Letters to | the Editor

We couldn’t do it without you

To the Editor:

The members of the Court of Honor appreciate each and every one who came to Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak Memorial Day morning and helped raise the dedicated burial flags. A record number of people helped us put up a record number of flags.

We also appreciate the hardy folk who came out at 4:00 that afternoon and helped us take the flags and poles down, another monumental task.

We look forward to this event every year and know that we could not accomplish this without your help. See you all next year.

Bob Fenstermann

Red Oak

The dreaded “D”

To the Editor:

Small towns across Iowa are unique: they’re communities. That might sound a little goofy; of course towns are communities! However, anonymity isn’t part of life in small towns. You may be able to go unnoticed in big cities, but for better or worse, the size of our beloved communitites requires a certain forfeiture of privacy.

Miss a couple activities, and you’re sure to get calls ensuring your well-being. Goof up just a smidge, and you won’t hear the end of it. The truth is, we care about one another. The actions of those around us have a bearing on our day-to-day and shape the world around us.

The underlying dilemma is that dissent is hard. To challenge what is, and has always been, becomes almost impossible. For the young with questions; for the changing world around us; for the new neighbor; how do we maintain our community while feeling comfortable to be different?

Today, Iowans head to the pools to cast primary ballots for our next governor. We have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support one of Red Oak’s very own, John Norris. He’s running to be the Democratic nominee for governor, and he needs our community behind him.

Supporting John is easy. John helped run the USDA, organized the Farmer’s Unity Colaition, and represented U.S. food and agriculture policy at the United Nations.

Voting for John may be hard. To do so, you must walk into your polling location, look your poll worker directly in the eye, and ask for a Democratic ballot. You must willingly hang that dreaded “D” beside your name knowing that, however briefly affixed, the vote is mightier than the letter.

Joey Norris

Red Oak