Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Well, Mr. Yuk, I have also been to Dachau. No, there are no billboards along the autobahn advertising the concentration camp, just that one very small sign about 2 blocks away. But the reason is probably that it's a major CRIME SCENE, and the people of Dachau, let alone the rest of Germany, take no pride in that. Yet, they keep the camp open to the public as a memorial to all those who perished within the barbed wire prison. How can you compare Dachau with an American defense facility? How many people were killed by anything to do with a missile launch site in North Dakota? Rather, the point of the matter is how many millions of us are still alive and well BECAUSE of our missiles, always ready to fly at a moments notice (hence Minuteman). That is something we can be proud of, so let the advertising campaign begin. "

" now for our morning laugh ... chavez ..."as for me i honor the service men and women ..." ... hahaha. do you think that some of us might just remember your marxist posts criticizing the warmongering and babykilling u.s.a. in iraq and everywhere else in the name of jerry falwell the religious right and halliburton.

give us a break already ... at least be consistent in your leftist rhetoric. "

" Sorry, but Yuk got out of school early today, and was playing on the computer before his dad and I could unplug it. He knows better, but as you've seen, you can't really tell him anything, to wit, quoting "the teacher:" "the Soviets and American macho mans philosophy of MADness." Upon reading that again, you really buying that Yuk is a teacher? Or this little gem: "other then all the historical sites." Now it seems to me that a "teacher" would know the difference between "then" and "then." "

" Cold Lies said: "Unless the museum tells the story of how international banking interests gained a strangle hold on war torn economies, and bought complete influence over the struggling governments, in order to pit both sides against each other for their own enrichment... Then the museum will just be a monument to remember how easy it is to manipulate and exploit the masses. " Ah, sounds like we have a conspiracy theorist among us. So who is to blame? The Illuminatti? The Trilateral Commission? Perhaps the Council on Foreign Relations? Or, as Cold Lies suggested, "international bankers"--which of course, is code for "Jewish bankers. Oh, those dastardly Rothschilds! That awful Federal Reserve and central banking system! Surely Cold LIes is warning us against the soon-coming Antichrist system, too!

Listen, there was insanity enough in the world during the Cold War, so we needn't look to some lunatic conspiracy explanation for how and why things went wrong. As for me, I honor the service men and women who gave of themselves during that period of our history. In a time of awful uncertainty, these good people--as the military traditionally has traditionally shown--served with honor. Let's not sully their contributions and sacrifices with conspiratorial nonsense.
"

" Yuk, you by chance don't teach at Berkeley do you? "

" To Yuk, like wow, like I understand. All those people in Hitler’s Germany were just like us also. Distant cousins to many of us. Then all of Stalin’s people were just like us. But they had to follow orders or they would end up in someplace like Dachau themselves. Expanding Germany required a lot of work. Then later expanding the Iron Curtain was a lot of work. Like I understand the San Francisco attitude but wonder why San Francisco has a police department. Where do people own the most handguns, San Francisco or Berkeley? What wild game is it exactly that people hunt with pocket pistols. Recently Berkeley California passed up Stockton for the highest number of stolen cars. A Russian bomber recently buzzed one of our warships. Your attitude is good but you talk like you want your children in the next Stalin or Hitler’s army. That is what happened to the young men in neighboring states. Mussolini caved in and joined Hitler and his troops became some the least willing soldiers of WWII. Other states around Germany had their young men fighting for germany at the end of a bayonet. Like much of Saddam’s army. You could have also visited the “German” concentration camp at Auschwitz, but you would have had to go to Poland. Obviously Poland did not have enough military equipment to keep Hitler’s army out. It is also good to remember why we have mutual defense treaties. "

" My apologies to all. As a member of the teaching profession, I wish to apologize to all for the attitude and ignorance shown by Yuk (the name speaks volumes). Teachers like Yuk believe they are the only people with answers to any question posed and refuse to even consider contrary positions. These are the teachers that fail a student with an opposing view and the backbone to express it. Personally, I am eternally grateful to our military who served during the cold war as well as during times of war. Your sacrifices are appreciated. My children and grandchildren live free because of you. If the people of Cooperstown want to make that old missile command center into a museum, go for it. Millions stop to see the world’s largest ball of twine, or largest frying pan, or corn palace, why not a cold war era missile command center? "

" It concerns me that we have someone like "Yuk" attempting to shape the minds of our young. What a negative and depressing presence he must be. "

" Thank you for your comments. I also have a connection to Cooperstown and would love to see something to bring people to the area. However, you must admit that it will take more then just a "connection to history" to bring people off the beaten path into the Copperstown area. As sad as it is, Cooperstown right now could not support the number of people that this project hopes to bring. Keep up the positive work and keep the dream alive, but also don't forget to keep planning and working towards that dream. We do need to learn from the past, so not to repeat it. "

" I near reside Cooperstown. I appreciate everyone's opinions about preserving the missile launch site near our community. I only wish most of you knew what the hell you were talking about. First of all, the editorial is full of misinformation. eg. the command center at Ellsworth is much more than 7 miles from Rapid City. Geez, check your facts. Your editorial is full of information that is simply not accurate. And quite frankly, wondering in an editorial how Oscar the Grouch would feel if he knew his image was used at the site is ... well, stupid. News Flash to the Tribune: Oscar the Grouch is not real! The Cold War, and the threat that existed, are very real and are an important part of state and national history. Maybe some of you are just upset because the site isn't located closer to Fargo or Bismarck, since most leaders in those communities seem to be under the assumption that theirs are the only towns in North Dakota that matter anymore. "

