LINDBERGH VS. HUMPHREY

Will new signs end terminal confusion?

Before we rush out and spend $2.2 million on new signage for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, let's determine how many of the 20,000 people confused by the Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals will still be confused by Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

PATRICK FOLEY, NORTHFIELD, MINN.

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Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper and easier to simply put Lindbergh or Humphrey and a simple direction on the ticket vs. spending millions on new signs?

CORA M. BIERNAT, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

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I cannot believe the Metropolitan Airports Commission is considering spending more than $2 million to update the airport terminal signs.

Why is it our responsibility to make sure a person knows which is his or her terminal? If you are not sure, maybe you should check it out before you get to the airport. There are many ways to do this.

Please discourage this wasteful spending and put the money to better use.

KATHY OLBERG, ELK RIVER

GAINES' STORY

Who was helped by throwing her in jail?

I really appreciated seeing the July 5 feature story on Naomi Gaines, the woman who six years ago threw her twin infants off the Wabasha Bridge, then jumped herself. Gaines and one of the boys survived; the other drowned.

If one thinks hard about the line that divides civilized societies from uncivilized ones, there might be several criteria. But here's one: In a civilized society, a mother who did such a horrible deed would be committed to a mental health facility and given appropriate treatment for her obvious mental illness. In an uncivilized, unenlightened, prescientific society, such as ours, she would be sent to prison -- as Gaines was, and where she remains.

JOHN TREPP, MINNEAPOLIS

DNR RULES

No different standards for different cultures

I was dismayed to read the July 4 article "Mixing fishing rules and cultures." It should not be up to government agencies to spend taxpayer dollars to provide translations of fishing rules in various languages or hire Hmong officers.

If the Southeast Asian communities are the fastest-growing segment of the state's population, their leaders should hold classes to educate them as to DNR rules regarding hunting and fishing.

SHIRLEY JACOBS, MINNEAPOLIS

THE LONG SENATE RACE

Launch an investigation to discover the winner

The July 1 editorial, "A gracious finish to an epic drama," followed the Minnesota Supreme Court's lead and soft-pedals the troubling fact that even though voters have to strictly comply with requirements for absentee voting, those who count the votes don't.

Shouldn't Minnesota's media outlets be conducting an independent investigation? We had five newspapers in the close 2000 election checking every little dangling chad.

LOREN PILLER, MINNEAPOLIS

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Parents need to do their part to keep kids trim

As a physician working in a pediatric weight management clinic, I am not heartened by Minnesota's standing in terms of childhood obesity (Star Tribune, July 2). There probably is something to the notion that compared to other states, Minnesota's children may be more physically active. However, think how much healthier we could be if we did not offer food to our children at every turn!

When one of the parents from my kid's T-ball team suggested that we provide healthy snacks (fruit and water) for the children, the opposition was astounding. Although no one on the T-ball team currently has a weight problem, they are all learning unhealthy eating habits as our culture of indulgence is getting entrenched.

I'm not antisugar or antifat, but a T-ball game is not a special occasion worthy of a food treat. Eventually, poor dietary habits will lead to obesity in several of the players, with the accompanying increased risk for hypertension and diabetes.

To curb the obesity epidemic, it will take the concerted effort of everyone to create an environment where kids can be physically active and eat healthfully. Banning nonnutritious snacks after athletic practices or competitions would be a start.

CLAUDIA FOX, MINNEAPOLIS