Victoria Gazette - From the Editor - Victoria Mn Newspaper

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Jewelers

Victoria’s Corner Bar. Nightly Specials and Menus. 952-443-9944

8 First Street in Waconia. 952-442-2885

942-443-2078

Funeral Home & Cremation Services

952-474-9595

Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic.

Occupational Therapy. Speech Therapy.

952-443-9888

Huber

City of Lakes & Parks 952-443-2363

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

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The Scoop

at City Hall

Said the night wind to the little lamb,

do you see what I see

Way up in the sky, little lamb,

do you see what I see?

I was sad and disappointed to see that Tom O'Connor was not reelected as Mayor of Victoria on November 8th. Nobody worked harder for the people of Victoria than Tom O'Connor.

You might imagine that a rapport would develop between city councilmembers and myself, for the simple reason that I attend nearly all council workshops and meetings and faithfully report on things said and done. It's a matter of record. I've bid farewell to many Victoria mayors and councilmembers over these past years. They are an honorable group. We become familiar to each other, and so a transition is often more than a passing event for me.

I see and appreciate their work and dedication in an often thankless job. I witness it firsthand. I hear their words in context and I report it to you in a comprehensive, accurate, and fair manner.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy

do you hear what I hear

Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,

do you hear what I hear?

In the recent November issue of the Gazette, there were several pages of information related to Mayor O'Connor plus several letters to the editor in support of him as well as Councilmember Tom Vogt and Planning Commission Member Derek Gunderson.

After publication, some readers asked why there were no letters supporting any of the other three candidates. The answer is simple: I didn't receive letters in support of them. However, I have since received a small handful of commentaries, revealing an element that I've previously not known in Victoria.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,

do you know what I know

In your palace warm, mighty king,

do you know what I know?

The recent election reminds me of "Hacksaw Ridge," a true story made into a movie by Mel Gibson, which recently debuted. Of course, we went to see it. It's about a battle in Okinawa during World War II and, more importantly, it's the story of Desmond Doss, an honorable man of integrity who was beat up by his peers in the U.S Army but he stayed the course as required by his powerful conscience. When the storm passed over, Hacksaw Ridge was captured and Desmond was the hero. Desmond was a peaceful man.

Said the king to the people everywhere,

listen to what I say,

Pray for peace, people everywhere,

listen to what I say.

I am the first to say that I am a biased person. I am biased in favor of all that is honorable, decent, and true, which is exactly what I work to promote in my family, in my community, and in my newspaper. That bias should be a driving force for all. I am biased in favor of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. When we find it difficult to love someone, I believe that the least we must do is tolerate each other with civility and pray for the good of the other, if not today, certainly tomorrow.

A star, a star, dancing in the night,

A song, a song, high above the trees

A Child, a Child shivers in the cold

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night

In some ways we must also be judgmental people -- judgmental of behavior, not of motivation nor intention. We must judge external actions and behaviors, even on a daily basis. It is the heart that we must not judge.

If we witness someone crossing the highway on a red light, we judge that behavior as illegal and also dangerous. But we must not judge their intention; maybe they are rushing to a hospital to save a life.

If we witness someone taking an item from a grocery store or a clothing store and stuffing it into their purse or pocket, we judge that behavior as stealing and also criminal. But we must not judge their motivation; maybe they are poor and have little ones at home who are cold and hungry.

Without thinking, people say "Judge not lest ye be judged" and "Who am I to judge?" But, we are required to teach our children right from wrong, which means we are teaching them to judge which behavior is right and to judge which behavior is wrong. Otherwise we have the blind leading the blind. Do you see?

With a tail as big as a kite,

With a voice as big as the sea,

Let us bring Him silver and gold

He will bring us goodness and light.