In a Letter to the Editor, published in the Antigo Daily Journal
May 5 2009 “What People Say” letters column, Maureen
Gallenberg takes “Editor” Fred Berner to task for his flip
comment in his May 2 “Bits and Pieces” column asserting “…I
am tired of people telling me this is a depressed area” and that
the seizure of $500,000 worth of illegal drugs in Langlade county
over the past couple of years was proof-positive that “there is
money kicking around”.
Maureen’s letter is literate, intelligent, factual, well-reasoned,
temperate, informed, sensitive, realistic, and relevant — in short,
everything that the ADJ is not. I hope she submits her letter to
AntigoBuzz.com for republication. I’d love to see it on these
web pages.
—-
Thank you very much for your kind words on my letter. It angered Mr. Berner and he actually threatened me when I called to see if he received it. He told me I had made a mistake by making him look bad and that he would now do the same to me. He also stated that my letter would make me look worse than him. The intent of my letter was never to hurt him, that is not what I am about. I had hoped to open up a discussion.
I tried to write a letter that did not shy away from the reality of this area.
It is hard to do in this area as diverse opinions are not always welcomed, especially from “outsiders” like myself. I will consider posting it..but after Mr. Berners response I am not certain it is a good idea.
It does concern me that the editor of the only newspaper in the area would have such an odd response to my letter…I am not used to living in an area where speaking up is not welcomed. It is only by encouraging many points of view that we are challenged to grow beyond what we are.
It is not necessary to agree with all, only to respectfully voice opinions.
One of the reasons this site was created is for people to voice their opinions and concerns without prejudice by the site creators. Please do feel free to submit your letter, we would love to post it!
Maureen, I am not surprised that your letter had an uncivil reception at the Antigo Daily Journal. Several attempts I have made to offer well-tempered and helpful editorial corrections to ADJ staff and management were all met with vitriolic self-righteous rejection. Arrogance seems to be at the core of the Corporate Culture at ADJ.
Please submit your letter for republication here. I did not paraphrase or summarize your letter in my opening note because I did not wish to detract from the clarity and power of your own words. I think everyone in the community should have the opportunity to read them and discuss them.
Don’t worry about Fred’s threat to you look worse than him. That would be an impossible accomplishment, given his remarkable leadership in that field defined by his behavior.
Hmmm. I do not know who you are Albus.
And I have some concern as to whether you have my interest in opening up a community awareness conversation at heart, or whether you are simply angry at the lack of this community’s ability to voice differing opinions in the local newspaper as your motive for republication of my letter. I understand your statements, and feel that it is important to demonstrate to our community the necessity of having diversity in opinion, thoughts, ethnicity, etc in this area. To do any less is simply to enable possible bullying and and misuse of “power”. This ends a terrible message to our youth and to our community. And it is one reason that there has be such a lack of action. Lack of action creates apathy. Apathy creates a loss of hope. That is what I see.
I must say that it is has been with sadness and frustration that I have watched so many in this county be fearful of speaking out against the current popular opinion..whatever it may be. The shame in giving this newspaper publication it’s power lies with the citizens of the community who are afraid to keep taking a stand for fear that they will be retaliated against by “powerful people ” in this area. Or that if they welcome change, the accompanying work will be overwhelming to them. Comfort is safe..but it lacks the vitality that helps to stimulate vision.
My father is a retired physician of great reputation in Madison. He helped to organize and build a Free Clinic a number of years ago in Middleton. In his retirement years he still works to assist those who cannot afford health care. He also just started to work at the Food Pantry. (in a recent email..he said he had always wanted to work in a grocery store)The Food Panty(St. Vincent DePaul, in Madison), is in need. Supplies are down and usage is up over 25%. I come from a good, decent and well respected family in Madison, and it irks me that many people here think that because I was not born here that I am a nobody, and that they can run me down. Not so. The economy is affecting the entire state of Wisconsin..if things are bad in Madison…well, things will be worse here.
I was raised to be aware of the state of any community that I live in, pay taxes to and give service to. My father taught me the importance of believing in myself, and the importance of standing up for myself..respectfully..while intelligently backing up my position with facts. Arrogance and lack of ethics was not tolerated in my home when I was growing up.
