Biles’ powerful statement
What was Novak thinking?
Sign at the Whitefish Bay library: “Whitefish Bay will be a welcoming community that recognizes systemic racism, and actively works to address and dismantle it. How will you be a bridge in helping to repair and build a more equitable community?” (“Whitefish Bay library removes sign addressing systemic racism,” July 26).
Nice sentiment: welcoming, dismantle racism, build a more equitable community. In no way offensive to a normal, decent person.
Steve Novak’s take: “What group has taken the liberty of speaking for our community in such a hateful, damaging and inaccurate way?”
What?!
Bravo to Novak
Thanks to Steve Novak for standing up against the bullies attempting to hijack a public space for their own agenda (“Whitefish Bay library removes sign addressing systemic racism,” July 26).
Bravo.
Katherine Jonas
Fort Atkinson
A flawed ballot review
Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), chair of the Assembly elections committee, has vowed “to conduct a deeper review in Wisconsin” of the presidential election ballots, despite no documented evidence of any widespread fraud (“Wis. Republican vows ‘comprehensive’ exam of last year’s ballots,” July 27).
Now here’s the kicker. The independent investigation is being assisted by Peter Bernegger, who in 2009 was convicted of mail and bank fraud in federal court in Mississippi.
Isn’t this an example of the fox guarding the chicken coup?
Bart Bartholomew
West Bend
The influence of genes
Todd Firer Waukesha
I read with interest the column about the genetic lottery in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 25 (“Luck of the Draw”).
There was something in the article that just resonated: Genes influence — rather than control — outcomes. The analogy was to think of the brain as a book with thousands of pages and you get to fill in the blanks.
Yes, there are many things that strongly effect our lives that we cannot control, but there are many more (it seems to me and the author seems to agree) where each individual can affect the outcomes.
In today’s complex world where you hear a lot of claims that they “deserve something” or when a bad outcome is blamed on the person being “unlucky” or a “victim,” I agree with this author that sympathy and some action is a natural and most decent response. On the other hand, personal responsibility and your “lucky gene pool” go hand in hand.
This article reminded me how fortunate I have been. It also reminds me that we still have a lot to learn about genes, environment and personal behavior.
Our state of delusion
If Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and company want to spend tax dollars to investigate the 2020 election, then they better investigate all cities — not just the ones that had an outcome they didn’t like (“Vos caught in middle over continued scrutiny of 2020 election,” July 26).
A lot of people weren’t happy when Donald Trump was elected president, and there were large protests immediately following. However, no one claimed fraud and we all dealt with the result for four long years.
The lengths to which the Republicans are going to try to maintain power is ridiculous and nothing more than a political power play to satisfy their base. I’m probably stating the obvious, but it seems like too many people are living in a constant state of delusion these days.
Democracy at risk
Sandy Golden
Glendale
Vicci Hubbard
Allenton
I believe that the United States is the greatest nation on earth. Not because our people are inherently better than those of any other nation. But because of our form of government. Democracy is truly American. We began our great democracy nearly 250 years ago. And it has stood the test of time.
But nothing in this world lasts forever. Democracy is a creation of the people, and if people no longer want democracy, it will cease to exist. That is a fundamental truth. If we choose to give up on democracy, there are many powerful forces, both within and outside our nation, who might prefer to impose a new type of government on us. That new form of government might still have elections, just as some other non-democratic societies do, but those elections would no longer have meaning.
The foundation of democracy is freedom and the right to vote. Through the vote, we show the world that we respect the dignity of every citizen of our society. And in that way, we are the shining city on the mountaintop.
Some may believe the greatest threat to our democracy is voter fraud. I do not believe that. But those are not allegations that should be made lightly. They undermine the entire foundation of our society. Our society is imperfect, but it is the greatest democracy the world has ever known. If we do not come to appreciate that, we will lose it.
Doug Dehler
Pewaukee
A true champion is well rounded. Kudos to Simone Biles for reminding us to take care of ourselves (“A powerful statement,” July 28).
Barbara Garnier
Medicare for All benefits
The key word in the article “Marchers renew call for national insurance program” is insurance (July 25).
By insuring everyone, Medicare For All would be the largest possible health insurance pool to reduce the risk of medical bills bankrupting individuals and families. It would have more bargaining power to negotiate with Big Pharma for more affordable prescription medications.
Medicare for All would expand the choice to choose your hospital and doctors currently enjoyed by seniors in Medicare Parts A and B to every American. Most private insurance plans limit choice of doctors and hospitals to those in their networks. When employers change insurance plans and your doctors are not covered by a new network, patients pay more to continue to be treated by the same doctors that are now out of network.
Daniel Lee Milwaukee
The Marcus Center eyesore
I attended the Zoning, Neighborhood and Development Committee hearing back on April 30, 2019, for granting historical status to the Marcus Center and the accompanying grove of chestnut trees and recently watched the hearing again, which is available in the city records. At that hearing, then president of the Marcus Center, Paul Mathews, acknowledged that the Marcus Center wanted to be “stewards of a community asset,” acknowledging the center and property were owned, built and supported with the help of the taxpayers of Milwaukee County.
In asking to tear down the grove of chestnut trees, the Marcus Center presented beautiful plans showing a grassy area framed by 18 honey locust trees. In arguing their case, representatives said, it was an opportunity to do something “a whole lot better.”
Are we to believe that a grassy field enclosed by a chain-link fence and concrete barriers is an improvement over the chestnut grove designed by internationally-acclaimed landscape designer Dan Kiley (“Marcus Center’s new lawn criticized,” July 23)?
They have replaced a unique downtown space with an eyesore. They have taken a public space and turned it into a private, gated space.
I understand the Marcus Center, like many other businesses and institutions have suffered financial strain under the pandemic. But when the Marcus Centers says they will revisit plans for landscape design, I hear corporate doublespeak. We haven’t forgotten what we lost. We are waiting to see if the Marcus Center will do what it promised.
Michael Trokan
Milwaukee
Statue a source of joy
Every so often someone calls for the removal of Mark di Suvero’s sculpture, “The Calling,” in O’Donnell Park. Sometimes the cry comes from talk radio, sometimes, as in this case, in a letter to the editor by Jim Baudhuin (“An ugly sculpture,” July 25).
I first encountered this sculpture on the way home after a third shift, driving east on Wisconsin Avenue at sunrise. There it stood, still unpainted and in its bare iron state, in the rose, orange, and lilac light of dawn. It was a visceral moment that made me pull over to watch the play of sunrise light on the statue. I loved it then and love it still, even now, in all its orange glory.
One person’s ugly statue is another’s source of amazement and joy. I only wish that Baudhuin had a similar experience. Perhaps in the future with another statue he will. We can only hope.
Norma Mortimer
Please email your letters to jsedit@jrn.com, or mail them to Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, P.O. Box 371, Milwaukee, Wis. 53201-0371. Letters should be about 200 words.