To the Albert Lea City Council and Freeborn County Board of Commissioners.

Thank you, city and county, for working together to get the Albert Lea Public Library the funding it needs to reopen on Friday in 2015. The exact start date is undetermined, as a hiring process must take place first, but it is likely in early 2015. We hope a nice celebration is held on that first Friday. It is good news for the community and especially families with young children. Albert Lea is spending $18,800 and Freeborn County is kicking in $8,066 to get the library open on Fridays. Please be sure to thank officials with both government entities when you see them.

 

To the U.S. Postal Service.

The Tribune has new accounting software that somehow produced bills with our old address for remittance, the one with the post office box. For years, we received all of our mail at our address on Front Street. The Albert Lea postmaster assisted us with resolving the situation by assuring us the remitted letters would be forwarded to us, rather than kicked back to the sender. Meanwhile, we have corrected our software. We have always appreciated how an organization as large as the U.S. Postal Service at times can be as nimble and accommodating as a mom-and-pop store. Thank you.

 

To the CIA.

America’s spy agency has embarrassed America. Historically, the United States has benefitted from being the symbol of human rights in the world, a shining city on a hill of what’s right and good. We are the good guys in the history books, the ones on the side of freedom, democracy and liberty.

The recently released report by the Senate that indicating widespread use of torture, abuse and illegal detention of prisoners by CIA agents during the George W. Bush era following the 9/11 attacks and that detailed how the CIA lied about the use of torture to Congress does not paint the picture of America the people of this country imagine. It shows us squarely as the bad guys, the ones on the side of oppression, evil and savagery.

Many key figures, such as Republican Sen. John McCain, said no useful information came from torturing suspected terrorists. The CIA says otherwise, but that’s like believing a liar right after he had been caught lying. The spy agency has lost credibility at home and overseas. Kudos to Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the Senate Democrats for having the courage and foresight to release this report in an effort to make this a better country. We as a people must consider our moral compass when our government takes reprehensible actions in our name. Founding Father Benjamin Frankin once wrote: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

The Obama administration continued the concealment policy of these acts that began under the Bush administration. Thus, both administrations are to blame. We hope accountability is the next step.