Who is Harry Petersen? 

I was born and raised in Minnesota and lived on my grandfathers farm until I moved into town where I attended public schools and attended university.  I grew up poor in money, but rich in love, after my father was killed in the Philippines in WWII; in fact, I never got to meet him. So, all through childhood I was supported by war orphans' benefits ( which some would call public assistance). But, I was blessed with a very loving and supportive mother and grandparents who brought me up to believe that, poor or not, if I worked hard enough, and if I wanted it bad enough, I could grow up to be anything I wanted. Maybe you had to work a little harder, but it was possible. And I was motivated to make something of myself, so I did the hard work and I did take myself out of what is now termed poverty. (We didn't even have an indoor bathroom until I was in my teens!) The important thing was my mother's belief, support, and encouragement, and the blessing that there was NOT some liberal social worker telling me that being poor was not possible to overcome, that my "plight" was all somebody else's fault and that I needed to wait for somebody else to fix it. In fact, had there been such a patronizing social worker teaching me envy and blame, and destroying my self esteem and my belief in the American way. I might still be trapped on public assistance. I thank God that I had my mother rather than a Democrat social worker!

I contracted polio as a young child. Fortunately, we were visiting relatives in California, where the Sister Kenny treatment was being used experimentally. I was one of the successful experiments. I'm still a bit stiff, and if I do too much walking or standing, I feel it. But I praise God that I have been walking these 52 years and have had good health. We must appreciate what we have, not envy what we don't have!

My wife, Mary, has always been my best friend for the 34 years of our marriage. While our son Rob was small, she was a "stay-at-home" mom; we made the conscious choice to have fewer material things, and neither of us has ever regretted it. After our son was older, Mary earned her PHT (putting hubby through) while I earned my Ph.D. at Texas A&M. I have done many things in our 32 years, from high school and university teaching to working on railroads, always with the help and support of my best friend, Mary.

From Texas, we moved back to Minnesota where I became Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering at the Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota. Here we would stay! But it wasn't to be. The white male department head there was accused of discrimination and harassment of women and minorities. I was witness, union representative, and friend of his targets - and we were all forced to resign. (What did the MEA do? They defended him and refused to help the women and minority or me, and in fact sic'd their lawyers on us all! After leaving Texas for a number of years, Rob and his wife Mary, now live closer to us (in Amboy, MN) They had a videography business in Texas and are in the process of "rebuilding" it here in southern Minnesota.

After teaching at Alfred University until the department closed for lack of students, I now teach Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Mankato State University with promotion to Associate Professor this fall. It's a great school, and a great department; I couldn't ask for better students and colleagues. I'm thankful to be here, although because of a strict affirmative action policy, I very nearly didn't have the chance (and I believe that I would not be here except for the controversy that erupted). It is extremely demoralizing to find yourself unwelcome in your own country because of the color of your skin (and Bill Clinton still claims white men aren't hurt by Affirmative Action! (See why I am a Republican.)

So, I mean it when I say I've been there - I understand. Although I grew up poor with government help, although I had polio, I never lost faith in God and America. And I lived the American Dream! But I almost had that dream destroyed because I was the wrong race! (no wonder some minorities are so bitter!) Along the way I worked hard, have studied hard, have risked, won and lost. I've gotten blisters, headaches, highs and lows, have always loved my wife, my family, my home state of Minnesota, and my country. 

I have been both union and management, laborer and teacher, poor and middle class (but not rich). I've been disabled, and I've been stereotyped. I've worked in factories, farms, research labs, and offices. I've learned from many different people and my life experiences. I've seen what's wrong with the country (government growth, taxes and controls) and what's right (our people and our freedoms.)

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