I’m disgusted by MSU vs U-M football blackout | Letters

I may not have covered politics for 50 years like John Lindstrom, contributing political writer for the Freep, but calling the Republican party “winners” after the recent midterm elections is a bit of a stretch. (Editor’s note: Lindstrom opined that by losing widely on Nov. 3, the GOP had “won” because the outcome justifies backing away from President Donald Trump.)

The GOP has supported Donald Trump’s policies and antics for far too long. It’s not just the president who has been the problem, but the cowardly behavior of nearly all of the GOP who supported him. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the rest of the “team” are equally to blame. Let’s see what the next two years brings. My bet is they don’t have the leadership or courage to break Trump’s hold on them. The GOP, like an 0-17 football team, needs a total rebuild.

Kevin William Frailey

Holt

As a Canadian, I celebrate American veterans

The U.S. celebrated Veterans Day and Canada Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 to honor those brave men and women both living and dead who fought to defend our freedom and democracy. Canada’s military members fought hand-in-hand with American troops during World War I, World War II, Korea and Afghanistan where 520,000 U.S. soldiers and 102,000 Canadian soldiers were killed, and a countless number were wounded.

If there’s any occurrence that should bond Americans and Canadians together in friendship, it’s honoring those warriors who sacrificed their lives so we could enjoy the freedom and democracy we have today.

As a Canadian, during there troubling times, I want to salute your brave veteran warriors for their service and sacrifice, while honoring those families whose loved ones have defended their homeland.

Peter J. Middlemore Sr.

Windsor

I’m disgusted by MSU vs UM football ‘blackout’

For shame, Michigan State University vs University of Michigan football classic blackout. A near black out of a game of this magnitude to Michiganders is uncomfortable.

Don’t tell me the universities and head coaches don’t have some influence on which stations will broadcast their games. Or is it about the money, and hell with the fans? Once again they have virtually blacked out a game to those of us who refused to be manipulated into paying more to add an additional streaming service to our existing sports package, Peacock. Thanks, NCAA!

I hope alumni join in closing their wallets to further contributions to universities/colleges that support these “blackouts.”

Jim Biondolillo

Jackson

He’s missing from Detroit train station lore

I just finished touring the renovated Michigan Central Station. I was awe struck at the beauty of the building and its history. Our tour guide told us how there would not have been a train station to restore if it had not been for a gentleman by the name of Stanley Christmas who made it his mission to fight through the courts to save it from demolition.

Ironically, on the wall commemorating those who were instrumental in the restoration of this building Mr. Christmas’ name is missing. It is my hope that your paper could write a piece highlighting his significant part in the preservation of this historic landmark and have his name added to the list of those that were integral to this restoration of a historic building.

I feel Mr. Christmas deserves more than a small footnote related by a tour guide. In time, no one will remember him or his extremely significant part he played in this preservation story. Mr. Christmas is a part of Detroit’s story and spirit of “getting it done.”

Miranda McCulkey-Smith

Birmingham

We need a woman president

Abdul El-Sayed won the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan. He’ll be the first Muslim elected to the office. His is the latest in a long line of historic breakthroughs in election to our highest offices.

It has been a long time since religion was an issue. The first Catholic elected to president goes back to John Kennedy in 1960. Many never thought that was possible, due to fears that a Catholic would have higher allegiance to the pope.

With the passage of time, President Joe Biden’s Catholic religion did not come up as an impediment in 2020 even with the abortion issue in the news. By the way, Melania Trump is Roman Catholic, too.

Beside religion, another precedent in U.S. history was race. Many believed, a mere 14 years ago, that a Black person could not be elected president, but President Barack Hussain Obama proved them wrong in 2012. Last week, the first Black woman was elected governor in the state of Georgia, a double victory for blacks and women.

Perhaps worse in the minds of the electorate than a Muslim, Catholic or people of color, is the possible election to the presidency of a woman. Women have been blocked.

We had Hillary Clinton campaigning for president in 2008, losing the nomination to Obama, and again in 2016 losing to Trump, and again with Harris losing to Trump in 2020. Despite more elected women in Congress, how long will we wait for a woman to break through to the highest office of president?

In a country that affirms that all citizens are created equal, why do we focus on race or sex or religion or sexual orientation when selecting any candidate to hold elected office? Once we someday elect a woman for the highest office, maybe we can put all the issues of religion, race, gender, and sexual orientation to rest.

Mary Killeen

Howell

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: I’m disgusted by MSU vs U-M football blackout | Letters

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This story was originally published November 14, 2026 at 5:02 AM.