Readers Write for Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

9/11 MASTERMIND IN COURT

A military trial would be too good for him

"The fiend of 9/11 attacks doesn't deserve civilian court" (Letter of the Day, Nov. 17) has it backwards. A military trial would give Khalid Shaikh Mohammed the respect he wants, but does not deserve.

Terrorists, whether jihadists or the so-called "militia" cohorts of Timothy McVeigh, like to think of themselves as "soldiers," deserving a measure of honor and respect. To try a terrorist in a military court would play right into his hands.

It is far better to haul him into civilian court and to treat him as the criminal he is. Indeed, a civilian trial will compound his humiliation, since there will likely be Jews and women on the jury.

MARK BRADLEY, ROSEVILLE

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While Khalid Shaikh Mohammed may well be destined for conviction and execution, it is utterly inappropriate for the president, an attorney, to declare prior even to an indictment that the 9/11 mastermind will be convicted and put to death. I wonder if KSM will now have a legitimate basis to claim he cannot receive a fair trial in New York City.

Conservatives shouldn't be hijacking health care reform to legislate on reproductive rights. We need to focus on health care, and the millions of Americans who need real reform, and leave abortion where it ought to be -- a private decision between a woman and her doctor.

RONDELLA BUSCHETTE, ST. PAUL

SCALING BACK AT HCMC

Why doesn't Legislature restore funding instead?

Regarding your Nov. 19 front-page article "HCMC to reduce charity care, cut jobs": My husband and I are two of the 30 mentioned as cardiac rehab patients from outside the system.

Ten years ago my husband, then 83, had a quintuple bypass operation, fraught with problems, at another hospital. Though very weak, he began rehab at HCMC three months later.

Imagine my relief knowing that additional eyes were watching him for trouble: the nurses at HCMC Cardiac Rehab.

This program requires only one nurse (usually catching up on computer work) and an assistant for an hour six times a week covering the 30 attendees. However, their ability to spot heart problems has kept him out of the hospital for 10 years. That's a pretty good return on investment and exactly the kind of follow-up care that our national government is advocating

It appears that most of the clinics at HCMC are doing the same thing: keeping very sick people out of the hospital. Let us hope the Legislature in February will return funding to one of the great hospitals in the country.

INGRID SEVERSON LUND, BLOOMINGTON

DAY OF GIVING IN MINNESOTA

Especially helpful to small nonprofits

Thank you to the St. Paul Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Bush Foundation for putting up matching funds to spur giving to Minnesota nonprofits on Give to the Max Day (Nov. 17). Give to the Max Day gave small nonprofits that can't afford professional fundraisers an opportunity to generate excitement over giving without the usual costs of fundraising.

The $3,000 we received will help the Minnesota Genealogical Society help Minnesotans discover their family history. The upcoming holidays are a perfect time for Minnesotans to start.

J.H. FONKERT, ST. PAUL; PRESIDENT,

MINNESOTA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Announcing top scorers

It's a good way to motivate all students

Regarding the Nov. 16 article about the teacher who posted the top three scores on the board and broke the law: As a student, I strive to have my name on that board for one of the top scores. I don't feel pressure when my name is posted -- it is a motivational tool to help students work hard and strive for success. I believe the law should be overturned.

MITCH GAVIN, EDEN PRAIRIE

TAXPAYER WATCHDOG

He remembers where the money came from

Minnesota has a budget shortfall of $2 billion, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty chose to put a stop to further deficits by his use of the unallotment process. The Democrats and free spenders are now filing suit because we are not spending more money that we don't have.

Seems to me Pawlenty is one of the few public officials who is looking out for our money. I say thanks to a governor who actually gets it.

BOB ADAMS, PLYMOUTH

BUS ACCIDENT

Why aren't seat belts standard equipment?

According to the Nov. 19 Star Tribune, "every person on the bus was either injured or killed" in a crash near Austin. Why is it that seat belts must be used in a car but buses don't even have any?

NORMAN HOLEN, RICHFIELD