Morris public school teachers belligerent

What a shocker Wednesday night as I relaxed at our public library, consumed some news. You just never know what will happen in our world. We are willing to consume the most embarrassing headlines about Donald Trump day after day, and yet he has a very good chance, it appears, of gaining the presidency again. The news rolls on. 

But on Wednesday night I was subjected to a "shocker" at the micro level here in Morris. And here I thought this whole community was on the same page about feeling so warm and positive about our public school. No referendum ever fails here. We seem to trust the school board on all funding matters, even in connection to the "softball complex." The City of Morris did a reversal on its stance regarding that, at a certain point having to issue "no" as a response to a request for more funding. 

So, a tip of the hat to our City of Morris, at least on this one matter, based on showing just a wee bit of well-advised restraint. The "complex" is far below what we expected it to be, based on the hyperbolic (obviously) initial pronouncements. The row of people with the shovels photographed for the "groundbreaking." The accommodations for fans there are woefully limited. Bring your own chair, place it on mud or out by the outfield fence (mud there too most likely) and squint to see something. It's rude to the out-of-town fans like for the sub-section games. 

But let's move on in our assessment of community mood at this time. Oh my, all is not tranquil with our public school in Morris. In the old days when I was with the Morris newspaper, I would have seen all of this coming, all of this bubbling up. Today? "Mongo just pawn in game of life." (That's a movie reference.) 

So I'm sitting at our public library where Anne does such a good job being in charge. I still miss Melissa but that's another story. So many stories, so little time. I grab the current Morris fishwrap. It's the "Stevens County Times." Far, far less product than when I made my rounds for the paper. 

There have been hints lately that our public school teachers have been getting a little, well, restless. I even wrote about this some, my feeling being that the purpose of our school board meetings should be to discuss what the school is doing for the kids, not what the school is doing for the teachers. 

I am not naive and I have been around this kind of issue from rather long ago. There was an eruption of controversy - real controversy I assure you - in the late 1980s but it wasn't about money, at least not directly. Maybe indirectly it was. The school employees are so hard to satisfy. So like crime, death and taxes, this never changes. 

Unsettled mood?

In the late 1980s the most visible issue was co-curricular, its performance and the philosophy behind it, the philosophy pushed by various school employees. The public appeared to decide "we should be doing better than we are even without spending more money." People rose up even amidst fears that their business and professional lives were at risk. 

Was it successful? I would say in the long term yes, maybe not so much in the short term. That's the way change has to happen sometimes. 

 

Standard form

You'll always find a certain element in the community that supports the teachers even when their stance becomes unpleasant and confrontational. I learned in the 1980s that there was a class of people who got their salaries from the government - U of M Extension people for example - who were inclined to go along with the belligerent teachers. 

Even when talk circulated of business boycotts promoted by the teachers (i.e. a considerable faction of the teachers), the "intelligentsia" as I called it would be beside them. Now in the year 2024, I sense that faction is not as powerful in this community. I think there has been a lot of "conservative" pushback. 

Conservatives of today have really gotten "into the driver's seat." They had better be careful how they use this power over the long term. Can they finally show some skepticism about the "Orange Jesus" Donald Trump, now as the porn star matter is about to come at us from a courtroom? Are y'all prepared to share about this with your children? Can't y'all pick a national leader with a little more character and then sell him as a "conservative" leader espousing "conservative" principles? 

I actually support a lot of those principles. I do not respect Trump and the people around him. So on Wednesday night before going to the Lent service at Faith Lutheran, I study front page of Morris paper and learn that Morris teachers are just incredibly rocking the boat now. I didn't think things could ever get worse than in the 1980s. But my, look at the language used by this guy last name of Pope. It was eye-popping to read those quotes. Eye-popping I tell you. 

Is our school board really "threatening" the teachers? If so, that is unacceptable. I'm prepared now to say it's hyperbole. But what if it isn't? What side do I take? I never side with the teachers. I have been around this element for most of my life. Their persecution complex never ends. I have seen them try to use their union-supported power to hurt people and businesses around the community for the most parochial of ends. 

I was just shocked Wednesday evening to see that this is all bubbling up again in the year 2024. The teachers shouldn't point fingers. I think we have an issue with an underperforming girls basketball program. And when you make a comment like that, be prepared for slings and arrows to be directed at you. My God, those people can be mean. 

Review the language used by the teachers in this week's Morris fishwrap. Just look at it right there in black and white. When a union is involved, you get into attitudes like this. Remember that unions are all about power, and that's all there is to it. Power is the only language those people understand.

