an elected official. So the decision of the RBC — the Band Assembly — to remove Melanie Benjamin from office is final.
I have to say that Melanie has been a public class act in this entire process. She proclaimed her innocence and continued her daily activities. She held her head high as she waited the outcome. Her staff was instructed to continue on with their work, even up until they were all escorted out of the government center by Tribal Police.
When it came time to enter the room for the hearing and when she walked into the court room, she did so with dignity.
That shows courage.
Since the final ruling from the Court of Appeals, a source close to the office has said some of Melanie's previous staff members have been asked to come back to work. They didn't know what to do and asked for advice from their previous boss. She told them to go back to work. To do their jobs to the best of their ability. To be respectful.
That shows the wisdom of a leader.
Whether Melanie is innocent of the accusations made against her, or she is guilty of them has yet to be determined. There have been no formal charges filed in any court of law. Therefore, there has been no trial and there has been no conviction.
Whatever you believe on that aspect is your personal choice at this point. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes in Melanie's world. All I can attest to is how she has treated me, and how she has acted in public. She has always been fair and respectful to me. She returns my phone calls personally — not through her PR firm — whenever possible. She has always exuded an air of dignity when in public — at least where I have seen her.
I hope I can say the same thing about the new administration in the Chief Executive's office.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Nothing new yet
Just a word to let you'll know there was a hearing in Mille Lacs Band court of Central Jurisdiction this morning before special magistrate judge B.J. Jones and the Mille Lacs Band Appellate Court.
Both sides argued. Both sides feel they did a good job and will come out winners. But the Judges have not made a ruling to the best of my knowledge as of 5:15 p.m.
I could go into the details. There were some pretty amazing quotes and sound bites. But to tell you the truth, I am tired and still have to go to a photo shoot tonight.
Actually, the Mille Lacs Band government center is closed today in honor of Columbus Day. Which is called Indian Day according to Band members.
So, anyway, there is nobody at the government center to issue a statement. We should know tomorrow whether or not the court ruled that the court ordered stay was proper and if the Band Assembly will be held in contempt for ignoring the order.
Where we go from here is any body's guess right now.
Stay tuned . . . .
Peace.
Both sides argued. Both sides feel they did a good job and will come out winners. But the Judges have not made a ruling to the best of my knowledge as of 5:15 p.m.
I could go into the details. There were some pretty amazing quotes and sound bites. But to tell you the truth, I am tired and still have to go to a photo shoot tonight.
Actually, the Mille Lacs Band government center is closed today in honor of Columbus Day. Which is called Indian Day according to Band members.
So, anyway, there is nobody at the government center to issue a statement. We should know tomorrow whether or not the court ruled that the court ordered stay was proper and if the Band Assembly will be held in contempt for ignoring the order.
Where we go from here is any body's guess right now.
Stay tuned . . . .
Peace.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Some tough times ahead
“Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Many of life's circumstances are created by three basic choices: the disciplines you choose to keep, the people you choose to be with; and, the laws you choose to obey.” - Charles Millhuff
Face it, this is not an easy time for the people of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. (See the Messenger website for details.)
My editor always says, "There are always two sides to every story and the truth is usually somewhere in between." I believe that to be true.
Some pretty serious accusations have been made of late. The rest of the great big world is worrying about certain issues of great importance. The word "economy" has become a dirty word. The stock market is crashing. The Petters investigation has become national news and the upcoming presidential election is complicated with mud-slinging by each candidate.
There is a bit of mud-slinging going on in our little corner of the world regarding one of the most important issues to hit this region, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in at least 25 to 30 years. That is just my opinion. I haven't been here for that many years. But this is serious.
The removal of a tribal elected official, specifically the Chief Executive, is comparable to the impeachment of a United States President. The matter should be looked at and scrutinized very carefully. Challenges should be made and argued.
The removal of Melanie Benjamin as Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band is being challenged. I would expect nothing less.
It might be hard for some people to understand traditions and culture that differ from our own. But I am almost certain that within every culture there is embedded into the souls of the people an intricate balance of knowing right from wrong.
We teach our children from a very young age the difference between right and wrong. When they grow up, we hope they use that knowledge from our teachings and what they have learned at school and in life, to make the right choice when forced to decide what is right and what is wrong.
We hope they make decisions that come from the heart.
I applaud those who stand up for what they believe and don't back down when times are tough. These are tough times for the people of the Mille Lacs Band.
I don't know who is right and who is wrong in this particular instance. It is certainly a test of adherence to moral and ethical principles all the way around. But I applaud both sides for standing firm to their beliefs.
There is a hearing on Monday in Tribal Court. Challenges have been made. Arguments need to be heard. And decisions must now be made.
Peace.
"Give us clear vision, that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything."
~ Peter Marshall, US Senate Chaplain 1947
“Many of life's circumstances are created by three basic choices: the disciplines you choose to keep, the people you choose to be with; and, the laws you choose to obey.” - Charles Millhuff
Face it, this is not an easy time for the people of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. (See the Messenger website for details.)
My editor always says, "There are always two sides to every story and the truth is usually somewhere in between." I believe that to be true.
Some pretty serious accusations have been made of late. The rest of the great big world is worrying about certain issues of great importance. The word "economy" has become a dirty word. The stock market is crashing. The Petters investigation has become national news and the upcoming presidential election is complicated with mud-slinging by each candidate.
There is a bit of mud-slinging going on in our little corner of the world regarding one of the most important issues to hit this region, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in at least 25 to 30 years. That is just my opinion. I haven't been here for that many years. But this is serious.
The removal of a tribal elected official, specifically the Chief Executive, is comparable to the impeachment of a United States President. The matter should be looked at and scrutinized very carefully. Challenges should be made and argued.
The removal of Melanie Benjamin as Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band is being challenged. I would expect nothing less.
It might be hard for some people to understand traditions and culture that differ from our own. But I am almost certain that within every culture there is embedded into the souls of the people an intricate balance of knowing right from wrong.
We teach our children from a very young age the difference between right and wrong. When they grow up, we hope they use that knowledge from our teachings and what they have learned at school and in life, to make the right choice when forced to decide what is right and what is wrong.
We hope they make decisions that come from the heart.
I applaud those who stand up for what they believe and don't back down when times are tough. These are tough times for the people of the Mille Lacs Band.
