Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

You hear a lot of rhetoric about Constitutional principles these days. Conservatives seem to believe that they are the only ones who interpret it correctly.....which stands to reason, because a lot of Social Conservatives believe that they are the only ones who can interpret the Bible correctly as well.

But the true test of any principle is if it can stand firm against a wave of popular opinion that is clearly wrong.

Such a test is happening in New York and the Freedom of Religion is clearly being questioned.

During American periods of conflict, our government gets cold feet in regards to its sacred Constitution.

President John Adams, one of our cherished Founding Fathers, signed the Alien and Sedition Act which put a muzzle on government dissent during a stressful period in which America was torn between France and England.

In 1862, during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended habeus corpus in definance of the Supreme Court which had ruled that suspension unconstitutional.

During WWII, Franklin Roosevelt violated the rights of German and Japanese Americans by forcing them to internment camps.

And George W. Bush imposed illegal surveillance on US citizens and established a policy of illegal torture, citing the War on Terror.

And the continued policies of keeping us fearful and in a state of war have clouded our judgment on even our most basic rights.

Such is the problem with the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque". We seem to have lost sight of the strength of our diversity. We have listened to the clamor of the war mongers and fear mongers that the practice of the Muslim faith is now a warning sign of suspicion.

We forget that the terrorists that attacked us on on 9/11 are not Muslim terrorists -- no, they are terrorist thugs who happen to practice a distorted version of Islam.

The Muslim faith is not an extremist incubator -- rather, extremists hide behind the peaceful nature of this religion in order to hide their true agenda.

Terrorists who happen to be Muslim is no more a stain on Islam than anti-abortion clinic bombers should somehow define Christianity.

That is why this issue of the New York City Mosque and Community Center is a test of who we really are. This building has absolutely every right to be built. In fact, if we allow the controversy that has been manufactured around it to win out and force it to be moved, then we have disgraced ourselves and the Constitutional concepts of who we are.

Freedom to practice our religion in this country is one of our core beliefs. It isn't something that requires conditions or exceptions. It is an integral part of how we expect the world to see us. We do not discriminate regarding religious practices. We do not stigmatize the people who practice a faith different from the majority.

We are being tested once again. How do you think we are doing?

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

Wow. In a stunning reversal, Target Corp exec Greg Steinhafel issued a statement to employees on the company's donation to MN Forward:

"While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry," Steinhafel wrote.

Sorry. An apology. Wow. Call that a victory for transparency. A victory for disclosure.

If we are going to have to put up with corporate donations (and the Supreme Court has virtually guaranteed that), then knowing who is giving those donations to whom is just as important to free speech rights as bringing that money into the process. Actually, more important.

I have to admit that being as cynical as I am, I didn't think the reaction to Target's largesse would accomplish anything. But obviously, we have found something that corporate entities are senstive to....customer reactions.

What happened here is of tantamount importance. That was what grassroots activism is all about. And that will probably temper the influx of other corporate donors. They, too, have to be wary of how customer anger can affect image and the bottom line.

I think we all learned something here -- especially Target Corp.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

Scene 1: Somewhere in Minnesota

Time: Sometime in the not so distant future....

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Voice in House: "Who is it?"

MAN AT DOOR: I'm a LEO, Ma'am. I need to speak with you.

Woman: "Yea? Well I'm a Taurus, what does it matter?"

MAN AT DOOR: "No, Ma'am. I'm a Language Enforcement Officer, I have to ask you some questions.

Woman opens the door.

Woman: "Alright, is this a joke? What the heck is a Language Enforcement Officer?"

LEO: I am here to enforce the English Only provisions of state statue 1791-142(a). I'm here to investigate."

Woman: "Oh really? Well, I'll have you know I don't even know any other languages. What is this all about?"

LEO: "We have it on reliable authority that you may have violated the code at your church social last Thursday."

Woman: "What?"

LEO: "Yes Ma'am. You did bring something to the pot luck, correct?"

Woman: "Yes..."

LEO: "And you labeled that particular food item, did you not?"

Woman: "Of course."

LEO: "And how did you label it?"

Woman: "With a notecard in front of it. Why?"

LEO: "Yes, yes, I know that. But what did the note card say?"

Woman: "Well, it said what it was.....LUTEFISK."

LEO: "Ah-ha! Then you admit to the violation."