Under siege from their own employees? Be careful guys because the teachers do have power, maybe not as much as they once did, but it can be palpable. The photo shows our Morris Area board of education. I don't think these people are Neanderthals.
 

Addendum: I was in Morris in the 1960s so I'm especially amazed how school referendums never fail these days. You should know it was like pulling teeth to get a referendum through back then. A book could be written. Remember the school proposal that had the "pool?" You probably don't. Too long ago.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Breakfast cereal suggested for dinner!

OK so is it "dinner" or "supper?" Maybe a discussion for another time. I have an informative graphic at the bottom of this post.

 

Well, why not have a government shutdown too, on top of so many other concerning things? We hear names of so many prominent political leaders now who are Southerners. You might say, from states of the old Confederacy? We could try to moderate that here in the Midwest by elevating some Democrats for balance. But no, if anything we have joined right in. 

I cannot fight it. I can try to share some cautionary notes, that's all. No one need feel threatened by me, as I am part of such a small minority. People do sense that there is something wrong. They have refused up 'til now to think maybe the political left has anything to offer. Up to now they follow the lead of the righties when it comes to demonizing the so-called "left." 

The left simply arises when the common people realize they are being screwed. The political left is a matter of utility - it arises when there is a need. A need like right now when a corporate big shot makes news by saying that all the struggling Americans could get by better by having breakfast cereal for their evening meal! 

The wealthiest people want the poor to "just get by." That way, the poor can stay quiet and suppressed. Just stay out of the way of the wealthiest with their stock investments. Make sure to keep interest rates rock-bottom. Because that always feeds the interests of the stock market which is now the golden calf. 

An ordinary stock market is supposed to have real fluctuations. Instead we have the occasional "pullback" which is often attributed to "profit-taking" and isn't that kind of a cute term? It suggests something positive, because of course profits make the world go 'round. The pullbacks are so short-lived, they hardly prompt any concern. Well, no real concern at all, it appears, because we yawn and expect the "financial news" portion of our media to tell us within a day or two that everything is rosy again! 

How rosy is it for the average American? I mean, when corporate movers and shakers are quoted in the (sympathetic) financial media saying that "common" Americans could remain stable in their lives by having breakfast cereal for dinner/supper. From boxes, I might add, that have shrunken. 

A few years ago "shrinkflation" was a rarely-heard term. You might have to explain it to someone. Today the U.S. president actually uses it in a public pronouncement, a plea to companies to just knock if off. You might be thinking, "well leave it to a Democrat to make a statement like that because they depart from reality. They think there is a 'free lunch' and there isn't. Businesses have to do what they have to do." 

Well fine, let them do what they want in our purportedly free market system. But when enough of the common people feel they're being screwed seriously, a rebellion can become fomented. Doesn't world history teach us this? 

The right wing protectors of the status quo would accuse me of suggesting such a thing, a rebellion. Silly rabbit, I am just trying to point to the possibility. Indeed, in the "cautionary" context. Which is fair enough? Well I don't know, and here I'll point to the extreme right wing: Senator John Kennedy, he of the same name as a past president. He is from Louisiana and reflects the reactionary forces in his part of the country. For the record he was a Democrat who endorsed John Kerry in 2004. Today - no hyperbole intended - he looks like the reincarnation of Joe McCarthy. Look how he has grilled some nominees. He is absolutely Joe McCarthy redux. 

The right wing element reflects a considerable portion of society that thinks something is wrong. And they flail away. We see it here in Western Minnesota - so many have "drunk the Kool-Aid." We need answers to try to live happier lives. The wealthiest people have pushed a system that insists that interest rates must be kept super low, forever preferably. But it's like ignoring climate change. The consequences in the long run could be catastrophic. 

Let me explain something pretty fundamental to you: the wealthiest element of society likes inflation. Again, no hyperbole intended. And why would this situation exist? It exists because as a basic economic fact, inflation increases the separation of rich from poor. The wealthiest strive to protect their status which I guess is just human nature. It's human impulse. 

And to keep the less-well-off subdued and compliant, they make suggestions like how people can get by eating breakfast cereal in the evening. Or in the same category, the suggestion to "stop buying coffee at places like Starbuck's." Or here in Morris, at Caribou I suppose. It is patronizing. People are not stupid and if they choose to buy coffee that seems expensive, it's because they really want it. We don't need lectures. 