I don't know who is right and who is wrong in this particular instance. It is certainly a test of adherence to moral and ethical principles all the way around. But I applaud both sides for standing firm to their beliefs.
There is a hearing on Monday in Tribal Court. Challenges have been made. Arguments need to be heard. And decisions must now be made.
Peace.
"Give us clear vision, that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything."
~ Peter Marshall, US Senate Chaplain 1947
Statement by Melanie Benjamin
This just in:
A press release has been issued for immediate release on behalf of Melanie Benjamin of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. I have posted it here in its entirety. It was written by or on behalf of Melanie Benjamin. I did not write it. But I believe firmly in freedom of speech. Benjamin is entitled to this freedom of speech.
BENJAMIN WILL HAVE DAY IN MILLE LACS TRIBAL COURT
Onamia, MN – Despite the efforts of a Band attorney, Melanie Benjamin will in fact have her day in court at a public hearing set for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2008. A judicial panel is scheduled to hear arguments about why proceedings removing her from office as the Band’s Chief Executive on October 8 were illegal. Benjamin was just re-elected in June, 2008, with 60% of the vote.
In a meeting with Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow in his office on September 30, Benjamin and Brunkow discussed Legislative Branch plans to hold an October 8 hearing to remove Benjamin from office. When Benjamin asked about her right to due process, Brunkow stated, “You are not entitled to due process. This is the end of the road.”
“I was stunned,” said Benjamin. “As tribal leaders, much of our time is spent dispelling myths out there that constitutional protections and civil rights don’t apply in Indian country. And here was the lead attorney for the Band who is supposed to know something about the law telling me that I had no right to due process.” Benjamin has denied any wrong-doing.
Attorney Bill Gardner, who served as Counsel to the Chief Executive, was in the room with Benjamin. “What he said was so astonishing I couldn’t believe he was serious.” Gardner questioned Brunkow regarding procedural due process and protection of property interests, insisting Band laws required a minimum amount of fairness in any hearing. “He insisted that the Chief was not entitled to due process. He made clear that when the decision was made by her accusers, that was the end of the road for her.”
Gardner said when it became obvious Brunkow wouldn’t change his mind, they notified Brunkow they would proceed to court.
Court Order Ignored
The Band Assembly had circulated a petition calling for the removal of Benjamin citing several accusations. Benjamin has denied the accusations. A legislative hearing and vote of Band Assembly was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on October 8, 2008.
Prior to the hearing, Chief Justice Alvina Aubele of the Court of Central Jurisdiction issued a stay delaying the proceedings until constitutional protections could be assured. In a move that startled the Minnesota Indian legal community, the Band Assembly chose to ignore the court order, buoyed by Brunkow’s extraordinary assurance that Band Assembly was above the law and the court had no authority over them. Brunkow has attempted to defend his claim in a recent interview with the Mille Lacs Messenger (October 8, 2008, Mille Lacs Messenger).
Many experts are concerned about the legal implications of this move and the message being sent to tribal members and the outside public. “This is now a crisis of constitutional proportion. The legal process should be allowed to play out. We don’t just take the law into our own hands,” said Jay Kanassatega, of Leonard Street and Deinard, who helped write the Statutes in the 1980’s.
Benjamin is saddened to see decades of work positioning the Band as a progressive tribal government undone. “There are people, elders, who spent years working on the separation-of-power system of government we have in place at Mille Lacs and they’re in shock. If the Chief of the tribe has no due process, what about the average Band Member? How are Band Members to go into tribal court and show respect for our court’s decisions when they know the Band’s own lawyer and elected officials don’t show the same respect?”
The public hearing will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2008, in tribal court chambers on the Mille Lacs Reservation.
* * * End of Press Release. * * *
A press release has been issued for immediate release on behalf of Melanie Benjamin of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. I have posted it here in its entirety. It was written by or on behalf of Melanie Benjamin. I did not write it. But I believe firmly in freedom of speech. Benjamin is entitled to this freedom of speech.
BENJAMIN WILL HAVE DAY IN MILLE LACS TRIBAL COURT
Onamia, MN – Despite the efforts of a Band attorney, Melanie Benjamin will in fact have her day in court at a public hearing set for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2008. A judicial panel is scheduled to hear arguments about why proceedings removing her from office as the Band’s Chief Executive on October 8 were illegal. Benjamin was just re-elected in June, 2008, with 60% of the vote.
In a meeting with Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow in his office on September 30, Benjamin and Brunkow discussed Legislative Branch plans to hold an October 8 hearing to remove Benjamin from office. When Benjamin asked about her right to due process, Brunkow stated, “You are not entitled to due process. This is the end of the road.”
“I was stunned,” said Benjamin. “As tribal leaders, much of our time is spent dispelling myths out there that constitutional protections and civil rights don’t apply in Indian country. And here was the lead attorney for the Band who is supposed to know something about the law telling me that I had no right to due process.” Benjamin has denied any wrong-doing.
Attorney Bill Gardner, who served as Counsel to the Chief Executive, was in the room with Benjamin. “What he said was so astonishing I couldn’t believe he was serious.” Gardner questioned Brunkow regarding procedural due process and protection of property interests, insisting Band laws required a minimum amount of fairness in any hearing. “He insisted that the Chief was not entitled to due process. He made clear that when the decision was made by her accusers, that was the end of the road for her.”
Gardner said when it became obvious Brunkow wouldn’t change his mind, they notified Brunkow they would proceed to court.
Court Order Ignored
The Band Assembly had circulated a petition calling for the removal of Benjamin citing several accusations. Benjamin has denied the accusations. A legislative hearing and vote of Band Assembly was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on October 8, 2008.
Prior to the hearing, Chief Justice Alvina Aubele of the Court of Central Jurisdiction issued a stay delaying the proceedings until constitutional protections could be assured. In a move that startled the Minnesota Indian legal community, the Band Assembly chose to ignore the court order, buoyed by Brunkow’s extraordinary assurance that Band Assembly was above the law and the court had no authority over them. Brunkow has attempted to defend his claim in a recent interview with the Mille Lacs Messenger (October 8, 2008, Mille Lacs Messenger).
Many experts are concerned about the legal implications of this move and the message being sent to tribal members and the outside public. “This is now a crisis of constitutional proportion. The legal process should be allowed to play out. We don’t just take the law into our own hands,” said Jay Kanassatega, of Leonard Street and Deinard, who helped write the Statutes in the 1980’s.
