‘Commentary’ Archives
Frank Reflections: How much more death and destruction will we endure?
by Frank Erickson “Military interventions” are murder! They can never be trusted! How can they be trusted when the factor that puts them into motion is a smaller country”'s lack of relative defense? There is talk of United States “military intervention” into Venezuela. Here”'s an idea: the world powers come together and attack Washington D.C. by a “military intervention” to stop the U.S. from doing all their “military interventions!” Representative Ilhan Omar is strongly opposed to “military interventions” upon smaller defenseless countries. This is very encouraging. Rep. Omar”'s first months in office have been rough. How does a Black Muslim Congresswoman illicit more trouble than two White Christian male politicians who started the Iraq War murdering over 200,000 Muslims? White supremacy runs Washington D.C. and Minneapolis! The Iraq War and those that started it are no different than a war [...]
The Rand Report 2020 plan: ”˜Do what I say not what I do”' applies to city
By Rand Retterath Rand Retterrath The stated mission of Neighborhoods 2020 is “an opportunity to further develop and improve upon the city of Minneapolis”' neighborhood-based engagement structure”¦by the people, for the people.” However, neighborhoods all over the city are opposed to this document. Here are my concerns: 1.  The goals are laudable, however, execution is completely contrary to the stated goals. Neighborhoods are held to a standard that is completely disregarded within the city. The proverbial “do what I say, not what I do” applies, and is a mandate with funding as the hostage. 2.  The stated goals of “public purpose” require neighborhoods to be inclusive, responsive and informative. Regrettably, there is no mechanism in place to hold the council and other decision makers accountable in the same way. 3.  Pooling resources and forcing neighborhoods into a co-operative purchasing will restrict [...]
Letter to the community: Why is YWCA unwilling to have open and fair conversation?
By Doris Overby Midtown COmmittee for due process We have been deeply concerned that the Minneapolis YWCA management and Board chose not to involve the general membership in decision making regarding the new costly pay to park system. We believe that it is now necessary to send this letter to each member of the YWCA Minneapolis Board of Directors. Even more disconcerting is the lack of due process in the YWCA”'s decision to suspend the memberships of Doris Overby and Dick Taylor. Management”'s unwillingness to fairly and openly negotiate a reconciliation has impeded the reinstatement of the memberships. We believe the management”'s decision to suspend without due process constitutes a glaring injustice. We are further concerned that management may have used surveillance cameras to identify a member who was peacefully exercising her First Amendment rights to inform members of the controversy that had developed over the abruptly imposed parking system and [...]
