Letters - June 2025

After reading your editorial in the May issue of the Monitor, I feel the need to send an email to show my support for you, the newspaper, and the “rainbow coalition” of the columnists and other contributors who share their stories with all of us and highlight all of the positive things about our community. I do not understand anyone who chooses to stew in his or her own resentments and self-pity and turn it into hate that targets others.

And so often the messages are anonymous – what is the point? An attempt at intimidation? To frighten us out of trying to live our values? To try to make the rest of us as afraid of “the other” as the anonymous purveyors so we, too, will live in fear? As someone who is a member of the majority, it embarrasses me to think that someone might look at me and assume I share those kinds of beliefs.

I have no doubt that the majority of the Midway community fully supports how your publication celebrates our diversity, and we are cheering you on as you strive to continue to live the values that make us stronger. Please also let the Northeaster newspaper that our support extends to other parts of our wider community, too.

 

To start off, my name is Timothy McGee and I have lived in the Frogtown Community for the last 16 years. I am very proud of your calling out this type of behavior in our community.

We are a community of diverse people and culture, and it reflects in our school. I enjoy reading the Monitor to find out what is new and happening in my community. Midway has gone through a great change, and I am excited for the next phase of this community. I really hope racism is not a part of our new norm for Frogtown. I was so proud to see the principal whom I work with in St. Paul Public School with a diverse population of students in her school. To see this racism response nearby is so sad. I refuse to move because of my neighbors who are a different race but they are great people. We affectionally refer to each other as Best Neighbor Ever. They even gave us a coffee mug with this printed on there. This is what Frogtown should be about, not racism. I encouraged a coworker to buy her first home in the area, and she loved it here. Even though it is popular in government and many other places, it does not belong in Frogtown – “Best Town Ever.” I once live in a northern suburb and the way I was treated was downright horrible. This is why I moved to Frogtown for diversity and culture. Again, thank you for addressing this issue. Frogtown is my town!

 

I feel compelled to write and let you know that you have friends and allies in the Hamline/Como area. I live and work in Saint Paul and love the diversity of our city.

The article by Jan Willms intersects with yours. The hatred sent your way plays into the “divide and conquer” strategy. We don’t have to fall prey to this, and each of us has the capacity to make an impact with simple acts of kindness towards one another.

The Monitor plays a big role in connecting community, and is valued by many of us. The hate mail is evidence of your being a worthy target. And, of course, you are  – you work to keep us united. With you, and together, we are stronger.

To all targeted, please know that it absolutely does NOT represent the opinions of the rest of us.

Thank you for all you do,

 

Thanks for your column on racism.

I’m a 71-year-old White male living in Falcon Heights near Como Park. I worked in the public schools for over 40 years – primarily as a psychologist. A student teaching experience in 1975 sent me into many of the St. Paul Public Schools. My career started in a mix of rural schools and ultimately I settled in long-term in a large suburban high school. I’ve never worked in the SPPS system, but have been immersed in their school communities as a sports official for 25 plus years.

So, here’s the no-brainer reality check that many may need: demographics have changed remarkably since 1975. And not only in the inner-ring burbs and heart of the city, but in my backyard (the Roseville School District), as well as the outer ring district (Centennial) I worked in for 26 years.

SO: media in and around St. Paul is going to include a higher percentage of stories, opinions and general information about persons of color than back in 1975!

 

Just a quick note to thank both you and Eric Erickson for referring to Meme May in your article title as “Como wrestler” rather than “Female Como wrestler.”

All too often, news sites do just that – think “female police officer” or “female Soldier” – when the person’s gender and/or sex have nothing to do with the article content. News sites continuing to do that only serves to prolong inequity among the sexes and genders.

So, kudos to the Monitor for not following in their footsteps... and bravo to Meme for her athletic accomplishments.