Letters: If possible, donate that federal check to people in greater need – TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

When our family received a stimulus check in the spring, we decided the best use of this money was to give it to others. We gave some of it to family members suffering from the economic fallout of the pandemic, and we donated the rest to nonprofits facing an even greater demand for their services.

Now that Congress has passed another Covid relief bill that includes another stimulus check, we are pledging to donate this amount as well. My wife and I have been fortunate to retain our jobs and income throughout the pandemic, and while we could put the money to use for ourselves, there are too many others still suffering from the fallout of the pandemic.

I urge my fellow readers to consider how they can best use the stimulus funds to help others in need. Find a family member, friend, or neighbor who could immediately benefit from additional support. Alternatively, support one of the many nonprofits that have seen funding shortfalls and increased demand during this challenging year.

Congress has chosen a funding mechanism that prioritizes speed (of distribution) over need (of the recipient), so it is up to us to redirect the funds to ensure that those who have been most impacted by the pandemic receive as much help as possible.

Daniel Tikk, St. Paul

I didnt intend to copy Charlie Brown today, but Good Grief, I see in the paper the culture cops are at it again.

A school, named To Be Decided (Im sorry but the previous name has been judged to be an embarrassment) has banned some books. Literature, deemed to be too dangerous an influence on the gentle sensibilities of our naive and innocent high school students.

Well first off, if you think todays high school students are naive and innocent, that description would be better applied to you.

But, secondly, if you exclude classic, thought-provoking literature from developing minds, you are starving them of the protein that develops the muscle of critical thinking. Leaving them to feed on the predigested carbohydrated snacks and treats of most of the popular media.

Sadly, too much snacking and treating turns to fat, an unfortunate condition to have in the head.

But, thirdly, and fortuitously more likely, banning a book will elicit a curiosity as to why it was forbidden, thus leading to even greater readership than before. I suggest Of Mice and Men; its a short, yet stimulating read.

Take care, wash your hands, cover your mouth, keep your distance and stay safe.

Bob Emery, Mendota Heights

I just read the article about a high school pulling two books from English classes, reprinted in the Duluth News Tribune. I havent read either of the books, so I have no opinion on whether they are the best choices for classroom reading.

According to the article, however, the books have also been censored elsewhere. Do I misunderstand the word censor? I thought censoring a book meant to prohibit someone from reading it, or to suppress its availability. If you stop requiring it, is that also censorship?

If a school deems material inappropriate and bans it from the library, maybe that could be called censorship. But not changing a required reading list.

Ethan Perry, Duluth

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Letters: If possible, donate that federal check to people in greater need - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press