কিভাবে একটি বাইক রাইড রাজনৈতিক বিভাজন সেতুতে সাহায্য করেছে৷
On a crisp autumn morning, Representative Anukam Mahmud of the Minneapolis football league, was packing a mountain bike and helmet. He was bleary-eyed. “Biking here has been on my to-do list,” he said. “So, when Cal suggested this, I was really excited. And I said, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’” This represents the vast expanse of the Iron Range in the heart of mining country, including a former taconite mine near Chisholm turned mountain bike park. Warwas was also excited, even though he bikes there a lot. “It’s going to be amazing,” Mahmud assured. For the next hour and a half, Warwas and Mahmud navigated their bikes through the woods as the fall colors began to emerge. This trip is part of a new legislative exchange. It’s like a foreign exchange program, but for adults who get elected to serve in the state legislature. It is sponsored by the Citizens League, a St. Paul nonprofit that works to promote civility in politics and public policy. Jack Loesh, executive director of the Citizens League, says it’s one of the first programs of its kind in the country. So far, four pairs of legislators have participated, and more are signed up for next year. After attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, some are committed to quiet rhetoric. Can it continue? Minnesota school districts solve student conflict: ‘Stop everything’ and talk. “We have an amazing group of committed elected officials who are going to St. Paul throughout the session to try to govern effectively,” Loesh said. “But that can be difficult when you know there’s increasing political polarization and distrust in every aspect of life.” Part of the solution, Losch said, is to leave physical and political silos, even for a few days. “Unless legislators on both sides of the aisle are working together on a committee, there’s very limited opportunity to get to know each other,” he said. “I think that’s a symptom – or a cause, depending on how you look at it – of some of the polarization and division that we experience.” ‘True stories’ Even before they went on their cycling trip, Warwas and Mahmud had a busy schedule. The night before, Warwas had taken Mahmud to the Eveleth Hockey Hall of Fame. They toured an iron mine. Here, mining has traditionally been a source of financial stability, though the industry faces growing opposition from environmentalists. Discover the Range’s Jim Beaupre and ATV Minnesota Regional Director, Republican Anukam Mahmud smiles during lunch with Iron Range community, business and government leaders as part of the Citizens Exchange League in Biwabik’s Giants Ridge, Minn., Sept. 24. MPR News’s Derek Montgomery Warwas works in the mining industry. It’s part of his identity. “I grew up in a very rural area, an area that has more mining than any place else in the country. It’s normal for me. But for people who aren’t from here, it’s very foreign,” he said. Much of Warwas’ experiences in his conservative district were entirely new to Mahmud, who represents a liberal urban district of Minneapolis. Mahmud said that the tour of the iron mine and his previous evening spent with local officials and longtime miners was a critical part of helping him better understand. the culture and identity of the Range. “These are true stories, and they come from that experience,” Mahmud said, “and you have this window into understanding why they are fighting so passionately. Because it’s personal to them.” It was a difficult start to their first legislative session. Democrats boycotted the Capitol over a fight over who was properly in charge of the House. The dispute went to court. After the dust settled, lawmakers had to work together and finish their work in a special session. But just a few days later, tragedy struck with the politically motivated shooting of the former husband Melisaa House’s speaker and Melisaa. Sens. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and his wife, Yvette, were shot and killed on the same night, but both Mahmud and Warwas said that voters sent a narrowly divided Electoral College to St. Paul that they were tired of political division, who brought members of Congress in 2018 The relationships are central to this event “It’s about building relationships, which is being able to work together,” he said, bringing the idea to Minnesota because the idea is to bring legislators together who have nothing in common politically or geographically, because they focus on their ten items. “We’re trying to give them these opportunities and these experiences that they can then take back (to the Capitol). And then, when they come back and start working with that colleague now, they can think to themselves, ‘Okay, now I understand.’ Now I understand why.’” Mahmud’s career has focused on expanding access to health care. Though he lives in the Twin Cities, he sees similar challenges in accessing services in rural communities. “We also talked about closing rural hospitals, which we’re very concerned about here in the legislature,” he said. “It’s not our issue against them. Both sides care about this.” Slideshow Full Screen Show previous slide of 5 Listen to the Citizens League, Director of Education and Recreation Programs at the Minnesota Discovery Center, discuss mountain biking safety at Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm, Minn., Sept. 24. {max-height:0px;width:auto;}The Citizens League’s Minnesota Legislative Exchange’s MP. Montgomery exchanges Representative Anukam Mahmud smiles during lunch with Iron Range community leaders, business and government leaders in Biwabik’s Giants Ridge, Minn. on Sept. 24, 2025, as part of the Citizens League of Minnesota Legislative Exchange 5.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img {max-height:0px;width:auto;}Representative Anukam Mahmud and Republican Cal Warwas listen to Iron Range community leaders, business and government leaders during lunch at Giants Ridge, Minn. on Sept. 24, 2025, as part of the Citizens League’s Minnesota Legislative Exchange. MPR News’s Derek Montgomery culturally diverse area later this year, he said: “We have a lot of international food.” “I told him and his wife to come hungry.”
প্রকাশিত: 2025-10-29 16:39:00
উৎস: www.mprnews.org