" Growing up as a next door neighbor to the Minuteman missiles that were operated by Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City SD, I found it very informative and enlightening to tour the Minuteman LCF (Launch Control Facility) and nearby missile silo that has been preserved near Wall SD. Whether you like it or not, the Cold War is a piece of our nations history, especially for North and South Dakota. I feel it is worth the money and effort to preserve this piece of ND's history for two reasons. The first as a reminder of the dedication and discipline displayed by the Air Force personnel who manned and maintained these desolate sites. And second as a reminder to our descendents of just how terrible a nuclear war would be, and the need to avoid one at all costs by remaining the strongest nation on the planet. "

" Regardless of whether it is liked or not the Cold War Era is a part of U.S. and North Dakota History. By saving the Ozcar Zero LCF we are able to provide the opportunity for a hands on learning experience. It saddens me that people do not recognize how this provides a magnificient opportunity to educate the public on the role North Dakota played and continues to play with the defense of our nation. "

" You tell em Beesh! The men and women of our armed forces on duty during the cold war need to be remembered, and this is a fine way to do it. If people like Yuk had been running the country we'd be speaking russian and standing in line for toilet paper! "

" Beesh, like ? you make assumptions that are wholly inaccurate! “History didn’t go according to your likes and …” I have no clue as to what that means, probably nothing as I have read your mindless comments before. Yes, we have never had a nuclear chemical or biological holocaust, yet. I’ll bet you were paid well being a surveillance system contract worker and perhaps, at the time, it was important work. My travels were done for enjoyment and to improve my understanding of the world around me. Well, I have used up all of my free time and must go into my classroom and do really important work discussing topics and answering questions. The young minds I contact are much greater then anything you can accomplish on this site, so goodbye. "

" To Yuk, so in other words, you travel the world to be depressed, depressed, depressed and whine that history didn't go according to your likes or dislikes? The camps happened and so did our missile defense system. It may have been a macho manuver but guess what, we never were attacked. I am a proud former survaillance system contract worker, and I was proud of the job they and we did. "

" To ? You are talking (via this Blog site) to a history teacher. I have visited Dachau Concentration camp north of Munich, Germany. No signs along the autobahn, no signs anywhere (had to ask the locals where it was), no fee to go in, no guided tours and depressing, depressing, and depressing. I am glad I did, as I can now speak with authority about the topic with my pupils, but would never take my family into the place. Perhaps when my children are adults, they will visit the site on there own. Same thing happened several years ago, when I was part of a (none-governmental but school to school) cultural exchange to Moscow, Russia. It was during the time Boris Yeltsin was in control and communism was collapsing. Each of us (pupils, teachers and parents) stayed with an ordinary Russian family. The experience was interesting and exciting. The most important thing I learned, other then all the historical sites, museums, Greek Orthodox Church’s and cultural events (Moscow circus and Bolshoi Ballet) we visited, is that the Russian people are just like you and me. April Fools Day occurred while we were there; the Russians call it “Joke Day.” Although we were treated royally, the trip was exhausting and stressful and I was glad to come home and would not have subjected it to my family. You are the perfect example of a Blogger who is running amuck and assuming incorrectly while focusing on the little picture not the big one and taking things you have learned from people like me and then using them for your own trite purposes. Charging tourists to enter the site would be awful (they already own it) but it is the same for our National Parks and that is awful too. "

" To Yuk have you ever heard of the quote "Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It”? This is not a bad thing. Maybe you would like to start burning books and pictures of the Holocaust and World War 2. That is sad time in history. Let put our heads in the sand and forget how we got to were we are at right now. "

" These missile silos and launch sites are a sad part of American and Soviet history. My vacationing family and I would never stop to view one. They are depressing examples of man’s insanity. Although we are removing them from South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and elsewhere, we are just moving them somewhere else. Roving nuclear submarines for example. I say fill them all with concrete. I find it disgusting to try to profit from the Soviets and American macho mans philosophy of MADness (Mutually Assured Destruction). "

" All schizoid Sesame Street metaphors aside... Unless the museum tells the story of how international banking interests gained a strangle hold on war torn economies, and bought complete influence over the struggling governments, in order to pit both sides against each other for their own enrichment... Then the museum will just be a monument to remember how easy it is to manipulate and exploit the masses. "

" who thought this up? the folks from Point-to-Point Air? Adds meaning to the term "money down a rat hole". Bismarck Park Dept must be so jealous somebody else is getting away with this.

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" Yes this is a great idea to turn this site into a museum. Many people right now would love to visit a site like this just to see it and learn the in and outs of it. These missiles sites are a big part of ND and the rest of the USA, I mean these sites protected this country. This site could very well boost the local economy of the small town nearby. This is something that could be featured as a tourist attraction, not only to history and military buffs but really to anyone, I mean who wouldnt want to see the inside of missile silo? And for anyone who says its in the middle of nowhere, no one will go and visit it, When I go on my vacations it really does not matter how far an attraction is if it is something Im really interested in, and this silo is one of them. I dont agree though that it will cost approx $100,000/yr to maintain the site, if so, maybe the friends of Oscar Zero can find enough volunteers/staff to run and maintain the facility at a lower cost to the state. "

" There's also the new Minuteman Missile National Historic Site near the east entrance to Badlands National Park. Right now they're only drawing 7,200 people a year, but they only have guided tours and limit them to just a few people at a time because I don't think this is as big a site as the Oscar Zero one. It'll be interesting but it may be tough to get 25K to Cooperstown a year. The site and museum at Ellsworth are very interesting too; worth the fee to get in. "