In the February 23, 2018 edition of the Ludington Daily News a letter from 'civil rights activist' Mitch Kahle wrote to the newspaper was reproduced.  Kahle and his group, the Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists (MACRA), has put forth the notion that the monument overlooking the lake that bears Pere Marquette's name placed in a park in the township that bears that historical figure's name is somehow contrary to the establishment clause since it features a large white cross at the top of it, and it costs the public money to maintain it.  Up until now he has been threatening legal action towards the township, while offering somewhat specious arguments about it's legality.  

The local community seems to overwhelmingly believe that Mitch is in error, and have been busy trying to protect what most believe is a historical monument to a Jesuit priest who is believed to have died on the grounds of the small park.  As that community comes together to fight off the encroachment to that popular landmark by Mitch and his minions, Mitch has decided to research and rewrite history into a manner that would best serve his own purpose.  To do this, he needs to attack the character and accomplishments of a man who died nearly 350 years ago, and all the historical records kept at that time.  

Kahle has entered into another phase of his attack on Mason County, trolling Father Marquette and making those who may think otherwise or that he actually died here be the biggest bigots.  Welcome to the sling-along.

Here is the article as it appeared in the newspaper:

If Mitch's goal is to win over minds and influence people with his scholarship, his initial paragraphs goes the other way when he concludes that Marquette is a mythic figure with stories concocted by his superior.  Marquette's journeys with Pere Dablon, and with Louis Joliet were far ranging in the upper Midwest, and Kahle cannot describe or offer reference as to why it would suit the Catholic Church's 'dogma' to have him die on the Buttersville Peninsula.  

Perhaps infuriated by the lack of historical texts that would support his 'counterclaims' to accepted history, Kahle then lashes out at treatment of the American Indians even as late as 1940 and an unfavorable foreclosure that happened to one well after Marquette's death.  The relevance in a short essay?

Kahle finishes with some puerile observations, failed mind-readings and empty threats that reveal more of his true intentions and character than he may wish to reveal.  This isn't a fighter for civil rights, this is somebody who is trying to force his own religion onto everybody else who isn't a believer of his dogma. 

Oddly enough, that's what Pere Marquette did back in his time, but Father Jacques did it with a message of love and salvation, not threats and intolerance.

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How is it that Mitch believes what's written in those books but doesn't believe the written history of Father Marquette's life and his death? Mitch is just trying to get people to back off without him having to go to all the expense of taking this to court. He's bluffing. His arguments are lame and juvenile. He's like a kid who want's a toy and thinks that by throwing a tantrum, he will get his way. Do something useful with your life Kahle. Funny that the LDN will print Kahle's idiocies but refuses to present X's proven stances on local corruption. Another reason not to support the LDN.

I thought the same thing; Mitch ignores all the historic letters and other historical records of other people that travelled with Father Marquette, yet puts forth a bunch of recently written texts at our limited collection library to prove that since they never mention Marquette (who is not any part of the focus of the books-- Google them or check them out at the library) that Pere Marquette was never here.  Your picture of him is well placed.  

Mitch Kahle also fabricates his narrative of the books.  He says the four books he lists never mention Pere Marquette.  

In Cleland's "Rites of Conquest..." on page 98, it notes that:  "Both the Missionary Marquette and Cadillac... have left descriptions of the Ottawa and Huron settlements [in the Mackinac area]."  On that page and on page 27, it mentions facts about the Marquette Mission site at St. Ignace.  These references are noted in the index of that book.  

I had difficulty finding other copies of the books he claims to be in 'your local library' to either prove or disprove his claim, at least in the Mason County District Library and the WSCC library.  I did however find a book entitled "The Indians of the Western Great Lakes 1615-1760" by W. Vernon Kinietz (1995) with numerous references to Father Marquette, the index notes 15 different pages.   Not to mention around 20 different sources dealing with Marquette's accomplishments.

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