Ethan's buddy from school Henry has become quite a friend. They love being with each other and share a fascination with Transformers. Henry turned 4 in October and Ethan turns four this week. I have distinct memories of a couple of my friends who I had at that age, and we still keep in touch all of these years later. Of course, we grew up in a smaller town with two junior highs and one high school. Life seems more transitory these days, and as I watch Ethan play with Henry or our neighbor Elizabeth, I wonder if their friendships will transcend the years.
The massive wave of Norwegian immigration to Minnesota from the 1850s through the early 20th century wasn't a casual choice; it was an escape from crushing land scarcity and economic desperation. My ancestors, the Dunhams, arrived in 1851 and built a life in Otter Tail County in Minnesota. My great-great-grandfather, Jens Christian Dunham, didn’t just survive—he thrived. He served in the Minnesota legislature as a Republican from 1888 to 1890 and later became a staunch advocate for President Teddy Roosevelt. He was the literal embodiment of the American Dream: an immigrant who fled poverty to become a lawmaker in his new home. Fast forward a century, and a new wave of immigrants—this time from Somalia—is following that exact same blueprint. Like the Norwegians before them, they fled hardship to build a future in Minnesota, and many have run for office to serve the state that welcomed them. Yet, the political rhetoric surrounding these two groups couldn't be more polarized. Don...
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