Editorials

  • Some lessons from the Olympics (and Paralympics)

    By Jean Matua “From the Heart” While very few among us will ever achieve the level of elite athleticism of an Olympic or Paralympic athlete, there are lessons we can learn from them that we can apply to our everyday lives. Persistence pays. How do these athletes achieve super-human feats? Persistent practice. Pushing forward in…

  • Another threat of war

    Another threat of war

    By Jean Matua “From the Heart” The world again is bracing for a war that may or may not come. Russia has been amassing troops, well over 100,000, along the border of Ukraine. And Belarus and its dictator are waging war games with Russia, poised to help in the invasion. I spent my academic career…

  • One of the last of a generation?

    By Jean Matua “From the Heart” Bob Dole died last week, at the ripe old age of 98. He was a true public servant: serving in the military, in the Senate, and running for president. He was a straight-shooter. He knew how to “disagree without being disagreeable,” truly a lost art these days. He said…

  • What we need more of: GRACE

    Jean Matua “From the Heart” Every day, it seems more clear that there is no simple or easy solution to increasing tensions and divisiveness in our country and our world. It’s tragic, but certainly not hopeless. Here’s my solution: find and accept Grace. Grace can be defined simply as “courteous goodwill.” I take the definition…

  • Board’s job is to protect us all

    Jean Matua “From the Heart” As Kimball’s largest employer, it is the job of the Kimball School Board to protect its employees, as well as its students and buildings.Every two years, we elect board members to represent our interests in this government entity charged with making decisions for the district. All “critical sector businesses” in…

  • Lessons from 9/11

    Jean Matua “From the Heart” There were several documentaries and specials on TV this past weekend commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The series by National Geographic was particularly moving, combining footage before, during and after the attacks with present-day interviews of those -people involved. The videos are available…

  • We must all agree on one thing: Stop the hate

    Somewhere along the line, within the past several years, our society has become the most divisive I’ve ever seen it. It is far more than mere disagreements (about politics, religion, race, police, socioeconomics, all of the things that make up our society). We all learned as kids – I hope – how to disagree with…

  • A thank-ful Thanksgiving

    By Jean Doran Matua, Editor Thanksgiving this year will be different for us all, no matter what our plans were – or are. That is an immutable fact. The world is different this year. And we are different this year. So this year, we each have a choice: We can grumble and gripe about what…

  • ‘Minnesota Nice’ is toxic

    By Jean Doran Matua One of the things Minnesota is best known for is our “Minnesota Nice.” It may be tied with our cold winters. We may feel like we earn a badge of honor each year we survive the winter. But we are very proud of our “Minnesota Nice.” It’s a true badge of…

  • We must first try to understand

    By Jean Doran Matua It is said, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” In the wake of civil unrest following the murder of a black man in police custody, I have seen a lot of judging and not very much walking. This, in a big way, is the downside of…

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