Dining out is getting steadily more problematic. It's in the news: the buffets that are still out there are getting strained - think "endless shrimp" - by customers coming in and consuming a whole lot. People are doing this to ensure they'll get decent nutrition that might cover their needs for 3-4 days. If restaurants don't like people doing this, they can change the terms of their service, change the contract between business and customer. It's their prerogative. But don't complain about people coming in and "feeding their faces." 

Food is a fundamental need. The wealthiest people want us to get by eating breakfast cereal, so as not to notice how tough things are for the rank and file. Meanwhile the stock market rises as if by magic. No longer any fears at all about stock investing. I had the notion ground into me when I was young that the stock market is all about risk. It's a playground for the rich people only, I was told. Well it still is in 2024, only they have contrived a system with low interest rates to keep everyone comfortable and anxiety-free within their class. 

Meanwhile the artificially low interest rates are screwing the less-well-off. Until what happens? Well who knows? But just look at world history. Senator John Kennedy cannot fend off the inevitable forces, not with cheap rhetoric from the political right. In the meantime, looks like we'll get another "government shutdown." You have to follow the bouncing ball and sing along.

(from "pro writing aid")

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

UMM tries patching its holes

Another Sunday in this most anomalous winter of 2024. In the spirit of procrastination I was going to wait until the first big winter storm to get a snowblower at Town and Country. I am getting old and more in need of the device. No storm ever came. Amazing. Could keep a little more money in the bank. 

Most often I will check on the Morris and Minneapolis newspapers by stopping in at our public library. Word is, things are back to normal for our library post-covid. Such good news obviously. 

The library has not had to worry about inadequate snow removal by its front entrance this winter. Looking back a few years, I regret not volunteering to shovel snow there for Melissa when she was librarian. It crossed my mind but I believe I only did it once or twice. You can argue that the City of Morris should have done it. The service could be quite limited or negligible. People would track snow into the library. 

Of course that was very small potatoes compared to when the place got flooded! What a disaster that was. I eventually learned from a retired city employee that a softball was responsible, which got lodged in the drainage system. And at about the same time, a wine bottle did the same number at St. Mary's School. I opined that it seemed rather Biblical. Are the Catholic priests behaving themselves these days? Why don't they get rid of celibacy? 

Ahem, so I'm in the library on Saturday and there's the newspapers I want to look at, Morris and Minneapolis. I get seated, relax, and do not expect anything momentous to arise in this examination. But wait, here I see where Morris is in the news! We're in the statewide news, in the glow of the Star-Trib out of Gotham. We ought to be proud maybe? 

Sometimes it's notorious to be in the news. Our community made the international news with the goalpost incident at UMM in 2005. I'm guessing that Sam Schuman was haunted by that for the rest of his life. I'm haunted too because I was the newspaper's representative at the campus that day but was not present for the big tragic accident. 

What's up now on this Sunday of February 2024 when we might think it's actually March? Most of the winter has really seemed like March. Well, the State of Minnesota, belatedly perhaps, sees issues with UMM's performance. Enrollment has been heading steadily down. UMM simply does not seem like it once was. We can ponder the various factors. 

The state legislature is getting restless, impatient maybe, and maybe there is no silver bullet to amend that statement, I might suggest. There is no silver bullet for restoring UMM to what it was as a liberal arts bastion. I think that train has left the station. 

The Strib article from last week reports on a new model that maybe will inject new life? Notice the question mark. I don't have the paper beside me as I write on this very early Sunday morning. I'll go with impressions that I made. Surely other people made the same impressions, like that UMM is pushing this novel approach wherein a three-year degree is just as good as the standard four years. 

I think more people have begun wondering through the years if four years is a bit much. This seems like such a simple solution: three years instead of four. It appears UMM is walking a tightrope on this, as it's quick to add that the studies will remain intense and a student might have to attend in summer. My reaction is that summer study has always been available, hasn't it? Nothing new there? 

And some kids are going to be pushed to exit their high school classes so as to begin acquiring college credit? Kids are doing this through this thing called PSEO. A good thing? I have demurred on that. I might suggest it's a ploy for colleges to try to prop up enrollment numbers in this challenged time for them. "Invade the high schools," you might say. 

I might have felt rather indifferent about PSEO had I not learned a couple years ago that our high school band was losing prime talent because of this. I became greatly concerned actually. I'm inclined to think that high school kids should just stay in high school because it's the place to be for them: appropriate socialization. "You're only in high school once." 

