Letters To The Editor
March 10, 2010 Edition

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:
There is another sign of a growing community taking place. Coborn’s is proposing a complex to be built soon. As a tax payer I am wondering why a company of this size should be given a tax abatement while the rest of us struggle to pay our taxes and keep our businesses going. I have been in business over 20 years and would like to see my taxes go down as new businesses come to town not give them a free ride for years to come. As property owners I’m sure many residents would like to have their taxes go down as well. The City Council is holding a public hearing on this proposal on Monday March 15, 2010 at 6:05 p.m. at the Government Center - 218 North Meridian Street. Please come and let them know everyone should pay their fair share of taxes.
Thank you,

Renee Schultz,
Rainbow Discovery Center

To the Editor:
Hooray! Belle Plaine may actually get a full-service grocery store, and a McDonald’s. However, the city could derail these plans. Attend the March 15 City Council meeting at 6 p.m. and voice your support of the tax abatement issue. This will not cost the city anything! So, why is this a problem? Coborn’s will bring much-needed jobs to town, an increased tax base, and help keep residential property taxes down. Finally!
Aren’t we tired of driving north or south when we need to shop? Apparently, we’re spending a lot of money elsewhere, with over $11 million annually going to other communities. They are growing and thriving while Belle Plaine sits on its hands and does nothing.
It will be a travesty if the council votes against this proposal. Maybe we should just put up a sign that says: Belle Plaine: Businesses and shoppers not welcome here, then enclose the town with a fence to keep people out.

Julie Feldermann

Dear Editor:
I recently was reading of a situation in our public schools in the letter to the editor about the Mayer Lutheran basketball game.
I have a group of students that meet every Wednesday evening. Most of these students have already spent their afternoon helping teach “little kids” in a different program. They are great students and are respected among their peers. A couple weeks ago I was informed that they are being pressured and belittled in class by high school staff members for expressing their “opinion” in an acceptable classroom format. When this staff member asked for an “opinion” it became obvious that this student was in fact a “Christian” and his views were Christian. I also found out this student was used as an example throughout the day, by name, with a negative connotation attached to the comments.
Please understand, this student never mentioned it to me until after other students brought it up for a discussion. These students were confused, and rightly so. They asked what religious rights they have and if it’s ok to speak the truth when they are asked a question. Difficult topics to be sure, at least in light of the recent experiences.
Furthermore, other students feel that they do not have the freedom to express their opinions if these opinions are contrary to those of this staff member.
Am I totally off base? Should our students be made to feel that critical thinking is not allowed? If an opinion is different than the staff members’ opinion, should this student just “suck it up and shut up”?
The last time I checked, it was not allowed for the school to interfere with any students’ belief system! I am shocked and angered that all those who have gone before us to protect our freedom may have done it all be in vain! NO staff member has the right to use any student as a personally identifiable “example” to other students in a negative way, EVER!
This is not the first time the school system of Belle Plaine has been involved in this “religious intolerance”. I feel helpless! Our students have the right to talk freely about sex, drugs, religion and family issues as long as it is in the appropriate format. Shouldn’t this include an open discussion of a book that is assigned? A book that opposes the students beliefs? Especially when the staff member has prompted the discussion?
I wish there were some way to educate the educators who violate our children’s constitutional rights. The school can and should talk about religion, from a neutral position. It should not matter if that discussion is about “Christianity”, “Judaism”, “Islam”, “Humanism”, “Naturalism” or any other religion. The separation of church and state means that NO school staff member can say anything to promote any religion over another, and this includes to “putting down” of any student for their religious beliefs. Furthermore; no student should be put down, belittled or insulted by any staff member.
The intent of this letter is not to single out any particular staff member, but rather to expose the inherent problems that are so deeply rooted in our school system, a school system that I care for and support and will continue to do so.

Charlie Hazzard,
Belle Plaine

Letter to the Editor:
Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Children learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially parents and coaches. Children who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity. A child who practices good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect and appreciation of other people into every other aspect of life.
Remember the saying “Actions speak louder than words?” That is especially true when it comes to teaching children the basics of good sportsmanship. The coaches’ behavior during practices and games will influence them more than any pep talk or lecture given them.
Coaches nurture good sportsmanship. A coach must model good sportsmanship at every level and make it a core goal of his work with children.
We do not all have to believe in the same things, but we need to be respectful of each other, whether it be religion or politics. Coaches should behave as all good coaches behave: by encouraging working together as a united community with respect to achieve co-curricular excellence and productive citizens in a safe and supportive environment.
Coaching children is an honor and a privilege that carries with it a moral responsibility to contribute to the healthy character development of young players. Coaches who equate “trying your best” as the definition of success -- and who value, expect, and demand good sportsmanship from their players -- help shape the moral, ethical, and spiritual character of children.

 Pamela Wendt,
A Concerned Belle Plaine Parent

Dear Editor:
Governor Pawlenty recently announced his proposal to eliminate the state’s $1.2 billion budget deficit for the current year. In the next biennium, a greater crisis looms with a projected deficit of $5-$8 billion.
Our state budget is out of control, and we must cut back.  Instead, the Senate District 25 incumbent supports borrowing $1 billion through a bonding bill laden with unnecessary projects.
Honesty requires acknowledging both parties contributed to our budget fiasco. The governor’s budget balancing solution for this year assumes that Minnesota will receive a $400 million stimulus check from the federal government, which just moves the state’s problems to the federal level. This is smoke and mirrors, not balancing the budget.
Nearly $3 billion of next year’s deficit comes from automatic increases in health and human services spending. We must prioritize safety net programs for those most in need while enacting reforms to ensure care is delivered effectively and affordably, without raising taxes.
Education is a constitutional responsibility of the state government, which in turn depends on limited tax dollars. Thus we must reevaluate how money is spent every year. Ensuring the existing programs are run smartly is job one. Job two is developing new ways to deliver education, including expanded online opportunities.
Honesty in making good spending decisions positions Minnesota as a state where families and businesses can build their dreams without a crushing burden of taxes and debt.

Sincerely,
Bill Paulsen
(Bill Paulsen is a candidate for the Republican endorsement for Minnesota Senate District 25).

 

Dear Editor:
I recently wrote a letter to the editor describing my pride in being a new citizen of Belle Plaine. I find this town to be unique in its sense of community and I enjoy the respectful dialogue I have witnessed among its residents. Like most, I was not impressed with the recent news program featuring the battle of the bars downtown. I also knew that the program demonstrated more about the unfortunate state of television journalism than the people I know and love who make up this community.
Recently, however, an incident occurred that I believe tarnishes the good reputation of Belle Plaine. During the varsity basketball game against Mayer Lutheran last week, a decision was made to not allow our players to take the court for prayer and the national anthem. While we may choose as a public school system not to pray before athletic events, we certainly do participate in the national anthem.
Even more important is the lack of respect and tolerance for other viewpoints that was displayed by this action. Belle Plaine was in Mayer Lutheran’s house and they deserved to have their beliefs and traditions respected. It is my understanding (after a little research) that no team has ever refused to take the court for prayer and the national anthem while playing at Mayer Lutheran. It is undoubtedly the first time Belle Plaine has made such a stance.
If our school administration has a problem with prayer and the national anthem while playing religious affiliated schools in our conference, then they should lodge their protest in the appropriate manner. They should not make our sons and daughters pawns in this issue. Our kids deserve role models that actively show respect and tolerance. Mayer Lutheran deserves an apology for last week’s behavior. I call on our school administration to do just that and I will be calling Mayer Lutheran to ensure they realize that the disrespect they witnessed was not reflective of everyone in this community.

Kelby Woodard
Belle Plaine