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Open Forum Turn out for Franklin's last hurrah
I'm sure there will be more publicity about the momentous event, but I just had to make myself heard once more. There really should be a huge crowd honoring the closing of a school that had such a tremendous effect on so many of our lives.
I was a member of the first class that attended, having gone to Whittier School prior to Franklin. There are quite a few of us left who went there that first year. We are gray or balding and wear glasses to read, but the old spirit is still there
This event is Friday, May 27 at 4 p.m. The American Legion and VFW Color Guards will be there to participate in the lowering of the colors. The flag has been flown over the nation's Capitol, during this school year.
If I don't reach any more than the few who get up in the morning -- shuffle out to get the morning Dispatch, turn to see if our names are in the obituary and then turn to the letters to the editor, then at least there will be some of us at the ceremony.
See you there.
Yibby Knudsen
Brainerd
Mandatory universal fluoridation
A breast cancer news story (Brainerd Dispatch, May 17) suggested that low-fat diets may be helpful in preventing some women who have had cancer from having a return of the disease.
Studying what foods and eating habits would be most valuable to breast cancer patients makes sense. However, what happened to the idea of taking actions to prevent cancer from occurring in the first place?
As long ago as the 1970s, cancer rates of the breast, thyroid, kidney, bladder, rectum and colon were reported to be higher in fluoridated cities than in unfluoridated cities in England. (Source) "Fluoridation Ð what are the facts?" by Howard M. Thomson -- Thomson's references: L. Kinlen, "British Dental Journal 138,"1975: Manuscript by Dr. Dean Burk, Jan. 11, 1979.)
United States cancer death rates in fluoridated cities were also higher in the 1970s than in unfluoridated cities.
As cancer ravages the nation, doesn't it make sense to halt the archaic water fluoridation procedure which can cause this disease?
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Dental Association are planning a National Fluoridation Symposium in Chicago on July 13-16 to celebrate water fluoridation's 60th anniversary.
The objective of the symposium is to push mandatory universal fluoridation onto this entire nation.
Since fluorides have been implicated in so many diseases, including breast cancer, the CDC and the ADA should cancel their support of mandatory fluoridation.
U.S. citizens would definitely be well served by an end to the government-sponsored 60-year-old failed water fluoridation experiment.
Elaine Jensen Chesley
Brainerd
Gazelka rejected higher taxes
Last week, 120 members of the House of Representatives rejected the Senate's proposal to raise taxes on Minnesotans by more than $1.2 billion. Representative Paul Gazelka was one of those legislators. Clearly, Representative Gazelka understands that the last thing Minnesota citizens and their employers need right now is a tax increase.
The Senate bill sent a message to Minnesota buinesses and entrepreneurs to go elsewhere. It's ironic that the ultimate consequences of taxes assessed directly on businesses fall hardest on working families. It's noteworthy that the governor's budget is based on the projection that the state will collect $2 billion (8 percent) more without a general fund tax increase. Income tax collections alone are expected to increase 13 percent in the next biennium. That's more than most family budgets can expect.
David C. Olson
President
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Read the New Testament first
Before anyone advises you what Jesus did or didn't do, I recommend that you read the New Testament in its entirety, word for word, beginning to end.
Jerrold C. Turnquist
Deerwood
Better parking enforcement needed
We are concerned citizens about safety on the roads. We wish that people did not park on the west side of East River Road. It is posted most of the way, but not enforced. It is very dangerous to drive on this road when cars are parked on both sides. We hope that there will be more enforcement on this road in the future.
Rocky Warner and Nathan Steffenson
Brainerd
North Star Apartments residents
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