Benjamin is saddened to see decades of work positioning the Band as a progressive tribal government undone. “There are people, elders, who spent years working on the separation-of-power system of government we have in place at Mille Lacs and they’re in shock. If the Chief of the tribe has no due process, what about the average Band Member? How are Band Members to go into tribal court and show respect for our court’s decisions when they know the Band’s own lawyer and elected officials don’t show the same respect?”
The public hearing will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2008, in tribal court chambers on the Mille Lacs Reservation.
* * * End of Press Release. * * *
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The law of the Rez - a new chief in town
“Laws control the lesser man... Right conduct controls the greater one.” - Mark
Twain
“Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law.” -- Sophocles
Wow. What a day.
If you have read the Messenger website, then you already know. Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin has been removed from office effective as of 11 a.m. this morning.
I wont go into details — you can get that from the news story. I hope you read it all and keep going back daily for updates as they happen.
I cannot say one way or another if I think Melanie Benjamin is innocent or guilty of the accusations of the petition. Because I don't know that. Nobody does, really. Except for her.
I will say that no formal criminal charges have been filed therefore no convictions have been made. All I can tell you is there is a federal investigation "ongoing" regarding some pretty big amounts of money (Millions) being miss-appropriated by at least one department of the Mille Lacs Band. Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow confirmed there is an investigation by the Federal government, but when I call the federal people I get the standard FBI statement, "I can neither confirm nor deny such an investigation exists."
Please.
Anyway, more on that later.
So Melanie presented a court order at the removal hearing in the Band Assembly chambers this morning, issued by the Band's Chief Justice. The court order basically said the hearing for the removal of Benjamin from office was canceled for the day and would proceed at another date.
The Band assembly said they didn't have to oblige the court order. They said that they have power over the court in this matter.
OK. That deserves a big "What the???"
Did the Band Assembly really say they are above the law?
Apparently they did.
They said that the Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Constitution gave them the power.
After conversations with several Indian legal law professors and a bunch of other people all day, I have a sore ear for one. But I learned a few things.
The MCT Constitution was written a long, long time ago for the six tribes of Chippewa residing in Minnesota. About 25 or 30 years ago, the Mille Lacs Band members voted to create there own Band statutes. The MCT said they could, so they did.
Mille Lacs Band was (and is) still a member of the MCT in good standing. While they were guided by the MCT, rather still under the umbrella of the MCT, they created their own government and they became a sovereign nation.
They are the only one of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes who have a separation of powers government. They created three branches of government — judicial, legislative and executive and called it a separation of powers. Each branch was created to have co-equal power. If there were problems between any two branches, the third could step in.
The rules, or laws, of the MCT still govern the Mille Lacs Band but they created their own set of laws and statutes that are in addition to the MCT Constitution to govern the entire Mille Lacs Band. These statutes are the law.
Under the Band statutes it says under no uncertain terms, if the Mille Lacs Band Court issued an order, it was an order. "The rule of law is supreme in an orderly society," Jay Kanassatega said. He is the guy who wrote the Mille Lacs Band statues in 1983 and was the first Solicitor General for the Mille Lacs Band under the new separation of powers.
He told me today that any government body that acts against a court order is a very serious circumstance.
The Band Assembly publicly ignored a court order today. Kanassatega is concerned about what kind of a message that will send to the Band members? How can they banish some Band members under the Band statutes, but ignore the Band statues when it suits them? Can they pick and choose which laws to obey and which laws to ignore? Is the joint
session above the law?
"The legal process should be allowed to play out," Kanassatega continued. "We don't take the law into our own hands."
But Brunkow said that because of a case law Nixon v United States (Not Pres. Nixon) the MCT Constitution delegates authority to the RBC - Reservation Business Commission, or the 5 elected officials) and because of that the judicial branch has no authority when it is a non-jurisdictional political question. Which in his eyes this is.
So what happens now? What is in store for the Band members with the newly appointed interim chief executive Herb Weyaus?
Only time will tell. He has officially only 141 days in his newly "appointed" position. That is unless he chooses to run in the special election for the position of Chief Executive. He will have 81 days to file if that is his plan. We don't know yet.
Stay tuned.
Peace.
“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” -- Plato
Twain
“Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law.” -- Sophocles
Wow. What a day.
If you have read the Messenger website, then you already know. Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin has been removed from office effective as of 11 a.m. this morning.
I wont go into details — you can get that from the news story. I hope you read it all and keep going back daily for updates as they happen.
I cannot say one way or another if I think Melanie Benjamin is innocent or guilty of the accusations of the petition. Because I don't know that. Nobody does, really. Except for her.
I will say that no formal criminal charges have been filed therefore no convictions have been made. All I can tell you is there is a federal investigation "ongoing" regarding some pretty big amounts of money (Millions) being miss-appropriated by at least one department of the Mille Lacs Band. Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow confirmed there is an investigation by the Federal government, but when I call the federal people I get the standard FBI statement, "I can neither confirm nor deny such an investigation exists."
Please.
Anyway, more on that later.
So Melanie presented a court order at the removal hearing in the Band Assembly chambers this morning, issued by the Band's Chief Justice. The court order basically said the hearing for the removal of Benjamin from office was canceled for the day and would proceed at another date.
The Band assembly said they didn't have to oblige the court order. They said that they have power over the court in this matter.
OK. That deserves a big "What the???"
Did the Band Assembly really say they are above the law?
Apparently they did.
They said that the Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Constitution gave them the power.
After conversations with several Indian legal law professors and a bunch of other people all day, I have a sore ear for one. But I learned a few things.
The MCT Constitution was written a long, long time ago for the six tribes of Chippewa residing in Minnesota. About 25 or 30 years ago, the Mille Lacs Band members voted to create there own Band statutes. The MCT said they could, so they did.
Mille Lacs Band was (and is) still a member of the MCT in good standing. While they were guided by the MCT, rather still under the umbrella of the MCT, they created their own government and they became a sovereign nation.
They are the only one of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes who have a separation of powers government. They created three branches of government — judicial, legislative and executive and called it a separation of powers. Each branch was created to have co-equal power. If there were problems between any two branches, the third could step in.
