— Thumbs up

To voters who turned out for Tuesday’s primary, helping blow away the dismal prediction that turnout would only be 10 percent. Instead the turnout was 15 percent, or nearly 590,000 voters. It was the best turnout since more than 17 percent turned out in 2000.

No doubt the turnout was tied to the closely contested three-way battle for the DFL nomination this year. But there were also local races that were on the ballot with a rich field of candidates for many of them.

It’s good to see that the earlier primary date didn’t result in fewer people voting. Absentee voting surged, topping past primary numbers in that category. So maybe Aug. 10 wasn’t a great date to vote for everyone, but at least efforts were made to get a ballot in anyway.



Flight attendant no hero

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To former flight attendant Steven Slater and all those who were so quick to dub him a folk hero.

Slater is the fed-up flight attendant who, after getting into an argument with a passenger while the plane was on the ground, grabbed a can of beer, pushed open the emergency door of the jet, slid down the emergency chute and walked away from his job.

Facebook and media sites were ablaze with praise for Slater, saying he was brave enough to do what many fed-up employees fantasize about.

But details from passengers on the plane tell a story of a crabby, rude man who bumped into passengers without apology and screamed obscenities.

Every employee, particularly those in customer service jobs, have bad days and run into cranky customers. They don’t, however, respond with hatred toward the customers.

Slater, who is now begging to get his job back, is no hero. He is just an ill-tempered man who should probably find a different line of work.      



Nation building has its drawbacks

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To Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, to an exasperating Iraqi government (what there is of it) and to an equally exasperating Iraqi people who still engage in double talk regarding the American military support they continue to receive rather thanklessly.

Al-Maliki, a weak leader in a government far behind schedule in getting its collective act together, is never reluctant to curry favor among his people by criticizing the ongoing U.S. effort to get his country on its feet. But while telling his people as if the U.S. is barely needed, he otherwise exhibits fear at the prospect we might someday leave. As the 2011 unofficial deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces looms, al-Maliki made a beeline to senior defense officials whining that U.S. forces will be needed through 2020.

Iraq’s political leaders ought to be much further along today in devising ways to defend themselves, yet they slavishly hang onto our military like a security blanket. This nation building business can be a real drag.

Editorial Board



Vets appreciate Dotson’s bookend memorials

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My son, Troy, recently presented me with a beautiful, patriotic eagle bookend made by Dotson Company. They are made for war veterans and include their names, ranks, serial numbers and which war they served in and the awards they received.

This keepsake will be handed down to family members who will proudly display it for years to come.

Troy also requested memorials for his grandfather, Peter Rathai, who was a World War I veteran, and his uncle, Lawrence G. Braun, who was a Vietnam veteran who received the Purple Heart award.

A special thank you to Rick Huber and the Dotson Company for their generosity in making this patriotic eagle keepsake for the many men and women who have served our country.

Gordon J. Braun

Mankato



Man who carried air conditioner appreciated

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Recently, I was in Mankato helping my sister who is disabled. Her air conditioner had died and it was necessary to purchase a new one for her.  When I got back, my father, who is 88, and I struggled to get it from the car into her apartment without much success.

From seemingly nowhere, a car pulled over on Cherry Street and a gentleman got out, picked up the air conditioner and carried it in for us.

I never had a chance to get his name, but I know he was one of God's angels. I hope he reads this paper because I want him to know how very grateful we are to him.

We could not have managed it on our own and she could not have survived this heat without the air conditioner. God bless him. The world could use millions more like him.

Sue Morris

Redwood Falls