Ethan, at 4, seems to be planning for his future. He has developed quite a crush on a girl at
school meaning he now has at least three love interests. The other day, Ethan -- who actually hates to have his hair combed let alone washed -- asked his mother to style it in a "faux hawk" which is essentially a modified Mohawk with the hair combed toward the middle and gelled to a point. When she asked why, he replied that our 13 year old neighbor boy (who sports this hairstyle) said "it will help you get more girls." So, Heather did the style and Ethan left for school evidently scouting for prom dates.
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...
Comments