The rules, or laws, of the MCT still govern the Mille Lacs Band but they created their own set of laws and statutes that are in addition to the MCT Constitution to govern the entire Mille Lacs Band. These statutes are the law.
Under the Band statutes it says under no uncertain terms, if the Mille Lacs Band Court issued an order, it was an order. "The rule of law is supreme in an orderly society," Jay Kanassatega said. He is the guy who wrote the Mille Lacs Band statues in 1983 and was the first Solicitor General for the Mille Lacs Band under the new separation of powers.
He told me today that any government body that acts against a court order is a very serious circumstance.
The Band Assembly publicly ignored a court order today. Kanassatega is concerned about what kind of a message that will send to the Band members? How can they banish some Band members under the Band statutes, but ignore the Band statues when it suits them? Can they pick and choose which laws to obey and which laws to ignore? Is the joint
session above the law?
"The legal process should be allowed to play out," Kanassatega continued. "We don't take the law into our own hands."
But Brunkow said that because of a case law Nixon v United States (Not Pres. Nixon) the MCT Constitution delegates authority to the RBC - Reservation Business Commission, or the 5 elected officials) and because of that the judicial branch has no authority when it is a non-jurisdictional political question. Which in his eyes this is.
So what happens now? What is in store for the Band members with the newly appointed interim chief executive Herb Weyaus?
Only time will tell. He has officially only 141 days in his newly "appointed" position. That is unless he chooses to run in the special election for the position of Chief Executive. He will have 81 days to file if that is his plan. We don't know yet.
Stay tuned.
Peace.
“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” -- Plato
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Everyone has a story, especially if they survived WWII
"Age is opportunity no less,
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I was in Milaca yesterday for a meeting. After the meeting I was at first self-absorbed in what I was doing, loading my camera back in the Jeep and thinking of returning phone messages that came in while I was in the meeting. I didn't notice the elderly man walking slowly, shuffling his feet and using a cane as he walked toward the curb.
He was having a bit of trouble getting his feet and cane to cooperate to lift his leg the 5 inches up the curb so he could walk on the sidewalk.
I hesitated for a moment figuring he'll make it. But then I just walked over and grabbed his arm.
"Can I help you up the curb, Sir?" I asked him politely.
"Oh, why it would be my pleasure to let you help me, miss," he said.
It is wonderful to be called miss instead of ma'am. This cute old gentleman with his wonderfully aged face, lots of gray hair and slow moving body wearing a John Deere ball cap and a Chevy Truck jacket.
"I used to move pretty good," he said. "Didn't need a cane. I could walk just fine on my own until I was in an accident a little while ago."
He pointed to his car and proceeded to tell me all about the accident. It never would have happened if the bank across the street from his credit union didn't have CD's at 2 percent higher than the credit union. He was in a hurry to get there before it closed, and so on.
Well one thing led to another and I stood there in the street while he was on the curb telling me story after story about his life. His eyes twinkled and the expression lines near his eyes and mouth were like a map of mostly happy times.
He is 88 years old. He was on his way to the barber shop to get a hair cut and then off to the casino to play some Black Jack.
He has won more times in his life than he has lost, he said. Not just gaming. He was talking about life as a whole.
He was in the service. A World War II veteran as a matter of fact. I have only met a couple WWII vets in my lifetime. They are becoming harder to meet. But each time has been an honor.
Bernard continued to tell me stories as the minutes ticked by. I stood there listening for nearly 30 minutes. And I could have listened to him for hours. But I knew my editor would not have liked that if I listened to a man talk all afternoon and didn't come back with any copy for the paper.
Still, I listened a while longer, standing in the street.
Finally I regretfully asked Bernard if I walk him to the Barber shop just about 50 feet from where we were standing. He was thrilled. "Won't they be surprised? Can I tell them you are my girlfriend?"
"Sure," I said. And smiled.
He was grinning mischievously.
Bernard has a friend who lives in New York. They were in the service together. Both survived WWII and still talk to each other once a week, he said.
I asked him if I could call him sometime so we could talk some more. I would be very interested in writing a nice Veteran Story on a WWII vet.
"Oh, I don't think you should call me," he said. "It wouldn't be proper." He didn't want people to get the wrong idea.
I understood. So I said. "If I may be just a little forward, then Sir, here is my card. You can call me," I said.
He grinned. And walked into the barber shop.
"Look here!" he announced. "This is my new girlfriend."
I was charmed by Bernard. I love talking to older people because they are walking history books. And don't care about what they say anymore. And Bernard is still planning for a future. He is 88 years old and buying a new CD. That is optimistic.
I am so glad that I took time to help Bernard get up onto that curb. I may never see him again, or have a chance to write some of his WWII stories, but I shared 30 minutes with a hero.
I was honored.
Peace.
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I was in Milaca yesterday for a meeting. After the meeting I was at first self-absorbed in what I was doing, loading my camera back in the Jeep and thinking of returning phone messages that came in while I was in the meeting. I didn't notice the elderly man walking slowly, shuffling his feet and using a cane as he walked toward the curb.
He was having a bit of trouble getting his feet and cane to cooperate to lift his leg the 5 inches up the curb so he could walk on the sidewalk.
I hesitated for a moment figuring he'll make it. But then I just walked over and grabbed his arm.
"Can I help you up the curb, Sir?" I asked him politely.
"Oh, why it would be my pleasure to let you help me, miss," he said.
It is wonderful to be called miss instead of ma'am. This cute old gentleman with his wonderfully aged face, lots of gray hair and slow moving body wearing a John Deere ball cap and a Chevy Truck jacket.
"I used to move pretty good," he said. "Didn't need a cane. I could walk just fine on my own until I was in an accident a little while ago."
He pointed to his car and proceeded to tell me all about the accident. It never would have happened if the bank across the street from his credit union didn't have CD's at 2 percent higher than the credit union. He was in a hurry to get there before it closed, and so on.
Well one thing led to another and I stood there in the street while he was on the curb telling me story after story about his life. His eyes twinkled and the expression lines near his eyes and mouth were like a map of mostly happy times.
He is 88 years old. He was on his way to the barber shop to get a hair cut and then off to the casino to play some Black Jack.
He has won more times in his life than he has lost, he said. Not just gaming. He was talking about life as a whole.
He was in the service. A World War II veteran as a matter of fact. I have only met a couple WWII vets in my lifetime. They are becoming harder to meet. But each time has been an honor.
