Letters

Media reports fuel 'rice shortages'

Rice prices are rising and we may not see them decreasing for some time, because of the crop failures and exporting restrictions placed on rice.

Could a portion of this crisis be a media-created panic? How else could these rice buyers know to stock up?

Media created shortages are not uncommon. In 1973 Johnny Carson went on the Tonight Show and told millions of viewers that there was a toilet paper shortage. The next day store shelves around the United States were depleted of toilet paper as customers stocked up. Although Carson admitted that what he said was meant as a gag, people continued to buy. Supplies returned to normal after three weeks.

This media-induced frenzy on rice will continue to drive up prices and, combined with increasing energy prices, the consumer's pockets will be affected.

JESSICA LEE, ST. PAUL

Jean Hopfensperger's article about the Wakanheza Project and children's meltdowns struck a chord for me. Public meltdowns are one of parents' worst child-rearing nightmares. The Wakanheza Project's effort to prevent child abuse by enlisting other adults to help out when your child is in the midst of a tantrum is laudable.

As a psychologist, I work with parents of children with autism, who have a particular challenge. Their children's tantrums are often far more severe and last longer than those of typical youngsters. Parents coax, cajole, hug, warn, scold, and yes, sometimes, physically punish their child. They eventually lose confidence in their ability to parent their own child.

In a study of child abuse reported as part of a Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program, caregivers in another state reported that 18.5 percent of children with autism had been physically abused. Prevention is the best solution rather than waiting for an outburst to occur, and then frantically trying put out the fire. There are fairly simple steps parents can learn. Planning and anticipating trouble situations is the key, together with providing your child with alternatives to having a meltdown. My website, travis-thompson.net, has some useful suggestions, as well as Chapter 8 in my book, "Straight Talk About Autism." Though the book focuses on autism, the same ideas apply to most other children as well. If you can see the world through your child's eyes and plan accordingly, it's usually possible to prevent most outbursts.

TRAVIS THOMPSON, ROSEVILLE

I don't know what to say; I'm flabbergasted. My son, Julian, just came home a couple weeks ago with a souvenir from his choir trip in San Francisco. He purchased a sword in Chinatown and when he came home, it went through baggage claim and that was it. I was excited to see it. He was excited to show it to me. He wasn't suspended, expelled or arrested.

The two boys who were expelled should be given an apology and readmitted into their Burnsville school without repercussion. They didn't do anything wrong. What country do we live in?

JENNIFER VAN EGDOM, WOODBURY

As the 150th birthday of our state approaches, I'm appalled and ashamed of my fellow Minnesotans with regards to the needless, wanton disregard to the beauty of our state -- our littered freeway and highways. The amount of trash and debris along these avenues of travel shows no respect to our environment. And here we are on the doorstep of celebrating our 150 years of statehood. We are advertising for tourists to share in the moment, who will most likely travel our roads this year. Great impression. I grew up with that ad of the Native American shedding a tear overlooking a polluted river. Now there is nothing to remind people not to litter except for an occasional sign that is posted.

Fellow citizens, dispose of your waste and trash properly. Don't use our roadway as your dumping grounds.

RON MORGAN, SOUTH ST. PAUL