Readers Write (Aug. 18): Paul Ryan, day care, parenting, marriage amendment, atheists

As a yellow-dog Democrat (the last one barking in the street), I applaud Mitt Romney for selecting Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. I am certain it will make for an interesting race. In part of the vetting process, Romney asked for and viewed 10 years of Ryan's tax returns. I hope Romney will offer the same access to us with his returns.

THOM SANDBERG, MINNEAPOLIS

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Last year, Ryan cosponsored a bill that would declare a fertilized egg a person. This would outlaw all abortions -- including those needed to save the life of the mother -- as well as in-vitro fertilization and the birth control pill. The bill also would force all women having an abortion to have an ultrasound, whether or not she or her doctor wanted it. Romney has said he agrees with that stance.

This is indeed the biggest election of our time: It will determine the direction of women's reproductive rights.

CAROL EMDY, BLOOMINGTON

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MARTY ROSSMANN, ST. PAUL

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Thanks to Christina Brunkhorst for her commentary about the parents of college-bound kids ("Turning our life's work loose," Aug. 15). What a perfect headline for a well-stated article about one of life's transitions.

The timing of the commentary was perfect for my family, too, as we face sending our oldest son off to college for the first time. Brunkhorst put into words what we have been feeling but didn't want to quite face yet. Her gentle and humorous way of expressing those thoughts have validated ours and hopefully have prepared us for the wave of emotions that will be coming.

KATHY LERICK, SAVAGE

Minnesotans must vote against the proposed state constitutional marriage amendment. This closed-minded campaign is without logical justification, unnecessarily forced into public discourse by partisan motives, and representative of a poor understanding of the purpose of a constitution. A constitution isn't intended for policy decisions (the state and counties makes marriage laws -- which clearly must be updated). Rather, it is a document that outlines our form of government and lists our rights and liberties. The Constitution is no place for a silly definition of marriage.

BILL HAUGEN, WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

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I commend the Star Tribune and writer Curt Brown for the timely and thoughtfully researched series about the U.S.-Dakota War ("In the footsteps of Little Crow," Aug. 12-17). This is a story that should be known to all Minnesotans. It isn't, but the newspaper has begun to fill that void. This is journalism at its best. Well done. I hope the Pulitzer folks share my sentiments.

TOM THISS, EXCELSIOR

GARY CHRISTIANSEN, AUSTIN, MINN.

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Not to overstate the obvious, but atheists don't go to church ("We're just your neighbors," Aug. 12). There are no atheist churches that I'm aware of, and, to be sure, neither the Minnesota Atheists nor the American Atheists are a church.

Why am I making this self-evident statement? Because a Star Tribune reporter quoted me as saying, "We're just like everyone else ... doing all these things other churches do." Obviously, I was misquoted. I would never say we are a church. We don't worship supernatural characters; we don't adhere to any dogma; we don't practice sacred rites, and we like to sleep in on Sundays.

What I explained to the reporter is that atheists -- like Christians, Muslims, Jews and everyone else -- are social primates who enjoy social outings and group activities. We're all the same in the sense that we like to have fun and be accepted in our society.

ERIC JAYNE, APPLE VALLEY