I do not tolerate it in myself. I also do not wish to become a person known for “stirring the pot” (a popular phrase in Antigo) I just would like it if people took off the blinders and realized what the reality is…
I will try to find my copy of the letter and will sleep on the posting of it here overnite. I really do not go out looking for trouble….but I do not run from controversy, either. I was just fed up with what I have been reading and seeing and I could not stay quiet any longer.
Our community deserves to represented in a better light..especially when we are trying to attract and bring in business. It is time to raise the bar and do better. Those we are trying to attract must wonder if this is where they want to come and stay.
Again,
Thank you for your words.
Maureen
Please excuse any typos..I am not the best typist:)
Maureen,
I initially thought your rebuttal to Berner’s comments were a little on the ignorant side. I thought the purpose of his comments were directed at the people who have the money for drugs, alcohol, smokes, multiple kids without the means to care for them, and yet are the first to complain about how there is no money and certain people are overpaid for what they do. I now see where you are coming from and no longer have the same opinion.
Albus is obviously well spoken and intelligent, yet his attempts at literary banter and convoluted arguments have the exact small town arrogance that you speak of. If you read all of his posts, they feed on emotion and the same condescending attitude towards those that do not share his thoughts. Therefore, he is no better than anyone or anything that he writes about.
My family has also been the victim of small-town politics and has been pushed out of certain circles because we do not agree with the masses. This town is destined to continue the mistakes that it has always made and will spend money foolishly ($800,000 for a walkway along the stinky thing that winds between factories and swamp), will complain about people having to face the consequences of breaking laws, not going to school and performing up to standards, and the corrupt police and sheriff departments. Nobody in this town takes responsiblility for their own actions and it shuns those that try and make them.
Get out now, before it is too late.
“Ignorant people suck”, I am encouraged to see that you can reflect on a written piece, examine the content and context, and work beyond first impressions to divine the author’s motivation. You may find it entertaining to apply that approach to my humble offerings, as well. This blog, however, is about Maureen’s thoughts and expression, not mine.
Maureen, I would encourage you to stay, to help “people take the blinders off”, as you say. Illumination is in short supply in Antigo, but there is plenty of fuel to light the lamp. There are many people with good intent and social sensitivity among us. They just haven’t found each other yet, and haven’t linked up to make their combined voices heard.
Your letter is already out for public view. It was, after all, published in the ADJ. I doubt that it will be discussed there, however. I think if you send it in to admin@antigobuzz.com as an attachment to an email, it would be an excellent piece for a blog and discussion on its own merits and theme, and would open the door for others to express their thoughts and share their observations on the community’s dynamics.
I can understand that you might not want to be in the limelight as the possible focus of Fred Berner’s ire. If that’s the case, just say so, and I will gladly take up the banner of your cause and do battle with the paper tiger on Superior Street. I can assure you that I would not be alone.
Good Morning.
I am must say that these last comments have provided interesting reading for me this Sunday morning. Thank you to IPS for revisiting my opinions and seeing my meaning. That means that you were at the very least given food for thought and that you spent time reflecting on my humble writings. That is what I had hoped for.
I will not be leaving this area. It is my home. Homes are not always completely happy, and to run is never an option..unless one is in real fear.
I was introduced to this site just two days ago by someone who suggested I visit it. I have not read through all of the articles or posts.
I do think it is wonderful that there is a forum for differing opinions here on this site. I do also remind both of you and the rest who may be reading this…the complete opinions of a community are not always those that are allowed to be seen by publication of an editor in an area newspaper. It is clear that there are many who are fed up with a lack of being heard.
I was happy to see that Mr. Berner published my press release on Friday for the Wolf River Territory Days Event which I had submitted. I was pleased that he did not retaliate by not allowing that to be published.
Albus..I hope that you do talk with the paper tiger…but not necessarily because of me..but to stand up for the others who have vital opinions and would love to be heard and to have a voice, but who may be afraid.
Please…enjoy your Sunday and also Mothers Day:)
I was unable to send this letter as an attachment, so am sending it as acomment. If Admin is able to change this..you have my permission to do so.