Frankly, I think many of the people who read the Star Trib article are going to come away thinking that this  "magical" three-year degree plan might be a way for institutions to reduce costs. Get kids through in three years instead of four. Shall we just "look the other way" and think no more of this? 

Students probably don't need the four years because these days, as they grow up, they have the Internet to fulfill them in myriad ways, putting them frankly light years ahead of the pre-digital generations. And if this is true to the extent that seems apparent, we might question not only the four-year degree - especially the "liberal arts" degree - but college itself! Shazam! A painful thing to ponder here in Morris. 

 

The image shows Janet Schrunk Ericksen, chancellor of our University of Minnesota-Morris. Doggone it, I have to look up her name to confirm exact spelling every time. The Morris newspaper had her name misspelled in its banner headline at the time of her inauguration. And look at the current Morris newspaper with "Gipson" instead of "Gibson" in the big wrestling headline. Egad!

 

My personal priority

I have begun putting myself forward as an advocate for the Morris campus but not necessarily for the U. In December when I sent a check to the Twin Cities campus, a check for the betterment of our UMM music department, I included a note that stated "I hope the new U president will take a hard look at the Morris campus and make sure it is delivering maximum benefit for the state. " 

Don't you think that is reasonable? If the U isn't prepared to do this, maybe the campus could come under some other umbrella. And I don't care. "I couldn't care less." (Remember that it's "couldn't care less " and not "could care less.") 

An engaging campus

The campus is the asset. It would be nice if we had an institution here that did not require a parking permit. It's not like space is scarce for parking, as the big wide-open prairie beckons to the east. And what beckons to the west? A cemetery! Ugh, not really cool. And cemeteries are fading. I only established a family plot there because I thought it was the thing to do. 

I have gotten compliments on the family monument, so that's nice. It's a bench - feel free to sit there any time courtesy of the Williams family. You'll read there that my father was "founder of UMM music." Cool. My father was the only music faculty in the institution's first year, back in the Pleistocene Age of course. 

Our Morris campus has gone through significant changes in its history. There would be precedent for significant new change. "Whatever it takes" is my attitude now, whatever it takes to get a campus with about 2000 students. A school of nursing maybe? To at least be part of the mix?

 

The Morris newspaper

On Saturday I examined the Morris or "Stevens County" newspaper. Oh my, how embarrassing or disgusting: the wrestler's name is misspelled in the headline. What moron committed this mistake? 

The paper misspelled the name of the UMM chancellor in a headline after the inauguration. Obviously I wonder "what would people be saying about me if I made these mistakes?" 

The mistakes make me wonder if I could actually get back to being involved with the paper. Times are totally different. The print media has been through a steady siege to try to survive, ever since I walked out the back door of the Morris paper on June 2, 2006. Such an abrupt departure - that was hard to deal with. The paper was owned by  Forum Communications. Forum Communications has a reputation of being quite heartless with employees whom they decide should just mosey on down the road. 

For a while I thought I had escaped that fate, then I got run over. Because of the lingering effect of the goalpost incident? Because of a letter to the editor from a pompous Morris physician who was a throwback to the days when local doctors didn't just do their jobs, they were supposed to be local icons. We had a dentist like that too. The less said about him the better. He eventually left town (fortunately).

I get cards and letters, you might say. Emails to be precise and current, and two of these received Saturday are worthy of quoting here:

Hello Brian,

I stumbled onto a complete digital version of the newsletter for UMM alumni sent out in the spring of 1995.

Thought you would find this part interesting which I included in a screenshot here. Amazing to see that from 1979 to at least 1995, the UMM Concert Choir toured across the U.S. and Europe.

So sad to see how far the once-mighty UMM music program has fallen. Doc Carlson is rolling in his grave, God bless his jazzy soul.

Randy 

 

And. . .

 

To: Brian Williams

Yes, UMM is becoming known for the 3-year degree thing. I’m not in favor of that. The kids get college credit for taking certain classes in HS that are determined to be “college level”, but still taught by HS teachers. For example, they get college credit for being in Wanda (Dagen's) band. So, some kids get enough credits in advance to be able to skip 1 or even 2 years of college.  2 things wrong with that - first, they are missing out on the “college experience” which will cost them some emotional growth. Then, if a 19 or 20 year old is applying for the same job as a 22 or 23 year-old, even if both have the same credentials, which is more apt to be  hired?

