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The written word is subjective. As a writing teacher, I have always tried to provide my students with grading rubrics to guide their work. This way, students know in advance how their essays will be graded, and I feel I can grade their words more fairly. For example, my rubric might be 10 points for a strong thesis, 30 points for well-developed argument/content, 20 points for good sentence structure, 15 points for grammar and usage, and the overall grade of the essay might be 75 points.
As the presidential election began to heat up, I thought it might be useful to develop a set of criteria to help voters clearly determine who the most suitable candidate for the presidency is based on the qualities they value most in leading the free world. For example, here is a set of criteria assessing the traits they believe are most important in a president:
_____ Honesty (50 points). This means refraining from gaslighting, or telling Americans what they want to hear instead of the truth.
_____Intelligence (30 points). The ability to understand the complexities of our world.
_____ Listening (40 points). Ability to collaborate with other experts and willingness to hear different perspectives before making decisions that affect people and the planet.
_____Compassion (30 points). Being guided by empathy for all people and their human rights.
_____ Total (200 points).
Although this criterion is difficult for any human being to come up with, my criteria still clarify which candidates are most suitable for the presidency and which score well below the passing mark, making your presidential choice clearer. While my criteria rely heavily on leadership and character qualities, each voter can create their own criteria for what they value before casting their ballot. As a voter, you may be wise to vet candidates more than the promises they made during the campaign. What traits do you value most to lead us to a better, more prosperous, and more equitable America?
Peggy Radke, Stillwater
Aurora
Jazz on the Docks in Minnesota
I was wrapped under a blanket on a pier at 3am on a mild Minnesota morning as the once in a lifetime aurora swirled overhead. Words are inadequate to describe and share the experience. It was like I was being blown by a rainbow wind in the night. I couldn’t look away or stop taking photo after photo. I sat watching until nearly dawn, entranced, in awe, soaking in the beauty. I will never experience anything like it again in my life. The weather was mild, there were no mosquitoes. There was no wind, the lights were reflecting off the lake, no smoke even in the modern day. Nothing stood in the way of a perfect aurora night. Every cell in my body was rearranged by the solar swirl. The sun gives us more of everything it already gives us.
So how do the Northern Lights and jazz come together in the spring of 2024? When this church musician, soloist and cantor was asked to sit in with a jazz group playing at a local venue, he said yes. At 64 years old, it's hard to say no to a new musical adventure. I stared at the sheet music (basic instructions for instrumentalists) that was sent to me, not really understanding what it was, and immediately reached out to fellow musicians to find real music with notes, chords, words, beats and familiar musical symbols. This musical adventure was completely outside of what you might call my comfort zone: no rehearsals, no microphones, planning as I go, staying alert and making music on the spot.
One of the songs I chose was “When You Wish Upon a Star.” It's very human to think only of wishes and to try to manipulate a giant star to our own whims. But while preparing the song, I thought back to this song against the backdrop of the recent auroral outbursts. Could the Sun be sending us a wish this time? Seeing the current suffering of the Earth and its inhabitants, sending solar winds that are apparently activating particles above us and gifting us with an unmistakably original jazz-inspired show?
Despite my fears, my jazz debut was a success, thanks in part to the skill of the performers, who crafted music despite minimal direction and my tentative vocal delivery. This is jazz. Music that is creative and original only comes once, and it is as magnificent as the Northern Lights I recently saw from a pier on a lake in the north-central part of the country. I will hold the celestial music of that night in my heart for the rest of my life. Anyone who can sit quietly at night, calm their eyes, and see the glimmers, swirls, spires, and occasional twinkling glow of the Northern Lights can hear this music.
Chris Potter, Southaven, Minnesota
Amtrak
Departure to Chicago
Thanks to the Star Tribune for a great article about Amtrak's new Borealis passenger service between Minneapolis and Chicago. The big front page photo with the headline “Just the Right Ticket” and the front page story “Borealis Departs on Maiden Voyage” (May 22) provide inspiring information for travelers who will be using this new and vastly improved rail service. Popular Minnesota destinations along the route include Red Wing and Winona.
In addition to comfortable carriages and meal service, the Borealis will benefit from millions of dollars spent on track improvements along the line, including $12 million contributed by the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021 no doubt provided some of the funding and incentive to complete this long-planned project.
In a thoughtful touch for passengers on the inaugural flight, Amtrak CEO Steven Gardner was on board to greet them. Clearly, Amtrak is ready to make some much-needed improvements to passenger service in general, beyond the Northwest Corridor, where the Acela high-speed train runs between Washington, DC, and Boston.
William Steinbicker, Minnetonka
Bike lanes
Where are all the riders?
I've always prided myself on living in a “bike-friendly” big city. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but last Friday I finally got out my Raleigh 10-speed bike and cycled the Greenway to work for the first time. With Greta Thunberg's warm smile in my mind, I began to wonder why so few people ride bike lanes on city streets. Did Minneapolis (and Edina, too) build the Interstate System's equivalent of two-pedal roads and still not use them? Did I get stares from coworkers for wearing spandex to work on a casual day for no reason at all? Seriously, do we need more Dutch people downtown? Or do we just need more idiots like me to get their asses up and ride bikes?
Chris Burt, Edina