Bernard continued to tell me stories as the minutes ticked by. I stood there listening for nearly 30 minutes. And I could have listened to him for hours. But I knew my editor would not have liked that if I listened to a man talk all afternoon and didn't come back with any copy for the paper.
Still, I listened a while longer, standing in the street.
Finally I regretfully asked Bernard if I walk him to the Barber shop just about 50 feet from where we were standing. He was thrilled. "Won't they be surprised? Can I tell them you are my girlfriend?"
"Sure," I said. And smiled.
He was grinning mischievously.
Bernard has a friend who lives in New York. They were in the service together. Both survived WWII and still talk to each other once a week, he said.
I asked him if I could call him sometime so we could talk some more. I would be very interested in writing a nice Veteran Story on a WWII vet.
"Oh, I don't think you should call me," he said. "It wouldn't be proper." He didn't want people to get the wrong idea.
I understood. So I said. "If I may be just a little forward, then Sir, here is my card. You can call me," I said.
He grinned. And walked into the barber shop.
"Look here!" he announced. "This is my new girlfriend."
I was charmed by Bernard. I love talking to older people because they are walking history books. And don't care about what they say anymore. And Bernard is still planning for a future. He is 88 years old and buying a new CD. That is optimistic.
I am so glad that I took time to help Bernard get up onto that curb. I may never see him again, or have a chance to write some of his WWII stories, but I shared 30 minutes with a hero.
I was honored.
Peace.
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Letters to the editor: Garrison walleye
“The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully have been kindness, beauty, and truth.” — Albert Einstein
In this week's Messenger on the Mailbag page you will find politics as usual for 6 weeks before a presidential election. You will also find a little letter from a guy named Jeff Swanson of Saginaw, Texas.
He is complaining about the new paint job on the Garrison walleye. Apparently, Mr. Swanson does not like the new look of the freshly painted statute of the giant fish on the concourse. He disagrees with the caption that was printed under the photo that appeared on the front page of the Messenger on Sept. 3.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, I will give him that much. But for him to go further and state that I miss-quoted a women and her family, I have a problem with that statement.
Mr. Swanson, were you there? Umm.... no. That women I talked to and her two daughters were truly excited to be there and yes, they did say the fish was pretty.
Perhaps you were trying to be funny, Mr. Swanson. But I am not laughing.
Mr. Swanson has a cabin somewhere in the area and lives in Texas. He stated that he disagrees with the statement that it is better than new. He disagrees, along with most of the people living in and visiting Garrison, he said. I guess he has asked most of them.
That is a pretty bold statement for a non-Garrison resident to make. "Most" of the people? I don't even know the opinion of "Most" of the people, Mr. Swanson. And I talk to a lot of people in and around Garrison. Everyday. But certainly not most.
According to the Census bureau in 2000 the city of Garrison has a population of 213, 113 households, and 48 families. Then there is Garrison Township in which there were 796 people, 355 households, and 246 families residing in 2000. Add in the people just passing through town driving right by the walleye: according to MnDOT the average number of vehicles that pass through Garrison on Hwy. 169 on given day is 8,200 — on a busy summer Sunday afternoon that number jumps to 15,800.
That is a lot of people, Mr. Swanson. I am glad you have the time to pole "most" of them when you are visiting from Texas.
The folks I have talked to are glad that the walleye has been fixed up — repaired and painted. Did you know he was missing a couple fins for the past several years? The paint was faded and chipped and the stand was practically falling over. Comparing pictures of the fish before and pictures of the fish after, there is definitely a difference. He is definitely in better shape now, than he was before.
I truly believe there are not a lot of things better in life than getting new clothes, a new hair cut and color, and most definitely new shoes. Those are a few of my favorite things that always brighten my day.
Change is good for the soul. Take hair styles for instance. In the 80s we had mullets for the guys and big hair for the gals. Now? I don't know too many guys still sporting a mullet — not even Billy Ray Cyrus — and not too many gals have wild permed-looking hair and spray their bangs stiff-straight with AquaNet.
I understand that walleye is not alive. But the people I have talked to who live in the area are happy that someone took the initiative to put a fresh look on that old tired fish. I think that walleye does seem to be a little brighter.
Mr. Swanson ended his letter with this statement: "I hope that when I come back to my cabin again that they repainted our walleye to look like a walleye."
"Our" Walleye? I think our walleye looks fabulous.
Before:
After:
What do you think?
Peace.
“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.”
— Ivan Panin
In this week's Messenger on the Mailbag page you will find politics as usual for 6 weeks before a presidential election. You will also find a little letter from a guy named Jeff Swanson of Saginaw, Texas.
He is complaining about the new paint job on the Garrison walleye. Apparently, Mr. Swanson does not like the new look of the freshly painted statute of the giant fish on the concourse. He disagrees with the caption that was printed under the photo that appeared on the front page of the Messenger on Sept. 3.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, I will give him that much. But for him to go further and state that I miss-quoted a women and her family, I have a problem with that statement.
Mr. Swanson, were you there? Umm.... no. That women I talked to and her two daughters were truly excited to be there and yes, they did say the fish was pretty.
Perhaps you were trying to be funny, Mr. Swanson. But I am not laughing.
Mr. Swanson has a cabin somewhere in the area and lives in Texas. He stated that he disagrees with the statement that it is better than new. He disagrees, along with most of the people living in and visiting Garrison, he said. I guess he has asked most of them.
That is a pretty bold statement for a non-Garrison resident to make. "Most" of the people? I don't even know the opinion of "Most" of the people, Mr. Swanson. And I talk to a lot of people in and around Garrison. Everyday. But certainly not most.
According to the Census bureau in 2000 the city of Garrison has a population of 213, 113 households, and 48 families. Then there is Garrison Township in which there were 796 people, 355 households, and 246 families residing in 2000. Add in the people just passing through town driving right by the walleye: according to MnDOT the average number of vehicles that pass through Garrison on Hwy. 169 on given day is 8,200 — on a busy summer Sunday afternoon that number jumps to 15,800.
That is a lot of people, Mr. Swanson. I am glad you have the time to pole "most" of them when you are visiting from Texas.