(end of quoted email) 

 

Keep the focus

I elucidated some more with my thoughts re. UMM to a friend Saturday. Might as well share portions here. Thanks for paying attention. Hope I can help focus people's thoughts on UMM, even if readers might want to read this with clenched fist!

 

Del - Just got back from downtown, went to library to examine Morris and Mpls. newspapers.

Oh my, Morris in the news! UMM as some sort of forerunner with the 3-year degree concept?

What do you make of that, besides a hat, a brooch or a pterodactyl?

You know how my cynical mind is going to work. Just cheapen the degree, lower institutional overhead costs and hope you can fool everyone into thinking the degrees here are as good as they ever were. Presto! Will it work?

So not only have the numbers been tumbling here, we have all the Indians getting to go to school with no tuition. That makes the money picture more daunting.

Looks like the Twin Cities campus heeded my little note I included with my check in December: "I hope the new U president takes a hard look at the Morris campus to make sure it is delivering maximum benefit to the state."

Hint: I don't think it is. Does that make me a rat here in Morris? Actually if the institution can make a radical adjustment of some kind, what could better cement its future? But it could be a tough pill for some people to swallow. I have written regularly that a group of legislators should usurp the role of the board of regents. The legislators need to know what's going on everywhere. The regents have been like a buffer, giving the legislators "cover."

 

The Morris paper looks like it is being made with cheaper paper. It is not as "white" and you can see through it a little.

Look at the headline on the front sports page: "Gipson" instead of "Gibson." It's Grayson Gibson. Imagine if I had made that mistake. And they only have one paper to put out each week, lots of time for proofreading.

Just ate at Pizza Ranch! My body has been aching for more meals like this, as you could tell. Now I'll try to be real disciplined next week. But right now I'm on cloud nine. I'm actually not hungry. I spent about ten months feeling a little bit hungry all the time. I will eat nothing tonight. When will Wanda (Dagen) get word on the School Foundation grant? Are schools everywhere going to have to give up making trips like this due to $ ? Jenessa of the School Foundation knows all about my efforts to support the band trip. She drove to my house.

First Lutheran Church

I will not go to (First Lutheran) church tomorrow. I'm discouraged about writing the check in December and then in a couple weeks we got word on the 11:00 service time, the purpose of that being so we could be "parasitic" on other churches, borrow their ministers. I wonder if this is controversial with the other churches. I might call up Todd (Mattson's) service tomorrow on YouTube. Mammaries.

I can't see attending for the 11:00 time. At some point we will hear that the church is dissolving. Karen Uphoff told me she was worried about Pastor Emmy getting "burnout." Serving our church would only worsen that.

How the mighty have fallen. Remember how we used to have two service times on Sunday? We had the big "UMM Sunday" with pot luck meal. Maybe you could write a little analysis of how we've declined so far and I could share it on by blogs. I have already shared my views and maybe this is one reason I shouldn't attend any more.

I cannot see attending for the 11:00 service time. I wonder if we'll hear sometime that First Luth. is dissolving.

- BW

 

OK so Trump wins South Carolina

I shared immediate reaction to Trump's victory remarks from South Carolina on Saturday night. I posted this on the "Newsmax" YouTube site.

I'm watching this Trump speech and it is a "dark art." Have noticed this all the way back to 2016. And Trump is very, very good at it. If he truly had benevolent intentions for the U.S., I would be happy for him and his gift. But my goodness. I can see what's going on as he ingratiates himself so lavishly. It's hard to describe this appeal in words. I am exhausted trying to find the words. We can hope that Trump will finally be humbled but I am absolutely not betting on it. I see storm clouds ahead, getting worse as Trump has happier and happier "rallies."

 

Not a fan

Scully Mulder replied: "How about you focus on important issues like mass migration, inflation and the wars breaking out everywhere, instead of weird esoteric stuff about "dark clouds" whatever that means."

 

Postscript Sunday a.m.

Feeling downright cheery as the sun is out on this Sunday morning. Had breakfast at Caribou Coffee where I often see a UMM faculty friend of mine. This sage individual said of the new 3-year emphasis of UMM, that well - my words - it's a little ballyhooed out of proportion. Many colleges have been doing this, he said. It's just that it's being more "formalized" here. 

I'd surmise the U is pushing attention toward Morris for marketing reasons. Would other colleges be a little resentful of this attention? Because, all colleges are scrambling for students now, right? So they notice that UMM might be enticing kids to come here who can spend one less year being encumbered with studies and costs? Not that simple I guess, but on the surface one might think this. 