Dear Mr. Berner,
I receive my subscription to the Antigo Daily Journal one day later than when it is published as I live in an outlying community in Langlade County, and my paper arrives via mail delivery. My husband and I are active in community events for the betterment of Langlade County, believe in assisting in the development of programs that develop our county, especially our youth and are also proponents of a solid, hardworking American ethic. We own two businesses and operate them successfully from our home. We began these businesses on our own and started from scratch..building, learning and growing as we did so. We support growth of business in our County and all of the communities that are within its confines.
I read with some shock your comments in the Saturday, May 2nd “Bits and Pieces Column” of your paper the comment and I quote, “I am tired of people telling me that this is a depressed area. If officers can collect $500,000 in marijuana, cocaine and other stuff in a few years, there is money kicking around; if they found enough to be worth $500,000. how much did get used and abused?”.
Mr. Berner…depressed areas are typically a haven for the drug trade. It follows that alcoholism, depression and other crimes of abuse accompany this type of economic environment. It is a fact that when suitable employment opportunities are not to be found in an area, people turn to illegal trades in two ways. They sell illegal materials, drugs included, and they partake in and abuse illegal materials, drugs included. They will also abuse others and find other ways to relieve their collective anger, frustration, pain and despair. Toss in the current economic status of our country, and what do you expect? You are an intelligent man, and I cannot fathom why you would make such a comment. I for one support the earnings of hardworking individuals that are making an honest contribution to our area. If dollars are being generated by illegal gain..those are not dollars that I welcome in this area. That is not “money” that any community welcomes, or wants to recognize.
I hope that is not what you intended to say in your column. There is definitely money in our county, but the fact remains that Langlade County is a depressed area. Whether you want to hear it or not..that is a true fact. We rank at the bottom in our state in per capita income. Food stamp usage is on the rise in Wisconsin, and in our county. Check your facts…accept the reality of our situation and then get out and encourage our community leaders to bring in jobs and increase opportunities in our area so that drugs and their accompanying troubles stay out of our communities, or at the very least do not grow. There is no reason at all that this county can not recover with positive action and community involvement and cooperation and willingness to change what has always been. The only way for Langlade County to move ahead is through active positive change and the embracing of growth and competition.
Respectfully,
Maureen Gallenberg
Thank you, Maureen. Now people can understand why I was so excited to see your letter in the ADJ. The points you make are on the mark, and reveal the tragic wrong-thinking that underlies the community view from the lofty ground-level offices of the ADJ.
I would like to add that Mr. Berner is also wrong about the notion that the $500,000 worth of drugs actually represented $500,000 floating around the community in cash that folks had spent on drugs. In fact, much of the drugs that went up in smoke were confiscated marijuana plants which no one had bought and paid for. They were seized before they went on the market. The “value” assigned to this portion of the bonfire was imaginary, a guess at what the weed would have brought in, if it had actually been sold. So, the “value” that went up in smoke was as tenuous and fictional as Mr. Berner’s analysis of its social significance.
Once again, thanks for posting your letter here, and especially for writing it in the first place.
I’ll have you keep a watch on this for me. Please, keep in mind that this letter was not intended to hurt or anger anyone, just a way for me to speak out and to voice my opinion. I was, however, concerned by the way it was received at the ADJ.
I had a call about a death in my family today, and also a friend of mine lost her only brother a few days ago. I will not be looking at responses, if there are any…I hope no one else gets too wild about this letter.
Maureen
I don’t think that anyone living in Langlade county should find this letter offensive. The truth hurts sometimes but it is a reality that needs to be brought to the forefront. Thank you for writing the letter. I hope that more people read it, took notice, and maybe even take action.
the drugs in this town is whose paying whom to be keeping it under the table , alot of stuff wrong in antigo. just the other day police car did not even use its turn signals.an they chase people around town that was doing something wrong an also to have drugs an that was called off . they should have at least went after the drug part that they was called about in the same call.
you need to wake up it isn’t the poor people it’s young doctors, and business people get your head out your butt’s an quit making deal’s come the od’s here are nuts an nothing much done about it . what the hell .oh i for got we have a drug department in langlade county just why are they even paid people take your town back .or lose it for your grand childern to grow in all drugs . just walk or ride around town you can smell it every where . oh shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. dont tell it not coming from that house or is it ??????????????????