Actively seeking to facilitate crime

To the Editor:

In our country, we have what are called “sanctuary” cities and states. This is the name given to a city or state that follows procedures that violate law by sheltering illegal aliens. Police are not permitted to inquire about one’s immigration status or cooperate with ICE. New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco are just a few of the sanctuary cities. Colorado, California and Oregon are some of the sanctuary states. They have all been taken over by so-called left-leaning progressives.

Apparently, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America also has been taken over by so-called left-leaning progressives. In their most recent tri-annual assembly in Milwaukee, their leaders voted to become a sanctuary church. The Star Tribune in Minneapolis quoted an ELCA member as saying that ELCA has let politics go before faith. Advocating for sensible changes to immigration laws is one thing. Actively seeking to facilitate crime is another.

Elroy Geistfeld

Lewisville

Though we might be divided …

To the Editor:

At one time, small grains, such as oats and barley, were a big item in bringing in the harvest. Not many people today remember that small grains were part of harvest. Back then, I was starting out as a grain elevator operator. One of my first days on the job, I remember seeing a spectacular sunset. I noticed it as I was waiting for the last load of oats to be delivered. It had the same shades as the grain shocks, and cast a warm glow across the fields. The light seemed to bounce off the dust particles in just the right way to give the world an orange halo. The sun was setting, and would soon be invisible.

Just as then, I notice the sunsets. Lately, as I was riding in the car, I noticed the sun reflecting on Sisseton Lake, and going a little further, I viewed the courthouse dome, silhouetted against a cotton candy sky. At our core, we still have a childlike wonder that makes us want to include the sunset in our memory of a beautiful moment.

I’ve always found reassurance in humanity’s fascination with weather. I think people find comfort in knowing that people from all walks of life get a thrill from seeing the sky change colors. I think it’s encouraging to realize that though the days of people across the world may differ, they still end the same way, with the same sunset. Though we can differentiate ourselves by class, religious views and political opinions, we still share in the common humanity of a beautiful sunset. We all have a curiosity that motivates us to put our days on hold to revel in the awe of watching the sun disappear. Though we might be divided in other ways, we can’t divide the sky.

Mike Garry

Fairmont

‘Medicare for All’ the best for all

To the Editor:

A recent Sentinel editorial was critical of universal health care for all Americans. The editorial implied that more government control of health care would be a bad thing. But the reverse is the case. Government would be the bill-payer, funded through citizens’ taxes.

We fund many things through our taxes that help us all. For example, the road system. If tomorrow morning, Americans woke up with complete health care coverage through universal health care for all, they would be ecstatic. No one would complain.

Just as when Medicare went into effect in 1965, the AMA and many other organizations tried to stop it. Once in place, we citizens never regretted it.

In Canada in the early 1960s, private insurance was the norm. One province moved to universal health care. It was so successful that that province was used as a role model for the complete country in the 1970s.

Think about it: No more going into bankruptcy because of bills you can’t pay. No more changing health care plans every time you change jobs. No more changes in co-pays and deductibles, no more getting clearance before a surgery. It is a good for all that we all would contribute to.

Do the editors actually think that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies are looking out for the well-being of patients?

Peter Engstrom

Fairmont