The folks I have talked to are glad that the walleye has been fixed up — repaired and painted. Did you know he was missing a couple fins for the past several years? The paint was faded and chipped and the stand was practically falling over. Comparing pictures of the fish before and pictures of the fish after, there is definitely a difference. He is definitely in better shape now, than he was before.
I truly believe there are not a lot of things better in life than getting new clothes, a new hair cut and color, and most definitely new shoes. Those are a few of my favorite things that always brighten my day.
Change is good for the soul. Take hair styles for instance. In the 80s we had mullets for the guys and big hair for the gals. Now? I don't know too many guys still sporting a mullet — not even Billy Ray Cyrus — and not too many gals have wild permed-looking hair and spray their bangs stiff-straight with AquaNet.
I understand that walleye is not alive. But the people I have talked to who live in the area are happy that someone took the initiative to put a fresh look on that old tired fish. I think that walleye does seem to be a little brighter.
Mr. Swanson ended his letter with this statement: "I hope that when I come back to my cabin again that they repainted our walleye to look like a walleye."
"Our" Walleye? I think our walleye looks fabulous.
Before:
After:
What do you think?
Peace.
“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.”
— Ivan Panin
Monday, September 22, 2008
Goldfish and groceries
I am not much of a Wal-Mart fan. There are some political reasons, but mostly because I don't get that warm-fuzzy feeling when I walk into the local Wal-Mart — which is only when I have to.
Mostly, I get a creepy feeling. I have only been in the local Wal-Mart a couple of times. Once, I needed a Halloween costume for my son and we had exhausted all other stores in the city. We walked in to Wal-Mart and found the perfect thing for $1.87 and we were out the door. We saved some money and rolled back down the highway.
Another time I was in there, was midnight when I was told in no uncertain terms by a 10-year-old, and 11-year-old and a 13-year-old that we needed bug spray and coolwhip. I know, an odd combination. It was some project the kids were planning for the next day and the mosquitoes had been terrible. We ran out of Off. And the coolwhip was some sort of trap set at their top-secret-kids-only-fort. Anyway, where can you get bug spray and coolwhip at midnight? Yep. Wal-Mart.
There are some odd ducks at that store at midnight. I am sure I looked a little odd myself carrying a combination of bug spray and coolwhip. But I had a logical explanation for those items. I think.
Still, I was a little creeped out by some of the strangeness. I didn't think I would ever go back.
Well, on Friday afternoon, Shark died. He had been one of the 29 cent feeder goldfish I bought my son three years ago. He had definitely outlived his life expectancy, but it was sad for my son nonetheless.
So yesterday, I needed to get a replacement goldfish and some groceries. Where else can you go to get a goldfish and groceries in one stop? Wal-Mart.
I don't know my way around that store at all and went up and down the isles several times looking for my items. I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a while and met her sister. We laughed and exchanged jello recipes and were on our way.
I saw another familiar face and her daughter, we said "hi" in passing and were on our way.
Seems a lot of people I know shop at Wal-Mart. But I am still not convinced it saves money. Or time. Even for one-stop trips looking for goldfish and groceries.
And then I passed another couple I knew. I smiled. They didn't smile back. I know I am not on their top ten list of favorite people. But maybe they didn't see me and that is ok with me.
Charlie and I had all of the groceries in the cart and had used the instant hand sanitizer several times since we walked in. All we needed was the goldfish. We had to wait 10 minutes for help in the pet department.
We got the fish ($4.98) and waited in line 10 more minutes and we were out the door. Loaded up the Jeep with the stuff and my son was happy with his new fish.
So far, at least this morning, the new fish, named M.T. (kidspeak for Mark Twain (Charlie's favorite story right now) was still alive.
I just don't get that warm-fuzzy feeling from that store.
Mostly, I get a creepy feeling. I have only been in the local Wal-Mart a couple of times. Once, I needed a Halloween costume for my son and we had exhausted all other stores in the city. We walked in to Wal-Mart and found the perfect thing for $1.87 and we were out the door. We saved some money and rolled back down the highway.
Another time I was in there, was midnight when I was told in no uncertain terms by a 10-year-old, and 11-year-old and a 13-year-old that we needed bug spray and coolwhip. I know, an odd combination. It was some project the kids were planning for the next day and the mosquitoes had been terrible. We ran out of Off. And the coolwhip was some sort of trap set at their top-secret-kids-only-fort. Anyway, where can you get bug spray and coolwhip at midnight? Yep. Wal-Mart.
There are some odd ducks at that store at midnight. I am sure I looked a little odd myself carrying a combination of bug spray and coolwhip. But I had a logical explanation for those items. I think.
Still, I was a little creeped out by some of the strangeness. I didn't think I would ever go back.
Well, on Friday afternoon, Shark died. He had been one of the 29 cent feeder goldfish I bought my son three years ago. He had definitely outlived his life expectancy, but it was sad for my son nonetheless.
So yesterday, I needed to get a replacement goldfish and some groceries. Where else can you go to get a goldfish and groceries in one stop? Wal-Mart.
I don't know my way around that store at all and went up and down the isles several times looking for my items. I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a while and met her sister. We laughed and exchanged jello recipes and were on our way.
I saw another familiar face and her daughter, we said "hi" in passing and were on our way.
Seems a lot of people I know shop at Wal-Mart. But I am still not convinced it saves money. Or time. Even for one-stop trips looking for goldfish and groceries.
And then I passed another couple I knew. I smiled. They didn't smile back. I know I am not on their top ten list of favorite people. But maybe they didn't see me and that is ok with me.
Charlie and I had all of the groceries in the cart and had used the instant hand sanitizer several times since we walked in. All we needed was the goldfish. We had to wait 10 minutes for help in the pet department.
We got the fish ($4.98) and waited in line 10 more minutes and we were out the door. Loaded up the Jeep with the stuff and my son was happy with his new fish.
So far, at least this morning, the new fish, named M.T. (kidspeak for Mark Twain (Charlie's favorite story right now) was still alive.
I just don't get that warm-fuzzy feeling from that store.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Vigilante mayor?
I write a lot of the crime beat, police blotter stuff for the paper. Last week I wrote about a local Mayor (Bock Mayor Dennis Girard) who was caught on tape tampering with a vehicle and disabling it so that it wouldn't run. When a deputy asked him about it, he admitted to the deputy that he did it. His excuse was he got the wrong car. He thought it was somebody else's.
