A friend called last month to ask if a Facebook post was true. She was referring to the story about the Minneapolis teachers union contract providing for white teachers to be terminated before teachers of color, regardless of seniority or performance.
Reported first by Alpha News, then nationally, it is true.
If I hadn’t posted the story on Facebook, my friend might never have known about it. It’s easy to miss news if we’re checked out. And many people are. It’s easier to settle into our happy places than to ingest a steady diet of insomnia-inducing news. Call it self-care or self-preservation — I’ve been there. But no longer.
Though it’s a midterm election, the future of our state will be decided in less than two months. We’ll vote for an attorney general and county attorneys who will determine whether criminals will continue to cause mayhem with few, if any, meaningful consequences.
We’ll select school board members who will determine the future direction of education.
We’ll elect congressional representatives who might make traction on border security.
We’ll elect an auditor and a secretary of state who will monitor spending and elections.
Most importantly, when we vote for governor and lieutenant governor, we’ll determine who will steer the ship for the next few years.
Democrat money is pouring into Minnesota, funding ads designed to scare voters into believing “reproductive freedom” is at stake. It’s a distraction, for they’d rather not focus on what Minnesotans lived through the past 2 ½ years.
As history has a way of repeating itself, it’s worth recounting the recent past.
With Democrats at the helm, schools were shut down in Minnesota while they remained open in other states.
Businesses were shuttered, some because “peaceful protesters” incinerated them.
Some restaurants survived, while others failed because arbitrary six-foot social distancing measures or plexiglass requirements were untenable.
The elderly spent the twilight of their lives communicating with family members through windows. Many died alone. Was it an illness or loneliness that took them?
As crime escalated, law enforcement and first responders were told to get vaccinated or lose their jobs.
With supply chain issues scuttling the economy, truck drivers were told to get vaccinated or lose their jobs.
With a pandemic underway, health care workers were told to get vaccinated or lose their jobs.
But we’ve lived through more than the pandemic.
As Democrat leaders expressed anti-law enforcement sentiment, criminals took note. They’ve been wreaking havoc in our cities. Depleted law enforcement agencies can’t keep apace.
Naturally, with the election weeks away, Democrat politicians who crafted no-consequence policies and denounced law enforcement suddenly favor enforcing the law.
We must search for the good news. I get that people have checked out. I, too, would rather play Wordle than read that Minneapolis marked its 63rd murder this year.
Fortunately, like-minded individuals are taking action. They’re forming a variety of groups to make their positions known. One group, Mask Off MN, created a short video, Remember in November, MN. Through a series of clips, it offers other examples of what we endured with Democrats running the state.
With more than half a million online views, the video illustrates how a single individual or grassroots organization can make a difference if we pay attention and speak out.
Caryn Sullivan
A retired attorney and author of the award-winning memoir, "Bitter or Better: Grappling With Life on the Op-Ed Page," Caryn Sullivan has inspired readers with her thoughtful commentary for the past two decades. To learn more about Caryn’s work or to connect, visit carynmsullivan.com
