Didn’t hear any Semper Fi

Tuesday I decided to listen to Secretary Hegseth’s speech to the admirals and generals present. Perhaps I was naïve if I expected an espirit de corps speech.

When he spoke about the end of DEI, I thought it was ironic as the audience he addressed was primarily white men.

Because I didn’t hear a celebration of the sacrifice, the gallantry and commitment of our military to the liberty and freedom of our nation, I decided to pause and I began to think about my family’s military history. They were the best of the best.

And I especially  think of one who was a Marine and embodied the espirit de corps and Semper Fidelis of the Marine Corps. Weekly, he would post and honor the heroism of a fallen soldier and in turn honored the Gold Star family. This Marine and many others of our military family believed in the lifelong commitment to the military branch they served in, to their comrades and our nation.

Nowhere in Hegseth’s speech did I hear a hint of Semper Fidelis.

Geri Minton, Roseville

All that spending but not a little for the county fair?

It’s pretty sad that Ramsey County is the only large county in the entire state that doesn’t have a county fair.

Ramsey County has a yearly budget of over $920 million, yet they can’t scrape together $30,000 for a county fair?

The county board claims they have other “priorities.” We’ve all heard about the $500 million Gold Line project that runs every 10 minutes from Woodbury to downtown with very few riders onboard. That was one of their priorities. They are also pushing for the Purple Line, which will be another $550 million boondoggle … another one of their priorities.

The county board needs to open their wallet, which is FULL of taxpayer dollars, and bring back the county fair in 2026 and beyond.  The Ramsey County Fair is a celebration of our community, a recognition of our agricultural roots, and an event that brings our families from all racial, ethnic and economic groups together to make memories every summer.

Cheryl Hanzlik, St. Paul

The ‘walk’ sign does not mean ‘gun it’

Every morning, my daughter drives to work in Minneapolis, and nearly every morning she has a close call. Drivers weave across lanes without looking, refuse to let anyone merge, or stare at their phones while speeding down the road.

At the heart of this is a troubling culture of “me first” driving. Too many ignore basic right-of-way, gunning left turns the instant the light changes, cutting off oncoming cars and pedestrians. The walk sign does not mean “gun it and try to beat the pedestrians” — yet that is the new normal. Just recently, as my dog and I stepped into the crosswalk with others, a large SUV floored it, swerving in front of us and nearly running him over. The next day, I watched a cyclist get struck at that same intersection.

Freeways are no better, with cars darting across multiple lanes just to get ahead. Drivers of all backgrounds contribute to the chaos, whether speeding aggressively or blocking traffic by going too slow in the wrong lane. Add in distraction — like the man my daughter saw watching YouTube while driving — and it’s a wonder more people aren’t seriously hurt.

Minneapolis prides itself on being a livable, walkable city. Yet too many of us feel unsafe whether driving, biking, or walking. City leaders must treat this as the public safety crisis it is — by stepping up enforcement, redesigning streets, and recommitting to Vision Zero. Safety must come before “me first.”

Julie Silber, Minneapolis

We can do better

In celebration of our 250th anniversary of independence, Donald Trump has arranged for a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on the White House lawn in June 2026.

Our nation’s anniversary should be an uplifting opportunity to bring our politically divided country together, while celebrating our strengths, resilience and achievements. Instead we will see an exhibition which has been compared to “human cock fighting,” causing serious injuries and hospitalizations, while encouraging underground street fighting and associated criminal activity.

We can do better.

Richard M. Ryan, Woodbury

A more deadly threat

A recent story highlighted the strong reaction of State Rep. Elliott Engen (R-Lino Lakes) to  what he described as security lapses permitting the enrollment of a 22-year-old in a public high school, posing a possible risk of harm to other students. If there were preventable failures in the enrollment process, Rep. Engen is to be commended for any efforts he pursues to address the problems.

But I urge him to take another, more important, step in promoting school safety. That would be to join, and to encourage his fellow Republican lawmakers to join, in DFL efforts to ban the sale and transfer of military-style assault weapons in Minnesota. The DFL efforts reflect the will of a majority of Minnesota voters. The weapons in question are unnecessary for lawful purposes, and pose a much more deadly threat to the populace, including children, than an unarmed 22-year-old lurking in a high school.

J.K. Callahan, Eagan

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Then the wheels fell off

Here is my postseason analysis of our Minnesota Lynx: “Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot”. Then the wheels fell off the bus.

On to 2026!  Let’s go Lynx!

Margaret Charmoli, St. Paul

Thanks and good luck, Rocco

In an effort to “seek a change in voice and direction,” the Minnesota Twins management has fired manager Rocco Baldelli.

After trading one of biggest stars, Carlos Correa, and the top five relief pitchers, along with three other credible teammates, Baldelli was left with a team that looked more like a AAA farm team than a major league team. That’s a tough job for any manager.

Thanks for these past seven years, and good luck, Rocco. I’m sure there is some other team that will see you as one who will take them in a new direction.

Glenn Martin, Vadnais Heights