Well, that didn’t take long. We just lost a state legislative leader, her husband and their dog in a horrible act of violence. Both sides vowed to turn down the rhetoric and agree to disagree peacefully. But that didn’t last long.
Words matter and using words like “kill” is not peaceful. And for the few who actually don’t know, using the term to “86” someone means to kill them. Or murder them.
So when a sign went up outside of Ely along Hwy. 169 on Tuesday that said “EIGHTY SIX STAUBER!” we were disgusted. Signs that say “86 47” in reference to our current president are unacceptable. Before you paint us in a corner, it’s just as wrong to say “86” Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar or Tim Walz. Let’s make this even more crazy, what would the reaction be if there was a sign that read “86 Melissa Hortman”?
By Tuesday night the sign was gone, although we’re not sure if it was law enforcement or common sense that prevailed. We know local and national authorities were alerted. And if the person who did this can be determined, let’s hope there’s some consequences.
There’s obviously a growing political division in our country and even locally. People who feel they need to hold up signs and protest whatever is offending them. Lucky for them they live in a country that not only allows but constitutionally protects their right to do so.
But to put up or hold up a sign that advocates killing someone because you disagree with their politics isn’t just wrong, it’s illegal. And we applaud law enforcement for taking these death threats seriously.
Look at what happened in the Twin Cities recently and learn from it. Do better. Be better. We need more peace and less hatred.
