News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Saturday December 27th 2025
Violence like parasite; also treatable
By St. Paul”'s Youth Group
Violence is like a parasite; infectious, dangerous, unbiased, and yet also treatable.
Fortunately, the steps in treating both are also very similar, and like all parasites we will eventually find a cure.
According to cureviolence.org the essential elements of curing violence coincide with the treatment of a disease: 1) interrupting transmission of the disease, 2) reducing the risk of the highest risk, and 3) changing community norms.
“I heard guns firing so I couldn”'t sleep until 2:05 AM. I was scared and I can”'t sleep now.””¦Anthony
“People have come into my house and robbed our money and my dad has to work harder.””¦Edwin
You all can make a difference, and we want to remind you who you are setting an example for.
“We can make small changes that can become big impacts in our neighborhood.””¦Jose
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“Democracy” and Bees
My butternut squash plants have commenced to flower and set their early fruit. Like all curcubits (squash, melons, cucumbers, gourds, pumpkins) they are monecious, meaning the male and female aspects are embodied in one plant. However, the flowers themselves are not hermaphroditic. The male and female blooms are separate.
The males reveal in morning, only to fade before the day is done. By then bees will have gathered the pollen, and the sperm contained within. Nectar laden females flower the following day, blossoms adorning the miniature fruits with their ovaries and eggs. Joyous bees appear positively ecstatic!
But what?
Market forces, the profit motive, and corporate domination are killing off our bees.
I have in hand two letters from Susan Allen, my state representative. She writes:
“Thank you for contacting me to share your support for Governor Dayton”'s proposal for a minimum 50-foot buffer strip along [our] waterways”¦to help increase water quality in our lakes, rivers, and streams as well as create 125,000 acres of new wildlife habitat. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural and industrial sources and ensure that everyone in Minnesota has access to quality water.”
In her second letter Susan writes:
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Keep citizen journalism alive!
Frank Reflections
By FRANK ERICKSON
If Americans want Mexicans to respect U.S. borders, why have Americans never respected Iraqi borders; are not Americans in Iraq “illegal?”
Chris Rock said, “Only Brian Williams didn”'t even kill anyone, just lied about what helicopter he was in, a real troublemaker.
If you think “war”'s” evidence for existence is rooted in self-defense, how could Iraq”'s right to defend itself in 2003 give the U.S. the freedom to kill?
When a local radio station plays Lynyrd Skynyrd, is that not the same as flying the confederate flag?
What a dumb idea the “Civil War” was, if the South would have “won,” we would be honoring The Confederate Flag before Twin”'s games and slavery would be the law of the land.
Donald Trump should be grateful that Mexicans cannot come to America via attack helicopters and battleships. Mexicans should be welcomed for one reason alone, they don”'t come as “war.”
U.S. soldiers participated in an illegal corrupt invasion of Iraq, but none of them went to jail for it”“who blames the soldiers for “wars””¦why are local Somali-Americans in jail for trying to fight in an illegal corrupt “war,” when no U.S. soldiers are in jail. You can”'t conveniently decide which soldiers are responsible for “war””“this is a racist attack on the Somali Community.… Read the rest “Frank Reflections”