I am sorry to hear Stanley Westbrook has been exiled to Detritus Island, even if it is self-imposed. Living in waste instead of Lutsen in winter must be a terrible burden for anyone. But his admonitions about the Pleiadeans is really less to fear than his exile.
What people want to believe is irrelevant to those of us serving on the BOA, one could be Episcopalian, Lutheran, Jewish or even believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster and we would not note.
What we on the BOA consider is the activities of humans and how they relate to their neighbors and the community.
We work from the county ordinances and try to determine compliance to mitigate conflicts and damage to the community. In the case of the retreat center there was nothing out of the ordinary, a couple of issues to which we added a couple of conditions and a sincere and honest effort to meet those conditions from the applicants.
I have no reason to believe or disbelieve what they profess, nor did I find any compelling reason to add conditions in case the space travelers arrived. I accepted that they would come in peace and there was nothing in the code to cause me to act otherwise.
The other side of the issue though, is tolerance from other community members, judgment from those that differ, intolerance toward lifestyles and beliefs that differ from one’s own.
Grand Marais has an identity of inclusiveness of alternate lifestyles, accepting people that are different, in fact there is a sort of pride in knowing we are outliers and it is part of why we live here; the objectors tend not to be permanent nor full-time residents who tend to put their more conventional thinking between us, but it is an outsider’s imposition, and it would be preferable to try to be more accommodating and inclusive.
There is also a tendency to identify as “local” and “outsiders,” but true locals are not just those who have a biological or hereditary connection to the community, but also all those who have emigrated to the community from elsewhere and who have made a significant contribution and commitment to the community.
Lastly, I sensed mockery in the letter, which is saddening and dangerous: mock not lest others take note of your beliefs and mock back because your beliefs are no more sacrosanct than theirs.
If the Pleiadeans come maybe their peaceful nature will dissolve the lingering animosity.
Jerry Hiniker
Hovland
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