Far from being anti-mining, my concerns are based on our beloved state's reason for being mining friendly. When America determined we could no longer stand by and watch the tragedy unfold overseas during the World War, Minnesota stepped forward and gave everything, including ripping out her heart of ore to supply planes, boats, tanks and weapons to fight Hitler and allies. Many of my family labored tirelessly in the mines, men on both sides my family left to fight, and many women stepped up to fill support positions as our men increasingly went to die. Even my great aunt Ann, who owned Ann's Café in Brainerd (pictured in the historical museum), became a welder on the Great Lakes. Our massive pits now used for recreation are among our honor badges alongside our multitude of veterans and families to attest loyalty to democracy and freedom against tyranny of fascism. Not once have I heard anyone say this was regretted by our people. So I ask about this mineral mining bandwagon of events: from Polymet's aggression to mine and the irresponsible precedents it may set with land trading and dubitable methods of hazardous containment to the co-current demands of our representatives that we "unlock" lands in need of "revenue rescue" to further mineral mining exploits-what pray tell is the rush? America is not at war. Ninety percent of school trust land rests in areas where mineral mining is sought-yet the cry is not for democracy and freedom. It smacks of bullying all children of Minnesota to let a foreign company raze and pollute our land for profit, and prying open floodgates for more to do same. As a child of Minnesota I say no.
Gloria Flor
Ironton
