violence – Health4earth

We Lost A Good One

Minnesota lost an incredible leader by horrific violence on June 14. She cared deeply for the people of Minnesota and was always respectful and thoughtful.

Sign made by my niece.

Here’s an excerpt from a statement from Sophie and Colin Hortman, the children of Melissa and Mark Hortman:

“If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following:

Plant a tree.

Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.

Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.

Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.

Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone.

Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.

Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.

…The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”

Below is from Patrick Coolican, Minnesota Reformer, https://minnesotareformer.com/

y J. Patrick Coolican | Editor-in-chiefSATURDAY, June 14, 2025

The American nightmare has arrived in Minnesota. Democratic House leader Melissa Hortman was shot and killed .
I knew Melissa Hortman well. Michelle and I sat down with her Thursday for a 30-minute off-the-record conversation. I respect a lot of elected officials, but I admire few. I admired Melissa Hortman. Despite her achievements, she was never self-important. She knew that average Minnesotans had no clue who she was, but that didn’t stop her from doing everything she could to make their lives better. She could be wonderfully blunt. Among my first interactions with her when she became minority leader in 2017, she commented on a profile I’d written of a Republican political operative, calling it, “the journalistic equivalent of a,” well, I can’t publish it, but you can imagine. After I wrote a column in 2019 that proclaimed it was time to stop underestimating Melissa Hortman, she told me, “Whew, I needed a cigarette after reading that one.” She had a wonderfully salty mouth and sense of humor. In the political and legislative sphere, she cared about the work and only the work. And when the work was done, she cared about her family and golden retrievers.
We lost a good one.
J. Partick Coolican

What an Enormous Waste!

How many people have to die before responsible gun owners are convinced that our right to life outweighs their right to own a gun?

This is Day 4 of #31daysoflesswaste
I never thought I would post the following for my 31 day series.
Is there a more enormous waste than children, college students or anyone being killed in the prime of their lives? The United States has lost all good sense when it comes to violence. We aren’t safe in our schools, churches, holiday parties, public buildings or on the street.
It seems hopeless, but there are things you can you do???
1. Lock up: If you have gun in your home make sure it is locked up.
2. Don’t reinforce violence by watching violent TV shows, movies or video games.
3. Vote! Vote only for candidates that support background checks on all gun sales, support an assault weapon ban, and support purchase of only one gun a month.

4. Speak out: Contact your elected officials and tell them how you feel. Write letters to the editor.

Transend Violence

Martin Luther King Day
“Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers” Martin Luther King

We live in a violent world, but we don’t have to make it worse. Don’t reinforce violence in your life. Choose friends that are peaceful and don’t bully others. Avoid violent movies, video games and violent sports events. Turn off the TV, go outside for a walk and look for something new in nature. Enjoy our beautiful earth and the many positive people, pets and wildlife that live here.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

You Have a Voice, Please Vote!

If you don’t vote you are giving more power to the billionaires that pay for all the negative ads…Which is exactly what they want!! This is about all of us, not just a few.

“No other democratic nation makes voting as difficult as it is in the United States” Larry Jacobs University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute

Most of would agree there is too much money being spent in this election. The billionaires against billionaires is not in the best interest of any of us. They want to further THEIR agenda. And..it is impossible to sort out any truth from all the lies. The integrity of democracy is in serious trouble. More than ever your vote is needed. If you care about our earth, GMOs, violence against women and children, minimum-wage, healthcare,, or the control big corporations have on our country, you must vote!! Your vote does matter, and the candidates are not all the same!

How can you vote and support our democratic way of life?

1. Do NOT make your election choices from campaign ads….Too many lies, negativity and verbal garbage! I wouldn’t watch or listen to any of these silly ads.

1. Google your state’s Secretary of State to see a sample ballot ( for example, Minnesota Secretary of State). The ballot looks overwhelming at first, but if you take time to look at it, you will make sense of it. Remember you don’t need to vote for every race, but inform yourself about what and for whom to vote

3. Find your polling place on the same Secretary of State Website.

4. Google candidates to find what issues they care about and how do they align with your values. Most of the time you can figure what is important to them by skimming their website.
4. Go vote on Tuesday, November 4, even if it is for just one candidate or one issue.