Coverage, editorial did little to clarify Red Lake issues

Bemidji Pioneer Letter

Won’t somebody please write an analytical and thoughtful response to the “paid advertisement” which presents one side of the “Red Lake Issues”?

The Pioneer called our attention to this very lengthy full-page discussion in a lengthy front-page article and lead editorial. Naturally, I tried to read all of them carefully. My conclusions were that the Citizens for Truth in Government have written logically and analytically to explain their conclusions on four issues that affect all of us. They carefully cite laws, history, court decisions and encourage us to become informed.

The Pioneer briefly synopsized the issues and then reported the responses of local politicians who essentially condemned the ad as racist and political. Of course, all public issues are political so why this criticism? As to racism, I could find very little in the ad to justify this claim.

Editorials are expressions of opinion, to which we are more inclined to respond favorably if supported by fact and analysis. The lead editorial on this subject seemed to repeat the politician’s name-calling theme, supported with few facts.

My conclusion was that Terry Maddy, et al, have brought some genuine issues to our attention but that the Pioneer coverage and editorial have done little to help us understand objectively what we are dealing with here. It would be a much-appreciated service to the community for someone to dig into these issues in an analytical way and bring to our attention facts that at this point in the discussion may be obscured.

Jim Brewer

Bemidji