Hummmm....
At the time the story was published, no criminal charges had been filed. Somebody sent us a tip regarding the incident and I gathered my information from the Sheriff. A citation was issued after the paper had gone to press, and formal charges are pending.
Well, in this weeks paper you will find a letter to the editor from a woman in Bock defending the intentions of the meddling mayor. She wrote that his heart was in the right place.
The letter states the Mayor and his wife "regularly" drive sober cab for people who have had too much to drink and that they have opened their home to allow people a place to sleep it off when libations have been excessive.
Apparently, she stated, that the Mayor was trying to keep a drunk driver off the road this time as well. This time, he didn't drive the person home, he disabled the car so she couldn't drive herself.
Only he got the wrong car.
The letter states that the Mayor tried to apologize to the woman whose car he messed with.
Sometimes, the words "I am sorry" have no meaning.
The letter states, "Dennis Girard's heart was in the right place. Its unfortunate that he may be punished for trying to do a good deed."
On the surface it appears from the letter to the editor that this mayor is a good person and was trying to do a good thing.
But if he was in the habit of giving sober cab rides to people why didn't he just drive the person whom he was trying to save home in the first place?
Word on the street is the driver refused his help. So the mayor took matters into his own hands. In a vigilante move, he decided the person shouldn't drive, so he tried to make it so the person wouldn't, couldn't drive.
Only he got the wrong car.
Now he thinks he can just say I'm sorry and move on.
What if the person whose car he did disable, an innocent person, was in a hurry to get to work. What if the driver had been told by the boss, "If you are late one more time you are fired. No excuses." What if the driver of the disabled car was on the way to an emergency doctor's appointment or to pick up a child from school, or a friends.
There are a lot of what ifs I could come up with. The bottom line is the meddling mayor messed with the wrong car when he tried to play cop, judge and jury.
Dudley Moore once said, "The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it." Perhaps the mayor should have called one. Some people need to see the bars to stop drinking too much at the bars.
Peace.
Hummmm....
At the time the story was published, no criminal charges had been filed. Somebody sent us a tip regarding the incident and I gathered my information from the Sheriff. A citation was issued after the paper had gone to press, and formal charges are pending.
Well, in this weeks paper you will find a letter to the editor from a woman in Bock defending the intentions of the meddling mayor. She wrote that his heart was in the right place.
The letter states the Mayor and his wife "regularly" drive sober cab for people who have had too much to drink and that they have opened their home to allow people a place to sleep it off when libations have been excessive.
Apparently, she stated, that the Mayor was trying to keep a drunk driver off the road this time as well. This time, he didn't drive the person home, he disabled the car so she couldn't drive herself.
Only he got the wrong car.
The letter states that the Mayor tried to apologize to the woman whose car he messed with.
Sometimes, the words "I am sorry" have no meaning.
The letter states, "Dennis Girard's heart was in the right place. Its unfortunate that he may be punished for trying to do a good deed."
On the surface it appears from the letter to the editor that this mayor is a good person and was trying to do a good thing.
But if he was in the habit of giving sober cab rides to people why didn't he just drive the person whom he was trying to save home in the first place?
Word on the street is the driver refused his help. So the mayor took matters into his own hands. In a vigilante move, he decided the person shouldn't drive, so he tried to make it so the person wouldn't, couldn't drive.
Only he got the wrong car.
Now he thinks he can just say I'm sorry and move on.
What if the person whose car he did disable, an innocent person, was in a hurry to get to work. What if the driver had been told by the boss, "If you are late one more time you are fired. No excuses." What if the driver of the disabled car was on the way to an emergency doctor's appointment or to pick up a child from school, or a friends.
There are a lot of what ifs I could come up with. The bottom line is the meddling mayor messed with the wrong car when he tried to play cop, judge and jury.
Dudley Moore once said, "The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it." Perhaps the mayor should have called one. Some people need to see the bars to stop drinking too much at the bars.
Peace.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A bully in the Senate?
“You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”
Abraham Lincoln American 16th US President (1861-65)
There has been a lot going on around the area that had me more than a little exasperated. I haven't blogged for a while because my mom always used to tell me if I didn't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Well, I guess that hasn't stopped me much before, so I can't let it stop me now.
I don't often voice my political views. I like to think I am not a democrat, nor a republican, nor an independent, nor green, nor any other party affiliation. I don't vote for a party -- I vote for a person.
So, here is a major quandary in the Republican party -- at least in the Senate District 16.
Sen. Betsy Wergin resigned her position to take a different job on the Public Utilities Commission. I like Betsy. While I didn't agree 100% with everything she did (I don't often agree 100% on anything) I think she tried to do a good job.
So now Mark Olson is running for a seat in the state Senate on the republican ticket. This is rather alarming to me.
He was representing district 16B in the House of Representatives since 1992 and then expelled -- kicked out -- by the House Republican caucus in December 2006.
He was asked to leave the party.
Why?
Apparently a jury of 12 of his peers agreed with the County Attorney that Olson assaulted his wife. He was found guilty of domestic assault. Although he was convicted of a misdemeanor and not a felony, the cause should set off some alarms in people's brains. He assaulted his wife.
He was convicted of one count of misdemeanor domestic assault by intending to cause fear of bodily harm. He was acquitted of intentionally inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily harm.
He said he didn't intentionally hurt his wife. That he merely grabbed her by the shoulders and placed her on the ground.
On Nov. 12, 2006 Olson's wife, Heidi, called the sheriff's office. She told deputies that her husband pushed her to the ground three times. Apparently in her words he pushed her to the ground -- "placed" her on the ground in his words -- so hard that he left bruises. Deputies noted the bruises in the initial call report.
Mrs. Olson testified in court July 2007 that she feared for her life during the confrontation. She also said he pushed her down and that he told her she ruined his life.
The incident occurred when Heidi challenged his point of view about the treatment of her 13-year-old autistic son, according to the Elk River Star, August 2007. Heidi has five children from a previous marriage.
Here you have a couple in an argument. Couples argue. That is they way it is. Apparently, this couple does not see eye-to-eye on parenting techniques. That happens, too. But, when Mark was challenged by his wife, a woman, and the mother of children that are not his biological children, and one of those children is autistic, he got angry.
Anger happens.
But he didn't stop at anger. He used his hands to hurt another person -- his wife. He used his hands to reinforce his thought process.
