Opinion

Recently, I got to visit one of the greatest symbols of freedom in the world: Mount Rushmore. I’ve been there many times, but I will never cease to be amazed by the power and splendor of that monument. We were there for a naturalization ceremony, which made that symbol of freedom even more powerful.

It’s tough rounding up 1,500 buffalo in the annual Buffalo Roundup, but it’s a whole lot tougher rounding up a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature to support a new prison. Regardless, we got both done this week, and what a week it was!

Doane Robinson, in his 1925 edition of the Encyclopedia of South Dakota reported that in South Dakota “Cauc asians cannot be licensed to marry Africians, Coreans (Koreans), Malayans or Mongolians. Consanguineous (descended from the same ancestor) marriages are forbidden. Marriages may be dissolved for adultery, extreme cruelty, willful desertion, willful neglect, habitual intemperance, or conviction of felony.”

In the 1870s and early part of the 1880s, there were some significant changes which occurred in Charles Mix County. For many of those living on the east side of the river above Fort Randall, this was their first experience in politics in the county.

DITOR Dear Editor, Marv and I were very honored to be asked to be Parade Marshals for the GHS 2025 Homecoming parade. As parade marshals, we had a unique perspective of the parade. . . we followed the GHS marching band. They were awesome! They marched, jumped, danced, sang and played their instruments the entire way, entertaining the residents at the nursing home and countless parade watchers. We were so proud of them! They look good and sound even better. We are so blessed to have Jared and Katie Opp in our school system and community. We also got to interact with a different set of students at the Harvest Fest. The FFA students helped out with that event. There were set up crews, serving crews, and clean up crews. Every student was polite and helpful and they stayed until everything was cleaned up and put away. They are a credit to their communities, Burke and Gregory, and their advisors, Mollie Andrews and Kayla Begeman. We have some pretty great people living here! Marv and Julie Braun

Government isn’t very good at solving problems. You might find that rich coming from someone who’s served in public office for 20 plus years, but it’s true – it isn’t government that solves our problems.

History records the fact that the French began trading up the Missouri River in 1764 from St. Louis. Loiselle’s trading post was built in 1796. It was located on Cedar Island and was strongly fortified. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was the first major governmentsponsored exploration of the Missouri River and the northwest.

ERSPECTIVE Dear Editor, I start with some updates on potential AI uses. Oklahoma schools have AI-generated school programs that promote one view of politics and religion in teaching high school history,” Slavery wasn’t so bad,” cited by a cartoon characterization of Christopher Columbus.

Dear Editor, I learned many things from the “School of Hard Knocks.” But since I moved to my apartment and found apartment mates to make “family” I have learned from “The School of Love” you don’t take money, gold, silver, and jewels to Heaven. You use them here on Earth. Share with those that don’t have much. Donate to the food pantry items that can be used there. Clothing, used or not, and clean blankets. Share a skill or hobby. Be a true human. Even if what you give is not much. It’s from the heart. But that’s just a starting point. Pass this on to others. From my great-grandma that taught me and raised me, Robin L. Waterhouse, Gregory, SD

Decades before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.” Our Founding Fathers believed so strongly in civil and open public discourse that they put freedom of speech in the First Amendment. They knew that our American republic could only function if people openly shared their beliefs and the reason for those beliefs – and that had to happen at all levels of society, from statehouses and the U.S.