Letters to the Editor
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Merrill Foto News, its publishers, Editor, or staff.
To the Editor:
Mr. Gilk has misinterpreted my letter regarding sanctuary. I hope this clears it up for him and your readers.
The word immunity means protection. We have an immune system that protects. We get immunized to protect us from diseases. Foreign Diplomats have Diplomatic Immunity and there is immunity from civil obligations or jurisdiction.
The immigration Act of 1882 was the first Federal law on immigration. A hundred and thirty-nine years ago it was recognized our borders needed protection. Speaking of magical thinking, Mr. Gilk, if you think our cities today have “via the path of religious tradition,” you haven’t visited one recently. If immigrants came in legally, then they wouldn’t need protection.
Good catch on my being cynical regarding gun violence, however, the point of my cynicism you missed. I am a legal gun owner. I have yet to see my gun load itself, aim itself, or pull the trigger by itself. Instead of lawmakers attempting to take away my guns and my rights, “lock violent offenders up!” When they are in prison, law abiding citizens have sanctuary/immunity/protection from their violence.
It’s a shame Wisconsin needs to consider becoming a Sanctuary State. Our Founders, through their wisdom and foresight, gave us a document to protect against out of control government called the Constitution. Lawmakers swear an oath to protect, not subvert it.
God bless America land of the free. Let’s keep it that way.
– Kittie Crossen
Gleason, Wis.
To the Editor:
To the Merrill High graduates this 2021,
Our 1951 Merrill High School (MHS) alumni, 70 years this year, congratulates your commencing classes. What a year?
Keep your standards high, succeeding in whatever choice selected.
We celebrate our 70th reunion this July 17, 2021. Keep your reunions happening. Keep in touch with friends and family.
– 1951 MHS Alumni Committee: Dorothy Johnson, Ev Meilke, Jack Goetsch, Tom Young
Merrill, Wis.
To the Editor:
I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I know that I did.
My brother died in Vietnam August 25, 1968. A long time ago. But to me it was just last week, and he was only 21 years old. I was having my first baby, and I did, six days after he was killed. He is my number one hero, even though I know other veterans who I love and are heroes too.
This weekend I met new friends, and some were veterans, some were not. Women are the wives of these veterans, and I could see in their eyes how proud they were of their men. I asked this man in Tomahawk if he was a veteran; his wife quickly said, “Yes, he is.” I talked to the four people that were sitting at the table. They asked me to sit with them, but I didn’t. They were from the Milwaukee area. I found out that he was in Vietnam in 1969 and, of course, he was asking about my brother, where he was, etc. Anyway, all of a sudden he stood up. I said, “No, please don’t stand up for me.” He first smiled and gave me a big hug saying, “I’m so sorry about your brother.” We both had tears in our eyes, and the two women at the table did, too.
Anyway, I had a wonderful Memorial weekend with friends. Remembering.
– God Bless America and Welcome Home Vets
Darlene Weirick
Gleason, Wis.
To the Editor:
I would like people to know how horrible it feels to know that some people do take advantage of we seniors by sending fraudulent Voter Registration Confirmation. The Faith and Freedom Coalition form is not meant to be a form of Voter Registration. It is simply a way for the Republican Party to seek donations under the guise of religion. This form confuses people because of how it appears. Upon further reading, I realized the form was meant to use my faith to elicit money from me. Shame on the Faith and Freedom Coalition. To anyone who received this form, PLEASE read carefully.
– Jo Carpentier, Senior/85 years old
Merrill, Wis.
To the Editor:
Having followed our country’s political system for the last five decades, I have always been impressed by the way we could overcome the turmoil that has faced this nation, including the divided 1960’s. But at this time, the division seems to have come to a boiling point, that it’s going to take a much higher power to overcome our division than our political belief. Let me explain. About a year and a half ago, I heard President Trump explain how he was spending billions of dollars to get our pharmaceutical companies, to get the COVID vaccine, on fast track. And to everyone’s surprise, it happened in record time. But at that same time, I heard the opposition party, or Democrats, explain that they would never get this vaccine while President Trump was in office. And then President Biden got into office, and now the opposition party, or Republicans, tell us that they will never get the vaccine while President Biden is in office. And to make matters worse, I listen to our national and sometimes our local media explain how each political side is lying about our political beliefs. So in return the division is so deep that I think the only term I can use to correct this is “THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.”
– Floyd Bagley
Merrill, Wis.
To the Editor:
Folks in the 7th Congressional District may be interested to know that at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress 2021 virtual Spring Hearings, Wisconsin residents endorsed a resolution supporting the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. The resolution calls on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress to “encourage the U.S. Congress to enact carbon fee and dividend legislation with the intent of reducing CO2 emissions, benefitting conservation, and stimulating technological innovation and economic growth through revenue recycling.”
Of the 8,435 Wisconsin residents who voiced an opinion, 59% approved it and 41% opposed it. In the 7th Congressional District, the resolution passed in 16 of the 26 counties wholly or partially within the district, with 54% of the votes cast being in favor of the resolution.
The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act—currently pending in Congress as HR 2307— puts a steadily rising fee on carbon-dioxide emitting fuels and returns the money to the American people to spend with no restrictions. More information is available at: energyinnovationact.org
– Dan Barth
Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Mosinee, Wis.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
*Letters must be 250 words or less (There will be no exceptions to this. Any letter longer than 250 words will not be printed.)
*All letters must include full name, address and phone number of the composer. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published, but will be used for verification purposes, if necessary.
*Letters will be published at the discretion of the Editor. While letters on most any topic will be published, any letters deemed derogatory, inflammatory, slanderous, or involving vulgar language, will not be published.
*Letters will be published on a “first come, first served” basis. Any letters which we are unable to publish in the printed newspaper will be run online at www.merrillfotonews.com and may be printed in the paper at a later date if possible.