Letters to the Editor for Feb. 19
The Courier Press welcomes opinion letters up to 500 words from readers. Writers are limited to one letter, per topic, per month. Concise letters and those that offer a new perspective or add depth to the discussion of an issue are more likely to be printed. We reserve the right to reject letters at our discretion or edit for grammar, punctuation, length and clarity. Personal attacks, form letters or letter-writing campaigns are not accepted, and self-promoting letters from candidates for public office will not be published. If we receive numerous letters on one topic from various authors, we may select only one to be printed. Any congratulatory letters must be matters of public interest and will be tightly edited.
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Dear Editor,
Creating conditions that intimidate or prevent anyone from gathering with members of their faith communities to share in worship together is a fundamental violation of the freedoms of religion and association guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Kickapoo Valley Friends Meeting (Quakers) remains committed to religious liberty and peace and supports the use of the legal process to ensure that participants in all faith communities are free to gather and worship together without fear of intimidation, threats and violence.
We support the efforts of the Quaker meetings and other religious bodies who have brought suit against the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to rescind the long-standing practice of not invading houses of worship to apprehend individuals without legal documentation. This unnecessary change to the nation’s fundamental and constitutionally established protections of religious freedom means that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other enforcement officers may now enter churches and other worship gatherings at any time.
While the lawsuits focus on houses of worship, Kickapoo Valley Friends Meeting also expresses opposition to ICE officers entering schools and hospitals. Communities are richer when everyone is well-educated and healthy.
We reject the falsehoods that immigrants, whether here legally or undocumented, are a threat to us as individuals or as a society. Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are significantly less likely than native-born Americans to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes or arrested. Immigrants also contribute economically to our communities: for example, immigrant workers account for an estimated 70 percent of the labor force on Wisconsin dairy farms. Immigrants, as has always been the case, bring talents and relationships that enrich our communities as neighbors, as co-workers, and as friends. Most importantly, Quakers believe that every individual, regardless of identity, national affiliation or circumstances, is deserving of dignity, respect and basic human rights.
Kickapoo Valley Friends Meeting
Ellen Brooks
Joan Francis
Cindy Kohles
Linda Suchomel
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Dear Editor,
In the last few weeks, we, the people, due to seemingly heartless and cruel behaviors, have seen masses of people losing jobs, some poised to lose their farms, many programs that benefit everyday people of all ages being terminated, prices of gas and food rising, all due to a very small group of people who apparently could not care less — because they are billionaires and will be alright.
He (who shall not be named) spent five — or was it $10 million dollars (of our taxpayer dollars) —to go see part of a football game.
Let’s pile on top of all that this seemingly sudden, cold, snowy and generally uncomfortable weather.
To some, many things “don’t seem to make sense.” It seems like things will never get better.
It’s understandable. What do we do?
My thoughts are: 1. Life is constantly changing. Most of our lives we’re like lobsters in a pot where the temperature is slowly being raised until it’s over. We never really noticed the change. This time we do.
2. This confusion is akin to a grieving. We’ve lost something (freedom, control) that we’ve had and expected to be in the pot with us forever. As with any grieving, each person goes through it differently.
3. What has worked for me to reduce the impact and duration of the grieving: A. Be aware that this is what is going on. B. take action that benefits you personally — be it call a politician and file a complaint, take up a hobby, read a book, go to a movie — just something to break the focus cycle (rumination).Oh, here’s a good one: get some exercise, like go for a walk (I do loops at the Walmart on cold days). C. change your circumstances to minimize the impact of what outside forces are throwing at you. Grow a food garden. I had to throw that in because I’ve been preaching this for decades (See my column “Inside Outside” ). D. Become an observer. Observe the event for what it is, not how you think it might affect you. Stay with reality. Then, go back to what really interests you (see B and C above).
Ed Block
Prairie du Chien
***
It is about being an American
“[T]he only title in our democracy superior to that of President [is] the title of citizen.” - Louis Brandeis
The United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. The first three words - “We the People” - affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens.
The Constitution established the United States as a democratic republic. It is democratic because the people govern themselves and it is a republic because the government’s power is derived from its people. Our government officials, at the federal, state, and local levels, are elected by the citizens to represent their concerns and ideas within the government system.
Additionally, the Constitution established a system of ‘checks and balances’ so that one branch of government would not have too much power. Read the Constitution Articles 1-3, or Madison’s Federalist 47 to better understand how this system works. Even within the legislative branch there are two houses to have more equal representation of the people. Thus, all three branches have a share in the HOW and WHY the people are governed.
Currently, the United States is in or is on the verge of entering a constitutional crisis. According to constitutional scholars the concept of a constitutional crisis is described as the following: when one branch of government tries to eliminate the checks and balances of the government system or tries to consolidate power in unaccountable institutions of government. Both of which are currently happening.
So many things are causing this crisis but to focus on the concept of citizenship, these are some of the issues that should alarm every American. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has the power to access private records of the Treasury including Social Security and Medicare payment systems; across the board federal funding cuts/reviews (not approved by Congress) that are or will be impacting and gutting community health and child care programs, dismantling the Department of Education and Department of Defense and so much more; working to implement revisions to the 14th Amendment without ratification and trying to deny Native Americans the right to vote “because members of Indian tribes owe ‘immediate allegiance’ to their tribes and are not constitutionally entitled to Citizenship” and the suppression of the 1st Amendment through prosecution of citizens, people being summarily fired for doing their jobs, as well as the removal of news outlets from the White House press corps.
None of this is about political parties. It is about being an American citizen! It is about understanding that democracy stands for the rights, responsibilities, and POWER of the governed. That we, the citizenry, must join together to save “We the People” before we lose OUR American democratic system.
Melissa Collum
Prairie du Chien
