REBUILDING IRAQ

It's the American way

Al Franken has an ad on TV about the money we are spending to repair Iraq. He says the money should be spent here at home.

No matter whether you believe the war in Iraq was just or unjust, America has always helped repair and put countries back on their feet. After World War II -- a war we did not start -- we had the Marshall Plan and we repaired Japan. I know it earned us respect around the world.

We must now earn respect in the Middle East. Maybe Al should rethink his view on rebuilding Iraq. It may help us with Iran, Syria and Jordan.

BILL BRAM, BROOKLYN CENTER

PROTESTS AT THE RNC

A preemptive strike

Katherine Kersten's fear-mongering about potential problems at the Republican National Convention has led her to Orwellian conclusions ("Legal challenge is in line with plans to disrupt GOP convention," June 24).

We'll be sorry, she warns, if we don't take preemptive action now. Sound familiar? It's this style of thinking that not only got us into a wholly unnecessary war in Iraq, but motivates thousands of protesters to confront the political party most responsible for that tragedy.

PATRICK CIERNIA, MINNEAPOLIS

Might isn't enough Leave it to Katherine Kersten to suggest that attorneys arguing that "[t]he possibility that a small number of people might try to block a roadway or impede access to a bridge does not justify stripping 100,000 people of their First Amendment rights" is simply "lawyerly armchair musing."

For all Kersten's rhetorical bluster on patriotism, it never ceases to amaze that she is so willing to throw my Constitutional rights under the bus at the slightest suggestion someone may do something at sometime in the future that presses the boundaries of freedom or is otherwise wholly illegal.

Does she really have such little confidence in our system of government?

BRYAN HAUGEN, MAYER

SERVICE FOR GAYS CANCELED

The final holdout

The conflict between the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and parishioners of St. Joan of Arc over their Gay Pride celebration serves to illustrate the importance of two data just published by the Pew Forum in its study of Religion in America.

Its survey indicates that a majority of U.S. Catholics (58 percent) currently favor acceptance of gay lifestyles and that such approval is proportionately greater in the Catholic Church than in other Christian churches or in the nation as a whole.

The same survey indicates that 77 percent U.S. Catholics believe that Christian doctrines are open to a variety of defensible interpretations and not restricted to just one.

These dispassionate statistics disclose stubborn realities of modern Catholicism that cannot possibly be extinguished by mere official rulings.

Without sympathetic dialogue, the hierarchy and the people will continue to pass as ships in the night except when collisions briefly focus their attention.

JAMES GAFFNEY, ST. PAUL

LEADING ON ENERGY

Demand real change

Where are our real strong political leaders when we need them? We need national leaders who will demonstrate real leadership on important issues.

Where are the candidates who are challenging all Americans to reduce their energy use by 10 percent for a month -- just to show the world we can make a dent? Pinch the speculators right back!

For the month of July, they should ask all Americans to track how much energy they use. Then see if they can reduce that by 10 percent in August by combining trips, checking tire pressure frequently, driving slower, increasing the programmed thermostat controlling their air conditioners by a degree or two, etc.

We need strong, innovative and bold leaders to challenge us with new ideas and show the world that we can do things if we put our minds to it and we can free ourselves from our dependence on oil.

MARTIN MAYERCHAK, OTSEGO

MUSLIMS IN THE WORKPLACE

They should compromise

If compromise is the key in dealing with religion in the workplace, as the Star Tribune's June 19 editorial states, why not compromise with religion in public places or in schools?

The president of the Islamic Resources Group wrote that we should all get educated about religious practices that might affect the workplace. If this is all that is needed, we should all get educated and compromise about a religious symbol on a town seal or whether we should stand when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Why is it that we have to be educated or compromise or be tolerant? Shouldn't our Muslim friends also be willing to compromise or become more tolerant? This great country was founded upon such principles of equality for all. This country is a great melting pot, and that is what makes us strong.

I, for one, do not care what a people do within the confines of their own space -- so long as it is not illegal or immoral -- but when you start telling us that we must be educated or compromise to accept your point of view, then there is no compromise. Only your point of view.

TOM KAYE, BLAINE