Woman: "What are you talking about? I have been bringing LUTEFISK to the church social for over a decade. This is ridiculous."

LEO: "Well, it may have been OK to flaunt this assault on the English language in the past. But no more. I will have to write you up."

Woman: "Are you crazy? There must be some mistake. Is there a camera around here?"

LEO: "Sorry, Ma'am. No mistake. Lutefisk is not an English word. And for future reference, you must label it correctly in the future."

Woman: "And what does that mean?"

LEO: "Your note card should say....LYE FISH.

**************************************************

Scene 2: Minnesota metro area.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Voice in Office: "Who is it?"

LEO: "This is a Language Enforcement Officer. Are you Mr. Tony Sutton?"

Door opens.....

Tony Sutton: "Yes. I'm Tony Sutton. What's this about?"

LEO: "Are you the owner of this establishment?"

TS: "Yes, I am the owner."

LEO: "And the name of this restaurant is BAJA SOL, correct?"

TS: "Yea...has been for some time. So what?"

LEO: "Well, Mr. Sutton, you are in violation of the English Only Language provisions of state code. We will have to write you a ticket. You will receive a fine for each restaurant in violation of the code and you have 30 days to make corrections or the fines will double. Do you understand?"

TS: "Come on, dude. Is this a joke? Are you with the UPTAKE?"

LEO: "No, Mr. Sutton. This is quite serious. Using the name Baja Sol is in violation of the statute and must be corrected."

TS: "Well, how in blazes do you expect me to fix it?"

LEO: "Well, Mr. Sutton, I would suggest that you change the name to the proper English version -- LOW SUN. That would correct the situation.

TS: "Yea, great. That will be just perfect. Mess up years of advertising and name recogniton. Who's idea was this anyway????"

*************************************************

Scene 3: Minnesota State office building.

The LEO walks into an administrative office....

Receptionist: "Good morning, sir. May I help you?"

LEO: "This is the office of administration for the State of Minnesota, correct?"

Receptionist: "Yes, sir. That is correct."

LEO: "Is your supervisor in?"

Receptionist: "Yes, I believe so. Whom shall I say is calling?"

LEO: "Tell them I am with the Office of Language Enforcement."

Receptionist: "The what???"

LEO: "The Office of Language Enforcement. We just got appropriations last week. You probably didn't get the memo. They only allow use of printers on Thursdays now, so it may still be coming. And we haven't got phones yet, so I couldn't call ahead. And we are using these paper "HELLO" stickers as badges. And this paper sack is my briefcase. Could I see your supervisor, now?"

Receptionist: "oooookkkkkaaaayyy"

She buzzes the office...she talks in a low voice and shrugs her shoulders....

Receptionist: "OK. You can go in now."

LEO: "Good morning. I am the current Language Enforcement Officer.... but everybody has just started calling me Leo."

Administrator: "OK, Mr. Leo....what can I do for you."

LEO: "As I understand it, you are in charge of offical state business correspondence. Letterhead, correspondence, etc. Right?"

Admin: "Yes, that is correct."

LEO: "Well, we have some problems. The state is currently in non-compliance with the English Only code."

Admin: "Oh really? How so?"

LEO: "The name."

Admin: "The name of what?"

LEO: "The state."

Admin: "The name of the state????"

LEO: "Yes. Minnesota is not an English word. It is actually a word from the Native American Dakota tribe.....and thus is in violation of the English Only provisions of state statute. I am here to cite the state on violating its own code and to request compliance."

Admin: "WHAT?"

LEO: "I'm sorry. Was I unclear?"

Admin: "You mean that the name of this state is not......legal?"

LEO: "That is precisely what I mean. We will have to make changes in all procedures that utilize the word Minnesota."

Admin: "Why...that is incredible. What in the world are we supposed to do about this."

LEO: "Well my office staff (well, more correctly, my part-time secretary), researched this and we have decided that the simplest way is to use a rough English translation from now on."

Admin: "You have got to be kidding me...Are you with the UPTAKE?"

LEO: "No, no, why do people keep asking me that?"

Admin: "Well, what do you mean by "rough English translation"?"

LEO: "Well, the best way to handle this is that we are no longer the State of Minnesota. From now on, we are the State of Sky Tinted Water. Acutally, I think it has a ring to it."

Admin: (sigh)