I take issue with any man who takes his anger to another level and hurts a woman or a child.
And get this, in the trial, his attorney tried to say that HE was the abused spouse. Heidi hit him several times in two years, the attorney said. If that was really the case, why had he not reported it? Perhaps because he was not afraid of his wife. He was not afraid that she could physically hurt him.
She did admit in court that she hit him once in the chest. Most likely a defensive action.
Olson was quoted in the Aug. 27 issue of the Messenger saying, "If I believed that I assaulted my wife, I would have resigned from the Legislature."
Hmmm.... dictionary.com says:
as·assault –noun
1. a sudden, violent attack; onslaught: an assault on tradition.
2. Law. an unlawful physical attack upon another; an attempt or offer to do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a stone or club in a threatening manner.
3. Military. the stage of close combat in an attack.
4. rape1.
–verb (used with object)
5. to make an assault upon; attack; assail.
He hurt his wife. She said so. She said he hurt her and that he scared her so that she feared for her life. The deputies saw bruising on her body.
He was convicted of causing fear.
He believes his conviction is unconstitutional. He doesn't believe that our court system actually helps families. He doesn't believe that we should have laws that convict people for getting angry.
He believes that couples involved in an investigation of abuse or whatever, should be allowed to be together while giving statements to law enforcement. (Perhaps so that one can continuing threatening the other?)
Apparently the defining word for Mark Olson is what he believes.
I am not sure what color the sky is in his world, but it is blue in mine.
What matters on election day is what you believe.
There are other issues on his list of positions Olson outlined in his newsletter to which I do not agree. Fortunately for him, I am not a constituent in district 16. But if I were, I wouldn't vote for him on his positions regarding abortion and global warming alone. But physical abuse is never OK. Causing someone fear for their life is never OK.
But the main issue is he is a hot head who resorts to violence when he is angry. He is a bully by definition.
Do you want that in the Senate?
Do you want that guy making laws for you?
Peace.
Abraham Lincoln American 16th US President (1861-65)
There has been a lot going on around the area that had me more than a little exasperated. I haven't blogged for a while because my mom always used to tell me if I didn't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Well, I guess that hasn't stopped me much before, so I can't let it stop me now.
I don't often voice my political views. I like to think I am not a democrat, nor a republican, nor an independent, nor green, nor any other party affiliation. I don't vote for a party -- I vote for a person.
So, here is a major quandary in the Republican party -- at least in the Senate District 16.
Sen. Betsy Wergin resigned her position to take a different job on the Public Utilities Commission. I like Betsy. While I didn't agree 100% with everything she did (I don't often agree 100% on anything) I think she tried to do a good job.
So now Mark Olson is running for a seat in the state Senate on the republican ticket. This is rather alarming to me.
He was representing district 16B in the House of Representatives since 1992 and then expelled -- kicked out -- by the House Republican caucus in December 2006.
He was asked to leave the party.
Why?
Apparently a jury of 12 of his peers agreed with the County Attorney that Olson assaulted his wife. He was found guilty of domestic assault. Although he was convicted of a misdemeanor and not a felony, the cause should set off some alarms in people's brains. He assaulted his wife.
He was convicted of one count of misdemeanor domestic assault by intending to cause fear of bodily harm. He was acquitted of intentionally inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily harm.
He said he didn't intentionally hurt his wife. That he merely grabbed her by the shoulders and placed her on the ground.
On Nov. 12, 2006 Olson's wife, Heidi, called the sheriff's office. She told deputies that her husband pushed her to the ground three times. Apparently in her words he pushed her to the ground -- "placed" her on the ground in his words -- so hard that he left bruises. Deputies noted the bruises in the initial call report.
Mrs. Olson testified in court July 2007 that she feared for her life during the confrontation. She also said he pushed her down and that he told her she ruined his life.
The incident occurred when Heidi challenged his point of view about the treatment of her 13-year-old autistic son, according to the Elk River Star, August 2007. Heidi has five children from a previous marriage.
Here you have a couple in an argument. Couples argue. That is they way it is. Apparently, this couple does not see eye-to-eye on parenting techniques. That happens, too. But, when Mark was challenged by his wife, a woman, and the mother of children that are not his biological children, and one of those children is autistic, he got angry.
Anger happens.
But he didn't stop at anger. He used his hands to hurt another person -- his wife. He used his hands to reinforce his thought process.
I take issue with any man who takes his anger to another level and hurts a woman or a child.
And get this, in the trial, his attorney tried to say that HE was the abused spouse. Heidi hit him several times in two years, the attorney said. If that was really the case, why had he not reported it? Perhaps because he was not afraid of his wife. He was not afraid that she could physically hurt him.
She did admit in court that she hit him once in the chest. Most likely a defensive action.
Olson was quoted in the Aug. 27 issue of the Messenger saying, "If I believed that I assaulted my wife, I would have resigned from the Legislature."
Hmmm.... dictionary.com says:
as·assault –noun
1. a sudden, violent attack; onslaught: an assault on tradition.
2. Law. an unlawful physical attack upon another; an attempt or offer to do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a stone or club in a threatening manner.
3. Military. the stage of close combat in an attack.
4. rape1.
–verb (used with object)
5. to make an assault upon; attack; assail.
He hurt his wife. She said so. She said he hurt her and that he scared her so that she feared for her life. The deputies saw bruising on her body.
He was convicted of causing fear.
He believes his conviction is unconstitutional. He doesn't believe that our court system actually helps families. He doesn't believe that we should have laws that convict people for getting angry.
He believes that couples involved in an investigation of abuse or whatever, should be allowed to be together while giving statements to law enforcement. (Perhaps so that one can continuing threatening the other?)
Apparently the defining word for Mark Olson is what he believes.
I am not sure what color the sky is in his world, but it is blue in mine.
What matters on election day is what you believe.
There are other issues on his list of positions Olson outlined in his newsletter to which I do not agree. Fortunately for him, I am not a constituent in district 16. But if I were, I wouldn't vote for him on his positions regarding abortion and global warming alone. But physical abuse is never OK. Causing someone fear for their life is never OK.
But the main issue is he is a hot head who resorts to violence when he is angry. He is a bully by definition.
Do you want that in the Senate?
Do you want that guy making laws for you?
Peace.
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