Things People Say

What would you like to tell president-elect Barack Obama? Advise and Dissent features opinions on what the new president should be thinking and doing. This opinion came from Your Turn — Teens advise the next president on what youth need.

Abortion: I believe taking away a woman’s right to abortion is taking away her freedom. There are diverse reasons why abortion is the best option. There may be rape; few people want a reminder of a traumatic event. There may also be financial issues; many women just can’t afford children. Additionally, women with weak emotional states frequently turn to alcohol and drugs and this dependency leads to abuse and/or neglect of her kids … If a woman makes this call, or wants the option to make this call, why do people pass judgment? Hard decisions are based on beliefs and if you make a decision based on what you believe, then everyone should both accept and respect your decision. — Sparkle Jones, 17, Humboldt High School MORE »

What would you like to tell president-elect Barack Obama? Advise and Dissent features Minnesota opinions on what the new president should be thinking and doing.

Mr. President-elect, because you were elected on the hope for change, I ask you to seek advice from a wide variety of people, to look to people who have experience as well as to new voices outside of Washington and outside of the corporate establishment. MORE »

I asked four experts to nominate examples of great architecture that have gone up in St. Paul in the last 30 years. Daily Planet readers had their own nominations.

“Interesting that no one mentioned Minnesota Public Radio’s newish building. I worked for them for a decade before being laid off, so I’m not a huge fan of the organization—but the building is GREAT.”

“Flannery Construction building at St. Anthony just west of Hamline is a fun and functional building with green credentials.”

“I don’t mind that St. Paul isn’t a showplace of architecture from the past 30 years. I greatly appreciate that the city has preserved so much from its past 150 years—more so, I’d say without any expertise, than Minneapolis has.” MORE »

Paul Rudd in Role Models: Justenoughhair onhischest

Nick Cave: Sweet moustache

Paul Rudd on SNL: Toomuchhair onhischest

Prince Charles’s 60th birthday: Still prince

Teenage girls in line to get tickets for Twilight: Annoying, seriously MORE »

Join the discussion of homeless youth in Minnesota. Speak up, speak out, send your opinions to us.

• Watch Homeless Youth: Finding Home, a documentary following six homeless youth in Minnesota on TPT Channel 17 on November 22nd, at 8 pm. (If you miss it, see part of the documentary right here: MORE »

Shepard Fairey offers a victory version of his ubiquitous Obama poster, and CBS interviews him on the hugely successful project. MORE »

Paul Krugman wrote in the New York Times on Wednesday that this election marked “the end of the monster years.” He explained that what he meant was that the past fourteen years had been dominated by “Monsters like Tom DeLay, who suggested that the shootings at Columbine happened because schools teach students the theory of evolution. Monsters like Karl Rove, who declared that liberals wanted to offer “therapy and understanding” to terrorists. Monsters like Dick Cheney, who saw 9/11 as an opportunity to start torturing people.”

Krugman didn’t write about Minnesota, but his readers did, as they challenged his thesis that the “monster years” are over.

Four of the first fifteen comments on his column mentioned our own, re-elected Michelle Bachmann. A commenter from Chicago summed up their sentiments:

“I wish I could agree with you. But this morning my joy at the election of Senator Obama quickly vanished when I learned that Prop. 8 passed in California, that Ted Stevens and Rep. Bachmann were reelected.” MORE »

Monica, Karen and Aracelli have been working to register voters with Minnesota SOL (Strengthening Our Lives).

Monica is 19 years old • I always thought politics was for old nerds. But, since I joined this group, I realize that we can make a difference. There are so many things that aren’t right in our community. The fact that schools don’t get funded the way they should, or that college is becoming harder for me to pay. So, even though I didn’t want to get involved since I thought all politicians are crooks, I am starting to find out that young people like me can make a difference. Besides, it can be fun too. Our group challenged our team leader. We told him that if we collected 30 voter registration cards in one day, he would have to shave his beard. Needless to say, our boss is walking around hairless: It’s hilarious!

Karen is 18 years old. • I like meeting new people. One day when I was knocking on the doors, a little kid opened the door. I was cringing when he did that saying to myself, “Honey, you shouldn’t open the door to strangers.” Anyway, I asked if there was an adult at home and he calls for his sister. She couldn’t have been older than 11 years old. She brings with her a whole troupe of kids that seemed to have been born a year apart. There must have been about 10 kids at the door looking at me wondering what I wanted. So, I just asked them if their parents were registered to vote, not knowing what else to say. At this point, one of the youngest, (couldn’t have been older than 4 years old), peeks out from behind his sister and yells, “OBAMA.” All I can say is that I left a few voter registration cards and left with a smile knowing that our youth are paying attention.

Aracelli is 19 years old. • My parents and grandparents come from another country and have never been very political. I never thought I would be either. But, after months of learning about how we can make a difference in our own lives, I have sat down with my grandmother and said, “Abuelita, it is time to vote. We can’t sit around and let others decide what to do without at least speaking out!” After long conversations, I finally have my grandmother registered to vote and will be taking her this November 4th to vote for the very first time. It’s about time we all stood up. MORE »