To the editor,

Rest in peace Sen. Edward Kennedy knowing that our nation’s people will remember you with kindness as a champion for those less fortunate. You did your family proud in carrying on their tradition of love for the United States of America and all its people.

The letter to the editor Aug. 18, needs to be read, reread and certainly replied to hopefully by smarter folks than I am, but seeing as how I am proud to call myself a liberal Democrat and in support of folks in government who take their job seriously with the best interest of the nation as a whole, I need to express my disagreement with the writer while respecting his right to do so.

Headline: Has anyone seen Oberstar? I would have to assume that the writer has been asleep like Rip Van Winkle for the past 29 or so years! The voters of District 8 surely did not return Rep. Jim Oberstar over and over again because he was invisible. I disagreed with Rep. Oberstar several times regarding certain issues important to me, but always gave him my vote because I realized Rep. Oberstar was always considering the big picture, what is best for the district, for the state of Minnesota, for the nation as a whole, for the safety, security, health and general well being of the nation’s people. Rep. Oberstar never forgot the environment and its effect on people’s health and well being.

I know for a fact that if a person requested Rep. Oberstar’s help with a program in a civil manner, an answer would be forthcoming either directly from the representative or his agent. Either he could or could not help but your request was not ignored. Everywhere one looks in our state, Rep. Oberstar had a hand in improving it for the better, be it safer highways, safer trails for the enjoyment and revitalization of the hiker, biker or just plain nature lover. Airport and air safety. The importance of wetlands, state and national parks to the nation as a whole. His life is dedicated to the common good of mankind.

Term limits? No way. Such a person as Rep. Oberstar deserves my vote for as long as that person he or she is willing to serve us and give us the benefit of experience and wealth of knowledge. By the way, that goes for all those Minnesota senators and members of Minnesota Senate and House also; they are doing the best they can with who they have to work with and need to be supported.

Geo. F. Konecny Sr.
International Falls, MN