It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and many other celebrations of faith, culture and blessings. December truly is a month of holidays. On Dec. 8, Buddhists celebrated Bodhi Day which commemorates Buddha’s attainment of understanding. Celebrations of Bodhi Day are quiet. Celebrants meditate, study the teachings of Buddha, chant and hold services. Some may decorate a Bodhi tree,
Commit to fact-finding mission
In September, the World Health Organization and eight other organizations issued a statement about the infodemic (not the pandemic). What is an infodemic? An overabundance of information that includes deliberate attempts to share wrong information, to polarize perspective and to advance alternative agendas, among other things. The statement noted, “the technology we rely on to keep connected and informed is
And just like that. It happened to us. COVID.
My husband and I opted to hunker down on Thanksgiving with our one remaining child at home. No more immediate family. No extended family. We were doing our part as a precautionary measure to slow the spread of COVID locally. We informed Goopa that he wouldn’t see the grandkids face to face. Told the nieces and siblings no feisty games
Let’s begin the National Restoration
Let’s make America good again; let’s begin the National Restoration. It’s time to restore the forces of goodness, decency and democracy. It’s a tall order, but it can happen if we all work hard together to make it so. Let’s restore the checks and balances that help maintain a distribution of power among the three branches of government – executive,
Religious, political reasons for Trump’s defeat
Kent Nelson, Sartell I am 78 years old and have learned a few lessons throughout the years. One of the most important includes the following: never argue politics, never argue religion and never argue with a drunk. Ignoring my own advice, I would like to propose the following arguments as to why Trump lost the election. Let’s start with religion.
St. Joseph COVID-19 response
by Rick Schultz St. Joseph mayor I hope this message finds you all safe and healthy. Our community is in the middle of an unprecedented time as we respond to the threat of COVID-19 here in Minnesota. I understand how stressful and sometimes scary this is for many of you and I share your same concerns. We are all taking
Celebrate one another
The election is over. The yard signs and banners are down. The ideological angst should begin to dissipate. It’s time to stop seeing each other as Democrats or Republicans and calling each other liberal or conservative, as if these are inherently bad. It’s time to re-‘friend’ or re-‘follow’ our family members, acquaintances and colleagues on social media and share the
Make the time to make a difference
by Heidi L. Everett, editor A good friend once said my husband and I have unrealistic expectations of what can be accomplished in a lifetime. We took that as a compliment. The reality is, we rarely sit idle. As an adult, I’ve always worked full-time outside the home while raising three kids and – up until recently – caring for