Do I have laser focus? Well, "Mongo just pawn in game of life."

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com 

No one way to be a "believer"

Another week closer to Easter, yes. We celebrate the gruesome death of this man named Jesus who "died for our sins." Thus, "those who believe" will have "eternal life." I could try to tell myself all day that this is true, but I cannot. 

Religion is OK when it tries to instruct us on doing the right thing, to treat others as we would want to be treated. The most committed Christians would rebut that by saying "good works" do not figure in at all. All that matters is "faith." How many of you get confused if you just think about that a while? I would be enthused about believing anything that I really thought was true. 

There are too many ways that the Christ story could simply be a fabrication. People with political or philosophical motives can pull all sorts of deception. Look at how so much of Christianity in America has become so intertwined with right wing politics. Many of these spokespeople would actually defend the ties as being essential to the Christian faith, but wait a minute, I thought that "having faith" was the only thing that mattered. 

For sure there was a nice turnout at Faith Lutheran Church in Morris Wednesday night. I'm assuming. All the gentle young families setting the proper example for their kids. We want the kids to be nice and do all the nice things. That is wonderful. But, steering them toward the Christian story with all its unspeakable violence just before Easter? That is unnecessary. 

I remember growing up at First Lutheran in Morris, taking part in all the things because it was required by my parents. We would "dress up" for Sunday services. Take "confirmation" classes.

Then during the week, I'd come home after school and turn on the evening newscasts because I had high interest for someone my age. And of course there would be a flood of news about this thing called the Vietnam war. It was a bummer, just like hearing about the violence done to Christ at the end of his life. 

Violence, violence, violence. Why? Why not focus on a happier template? 

Why do I ask such inconvenient questions? The Vietnam war was a nightmare that happened to be real. The flood of news on our TV screen came to include news about the protests and "counterculture" from the young. And could you blame them? 

How many young men killed directly in the Vietnam war? Close to 60,000? Think if all of them could have been allowed to live out a normal life and to fulfill their potential, potential for goodness and for fulfillment that God instilled in them. 

Jesus Christ

There, now I sound like a believer, don't I? Maybe I really am. 

But I want nothing to do with church around Easter-time. We have let Mel Gibson influence us with a choice toward emphasizing the literal torture of Christ. Can't help but be reminded of how John Wayne influenced us during the time of the Vietnam war. 

Can't you all see that these guys are professional entertainers? They are good at their craft, good at knowing what the American people will "buy." They are flawed human beings like the rest of us. To know them would be no different from knowing anyone else. We let them become bigger than life. We are in denial about this simple fact. 

Gibson is in fact the worst anti-Semite you could ever come across. I am profoundly offended by anti-Semitism even though I am against Israel. America should not be a supporter of a religious state. 

On the subject of anti-Semitism, Martin Luther was one of the worst in all of world history. And yet we allow churches like several in the Morris area to bear his name. Can any minister truly justify this? If they were to try, I'd say "a pox on you." 

Am I like Ronald Reagan Jr. who says "I'm not worried about burning in hell?" He doesn't buy all the Christian mumbo-jumbo. The mumbo-jumbo is like a security blanket for so many Americans who really just seek an escape from all the insecurity, fear and ennui in their lives. I felt ennui anyway, even when taken to church by my parents way back when. 

The U.S. accomplished nothing in Vietnam. Then I suppose we were just supposed to forget about it. People get on me for remembering stuff from the past too much. It's just the way I am. 

 

Seasonal priority

So, what's up on this late February day in 2024? This late February day which seems more like a late-March day? In a winter when we haven't had to activate our snow-blowers. 

We are on the threshold of the high school sports post-season. Success for us would mean making trips to the south like to Marshall. It's been this way for a while now. We might forget the days when our Tiger teams had so much tournament action right here in Morris, so incredibly convenient of course. As just stated, I remember stuff from the past. 

High school sports was a springboard for an email I sent to my fellow UMM advocate Warrenn Anderson on Thursday. I should clarify: I am an advocate for our campus while not necessarily signing on with the U of M all the time. We want a vibrant and purposeful campus even if we have to incorporate something like a school of nursing. There, Jack Imholte would roll over in his grave. Well, I have already criticized Christianity in this post, so the inhibitions are pushed aside, eh? The email I sent to Mr. Anderson:

 

Hello Warrenn - I have been blessed for a long time being able to blog pretty regularly about Tiger sports. I have used a variety of info sources but one by one these sources have been vanishing. I have lost critical mass for doing this, unfortunately. So it looks like I'll spend more of my time watching cable news programs on my laptop. I will miss the sports coverage activity. I could spend several paragraphs explaining how the sources dried up. Actually I have written blog posts lately that are precisely about this. 

