Your letters - Jan. 26 edition

Painting is disgusting and should be taken down

A Missouri congressman chose a painting by a student to be hung in the capitol. This painting depicts a police officer as a pig.

This might be considered "art" and I realize freedom of speech gives everyone the right to express himself or herself. But what happened to good taste and respect?

I feel this is disgusting and disrespectful to the men and women who protect us and risk their lives everyday to keep us safe. How many police officers have lost their lives in the line of duty? And our gratitude is shown like this? By hanging a repulsive painting in the capitol?

I can imagine how the families of police officers feel about this and are saddened by this show of disrespect.

Take it down and leave it down.

Joy Waln,

Wadena

Let's hope we can survive Trump

I recall, as a junior high school student in the early 1950s, walking into Sebeka's Red Owl store and having proprietor Harry Woods tell me that we were at war with Russia. Then he added the punchline, 'Joe Stalin said that Margaret Truman couldn't sing."

The background to that gag is that the First Daughter was an aspiring singer. When a critic gave her a bad review, old 'Give-em-Hell' Harry did not have the good sense to remain silent, choosing instead to bash the critic.

I share this story to illustrate the fact that 2017 is not the first time that we've had a juvenile in the White house. Our nation survived nearly eight years of Truman. Let's hope we have the wherewithal to survive four years of Donald Trump.

Jerry Miller,

Sebeka