[gas_dr]

I am an Ole (St. Olaf graduate). For me, Northfield is the real Lake Wobegone — all the truth without the liberal spin. I agree Olaf has become far too PC, and Carlton was always the odd side of town. But it saddens me to here this is going on in the town I recall so fondly...

[rhema]

For me, Northfield is the real Lake Wobegone — all the truth without the liberal spin.

Probably true for many or most of the town's residents. As I perused the city council's site for political indicators, I see one caveat:
City Council Peace Pledge
The City Council has pleadged [sic] its commitment to the 2001-2010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World. The movement is a major mobilization effort being directed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

I admit to skepticism of any UN-related group, notably one that bestowed its 2006 José Martí International Award on President Hugo Chávez.

[rhema]

Interesting footnote: In 2001 the group You Can Run But You Cannot Hide put on an anti-drug assembly at the high school, as it has in about 60 other Minnesota high schools, according to its website.

In a Pioneer Press column shortly after the assembly, a Presbyterian pastor ripped the group [SPPP archived excerpt is below] for a member's comment that faith was his avenue to exit his life of drug abuse.

St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) - June 17, 2001 - A18 Editorial

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS//FOUNDING FATHERS, THAT IS. PUBLIC MONEY SPENT ON A FAITH-BASED ANTI-DRUG HIGH SCHOOL ASSEMBLY IN NORTHFIELD CHALLENGES CONSTITUTIONAL CALL FOR SEPARATION.

Once upon a time, I believed in the good intentions of drug-abuse prevention programs in the public schools. No longer. In April, Northfield schools secured $1,500 from the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning for a drug-abuse prevention assembly. With the blessings of the principal, superintendent and school board, Kevin Merkle, Northfield High School activities director, hired a Christian evangelist to do the job. Don't bother to read that paragraph again....

The column sparked at least one letter to the editor [SPPP archived excerpt below].

St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) - June 19, 2001 - A6 Editorial

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Rev. Kristine Holmgren's June 17 column oozes supercilious disdain for the Northfield School Board and other school personnel who don't share her MCLU-eviscerated interpretation of the First Amendment. How far descended is MCLU protectress Holmgren from the Founding Fathers, who suffered no paroxysms of paranoia when they contemplated religious freedom of expression in state-ordained educational...
>> Purchase complete article, of 1737 words