Yesterday it was fascinating to look at the kmrs website, because in their sentence-long item about our impressive boys basketball win, they did not give any details on MACA individuals, HOWEVER they gave the two scoring leaders for BOLD. The radio station had to be giving a "hint" by doing this, so maybe coaches are not cooperating. The West Central Tribune is a story unto itself. Mark Torgerson used to supply detailed game stats through the "Maxpreps" site, and I'm 99 percent certain he became aware of this from my suggestions. But that's gone now. Everything is gone. 

Speaking of losing critical mass, I think this is happening to our United States of America with this continuing spectacle of Trump being in our faces every damn day. On the threshold of getting back in power and then consolidating power. Getting control of the Federal Reserve. The whole country could implode and I'm serious, very serious. Sounds now like he'll "appeal" the New York judgment based on "cruel and unusual punishment." No matter what he does, he will have Clarence Thomas supporting him. Alito too? Maybe Trump has "I like beer" Kavanaugh in his back pocket because of knowing some "dirt" about Kavanaugh beyond the woman who came forward before. So Kavanaugh will have to vote based on what Trump wants. I think Trump has dirt on Lindsey Graham too. This all is getting to be beyond "Alice Through the Looking Glass."

First Lutheran Church continues its slide into oblivion, badly. And what of UMM? Seriously. You know who is keeping an eye on the U's coordinate campuses? KSTP News.

 

- BW

Listening to Jesus would be a lot like listening to Bernie Sanders. Jesus would have been in favor of universal healthcare.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

We are lost in a sea of irrationality

No man is an island. A nice throwaway line that we might think carries weight. A person who insists on criticizing the "Orange Jesus" might well feel like me, trying to survive out here in the Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota. When you try asking questions of our congressperson, one consequence is that you'll be put on her email list and you'll get her dispatches about the need to look into impeaching Joe Biden. 

I try to do what I can out here in rural America trying to be reasonable, trying to use basic logic and rationale while everyone around me comes off like the AM talk radio crowd. 

Obviously I should not be writing what I am writing here. But it's too late to try to protect myself on this. Long ago I began writing skeptically about the Orange Jesus. I had to put up with seeing the local Apostolic Christians drive their pickups with Trump flags flapping from in back, or having a nice big Trump flag in the front yard on its own flagpole. They reflect so many other factions but I am especially disappointed in them. They are such hard-working successful business people. 

Stormy Daniels

But we continue to be lost in this sea of irrationality. We're on the doorstep of this whole trial that will focus on the Stormy Daniels thing. Not just "the other woman" but a literal porn star. Imagine if a case like this involving a national leader had happened 30 or 40 years ago. It at least would have been considered tawdry. So tawdry, we would have wanted to push the public figure off the national stage, to spare ourselves the discomfort of the whole subject. 

But today it's a "Tuesday in America" in which everyone has become zombie-like in allegiance to the Orange Jesus. Only a few "survivors" like myself scattered around who just refuse to go along with it. And yes I'll be teased and insulted. That, or people will say I'm so irrelevant I don't deserve to be listened to. Maybe someday people like me will be forced into mental health treatment because of our refusal to acquiesce. Let's consider the term "re-education camps." 

I'm at a crossroads in my life on this Tuesday morning. My church of the "liberal" ELCA, a denomination that has been absolutely thrown on its heels, revealed a huge sign of capitulation recently. We are going to an 11 .m. service time and will be "parasitic" off other churches. We'll "borrow" other pastors, who for some reason are going along with this. Shall I assume they'll get paid for their troubles? 

Why are the other churches going along with this? I mean like Faith Lutheran, which is showing all the signs of being the "winner" in the comparison with First Lutheran. I write more on Faith Lutheran's current good times on my "Morris of Course" blog site. Congrats to them. I invite you to read:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2024/02/happy-state-of-affairs-at-faith-lutheran.html 

 

I wrote out a check to First Lutheran Church in December because I was trying to keep the faith. What lousy judgment I have, I guess. We had a visiting person from "Pulpit Supply" on Sunday who didn't even stick around to shake hands and chat with people in the narthex afterwards. Everything is going to hell. 

