West Central Minnesota native Duane Ninneman and his wife Maureen Laughlin live on a "Borrowed Farm" at the highest point in Big Stone County.
The clean energy advocate and county DFL chair likes to say he lives upstream from everyone. From that perspective, Ninnemann gets a chance to what's going with the flow. Much of his time is engaged working with and learning from young people.
"In my work, I spend a lot of time all traveling over Minnesota and beyond," he explained. "I meet many people in same sex relationships; they're members of all age groups. They're considered married from the viewpoint of people who are younger than I am."
"It's important to acknowledge what young people know," he added. "We should take our cue from future leaders. We shouldn't have to wait for a whole generation to die for young people's wisdom to be accepted."
Ninnemann hopes that his new state representative Jay McNamar remembers his background as an educator. "A true leader needs to be a role model, to represent how a leader makes tough decisions."
More practically, McNamar's base--those who first supported his campaign--favor a yes vote. Moveover, a leader is not just someone who makes decisions thinking about the next election, but on the interests of communities and the future of the state.
He believes that McNamar should vote yes to end a discussion over "divisions that do nothing to do with the serious problems that this state needs to address."
The DFL activist cites Western Minnesota's populist and innovative traditions as touchstones the freshman legislator could use. Historically the area developed the first co-ops, insisted on good public schools and innovative farming practices.
People upstream also have a deep-rooted sense of fairness and staying out of each other's business, he said. My marriage to Maureen is a great thing," he said, "and if marriage good enough for me, then it ought to be good for everybody."
Photo: Maureen Laughlin, Duane Ninneman and Max.
This original story is underwritten by a sponsorship by Minnesotans United for All Families.
Comments