David Colburn

There are times when it seems there are far too many choices when it comes to picking a subject for a column, and this has surely been one of those weeks.
At the forefront was, of course, something related to the horrible state of affairs in Ukraine with Vladimir Putin’s unconscionable military invasion of the country. Ripe for the picking was to do something about the equally unconscionable support Putin is getting from conservative corners of America for his action, from former President Trump right on down to local social media posts. There’s even a poll showing Putin is more trusted than President Joe Biden among a significant swath of Republicans, an ominous sign.
I’m not at all surprised at Biden’s overall unfavorable ratings, but having grown up in and lived through the Cold War, the fact that a former KGB agent who has just militarily invaded a sovereign nation without cause and without regard for the safety of noncombatants could be viewed more favorably than a sitting President of the United States of any political party is a stunning indicator of how far radical elements of the Republican Party have fallen.
Another dumbfounding possibility for a topic cropped up in an article I read about the convoy of U.S. truckers headed toward the nation’s capital to protest for a return to “Constitutional freedoms” and an end to COVID-related mandates. If they want to drive across the country to protest, fine. That’s their right as Americans. But what I found dumbfounding was the assertion by one trucker that the invasion of Ukraine was actually a conspiracy to undermine the convoy. I just have to let that one sit there, because it simply defies any attempt I might make to try to explain it.
A story closer to home that was tugging at my thoughts was yet the latest example that racism is alive and well and living in Minnesota. St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale school districts said last week they would no longer play against New Prague because of racists taunts hurled at some of their players by New Prague students, something New Prague district officials have confirmed. New Prague’s district website proclaims, “The rules that guide our culture are: Doing What’s Right, Committing to Excellence, and Showing People You Care. This is called ‘The New Prague Way.’” That would’ve made a dandy expectations-vs.-reality column, with some sort of side comment to the effect that the fix for such things isn’t going to be found in the schools.
A more personal possibility would have been a commentary about a friend back in Kansas who recently died of COVID complications, Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft. Because COVID was running rampant in a county that had among the lowest vaccination rates in the state, there’s no way to know if Rob contracted COVID in the line of duty or not, and therefore he’ll likely not be added to the list of hundreds of COVID-related deaths on the Officers Down Memorial Page on the internet, which I think is a darned shame. We had a great professional relationship— me as the small-town editor and he as the county sheriff— and that extended to our personal interactions as well.
But while I could’ve found a way to memorialize him that linked to the similar hazards our own officers and emergency responders here have faced for the past two years, it didn’t quite fit. And that’s OK. The fact that they had to hold Rob’s memorial service in the high school gymnasium because no church in town could have accommodated the hundreds who showed up to pay their respects says more about the man than I ever could.
So, so many choices, numerous others unmentioned. All worthy of comment, yet none stepping to the fore.
It’s one of those times when I’d rather have had responsibility for writing the week’s editorial instead of a commentary. That would’ve narrowed the field of possibilities significantly. But we Timberjay columnists are given free rein to write whatever we find compelling when our turn rolls around in the rotation. That’s why you find such a diverse mix, from serious and thought-provoking to comical and inconsequential. I find it to be a delightful and engaging mix, albeit sometimes challenging when my time comes up to contribute.
However, after much thought, I’m very pleased to report that I’ve finally settled on a smash bang topic for this week’s column, potentially one of the best I’ve ever written, and sure to be an award-winner in next year’s Minnesota Newspaper Association contest. It’s that good.
Alas, though, there’s a serious problem at hand. With all of the musing above, I’ve completely run out of space to write it. Disappointing to me, and I’m sure to you as well. It would’ve been perfect. I’ll hold on to the thought for the next one, but there’s always a chance it will never see the light of day, for when the next time rolls around, there will be oh, so many, many choices.