MAGA has taken over Stevens County. The only really accepted Christian churches appear to be those with the LCMC. That's the denomination that really started to blossom with the gay rights issue. 

I care hardly at all about gay rights. I believe as a matter of good sense that gays deserve equal rights. There, now that that matter is taken care of, shall we move on to the uplifting principles in the gospel and overall Christianity? Shouldn't all that count for something still? Instead of the "Orange Jesus" or gay rights? 

Just talk about good uplifting principles and the gospel of Jesus Christ, who of course could sound like Bernie Sanders with a lot of what he said. And yet all the MAGA people still at least pretend to admire Jesus, all the charming older people who really do rely on Social Security and Medicare while condemning "big government." Like I said, they are zombies. And they absolutely predominate in Stevens County, in the Seventh Congressional District. 

Contact Michelle Fischbach and you'll hear about efforts to impeach Joe Biden. I don't really care all that much about Biden but I care about the continued strength and momentum of the Orange Jesus. But what good does that do? It does no good. 

If I stop blogging, someone might have law enforcement do a welfare check on me. So I should continue writing at least occasionally. 

No man is an island? Well I sure feel like one, for a number of reasons. I share more in an email I sent to a friend this morning. I'll share it here with maybe one or two tidbits deleted to "protect the innocent." You know what I mean.

 

I am starting to withdraw a little. You can say what you want about my blogging being futile, but it engages my mind and gives me some sense of purpose. The problem now is that I am almost completely cut off from Tiger sports info. I'm just now starting to realize how empty this makes me feel. 

I had a "re-lapse" yesterday and ate/drank some things I should not have. I feel fine right now, totally, but I have to put my foot down again. I went to McDonald's because I was picking up car after oil change at Heartland, and I felt ripped off by the meal. French fries were sub-par and McDonald's cannot afford to put out mediocre orders, not with the way prices have shot up there. Nothing like the old days at all. McDonald's used to be such a relaxed place with a full lobby so often. So different now. 

I have told Randy Olson that my writing will be slowing down now. I depended on Tiger sports to stay engaged not only with writing but with life, but that's basically gone now. I have to adjust.

I am an outcast, really truly, because people all around me root for Donald Trump so much. It is not a laughing matter any more, but there's no point in me trying to fight it. All the Apostolics will be rooting for Trump. This is a more grave matter as time goes on. And people HATE any and all prosecutors and judges involved in these matters. Our legal system could break down and die. I cannot fight it. I am just one person. Turn on AM radio and you hear pro-Trump talk constantly. 

 

The thing that may literally kill the U.S. may not be Trump or Biden, it will be the Federal Reserve and its easy/free money policies. We are like the "boiling frog" with how we deal with inflation. I remember people screaming complaints when we raised the price of the paper from 50 to 75 cents.

First Lutheran Church

And now I'm getting to the subject of church. Of course no one will give a damn if I stop going. But I keep going to stay somewhat sociable with the outside world. And now I may lose that. I wrote out a check to church in December but I should have written it out to Faith Lutheran. Shortly after I wrote the check I learned that First Lutheran is "surrendering" and will have the new service time as a means of capitulating. So to heck with that. I am also bothered by the fact that Dave Clark on Sunday just "split" at the end of the service and did not stay in narthex to shake a few hands with people and chat. It was just a "gig" to him. Well he can go to hell. And I can just stay at home. But I can't stand AM radio any more. I am not a Hitler supporter.

So, I just don't know what is going to happen. Now we'll get headlines daily about the Trump/Stormy Daniels thing as it goes to trial: "hush money." And Trump supporters just think it's funny, or they are mad at the court system picking on their guy.

My ties with UMM kept me going for a while, and then they hired Sue Dieter. Everything is gone.

Being on maximum dose of Metformin for about ten months was a hugely risky time in my life. I think I survived it OK but it could have been a disaster. Just 24 hours after I stopped, I was 100 percent back to normal. Medical office has still not written me. My phone is disconnected. I got tired of constant phone calls from these outfits trying to sell Medicare supplement insurance. It is a plague on older Americans. Bernie Sanders is right, the gov't should just try to do a little more. And you can't tell me a lot of older people don't get fooled by the calls, thinking they are from Medicare. I'm sure it happens all the time. Life can be like a minefield.

Get a new car? One minute I hear you "have" to buy electric, then I read about how they don't start in cold weather, and now I read that the gov't is continuing to try to prohibit the gas-powered cars. So it's a no-win all the way around. So I have to prepare for living without driving.

- BW