In his 1978 run for Congress, Martin Olav Sabo, speaker of the Minnesota House at that time, was challenged by five or six aspirants for the Fifth District seat. I don't remember the others, but I was the only woman candidate ("State loses a legislative giant," front page, March 14).

Minnesota had seven DFL members of Congress, but at that time not one was a woman. The late 1970s was a time of a strong women's movement here and around the country. Koryne Horbal, Joan Growe, Carol Flynn, Pat Davies and I were all politically involved, encouraging women to run for office and trying to affect the balance of power through elected office.

At the 1978 DFL Party endorsing convention, I was the only challenger still standing. We took Sabo to five ballots. It was a proud moment for me and the many who supported me.

I know the party did the right thing. Sabo was an outstanding congressman, bringing honor to the state he represented and the Congress to which he contributed so much. Later on, Martin and Sylvia became neighbors. It was an honor to know him. He will be missed.

Lois K. Gibson, Minneapolis

• • •

Just a brief tribute to the memory of Martin Olav Sabo. One summer day in the early 2000s, I decided to take in a Twins day game at the Metrodome. It must have been a year when the Twins were doing well, because the line at the ticket window was quite long. Much to my surprise, I discovered that Congressman Sabo was standing in line also, only a few places ahead of me. He obviously was not using his position or influence to gain special treatment or privileged seating, but was waiting to buy his ticket just like the rest of the common Joes and Janes who were there that day. That in the proverbial nutshell really speaks volumes about the true essence of the man. While I may not have agreed with all (or even most) of his positions as an elected official, I always deeply admired him as a truly decent, down-to-earth, thoughtful and honorable man.

James Denn, Brooklyn Park
STEREOTYPES

I, too, am a U.S. citizen, so why are my opinions just dismissed?

In a world that implies the dominance of men, especially white men, you can imagine the struggle of a black, Muslim woman. The endless stereotypes that make it difficult to fit in as a normal member of society. Lately, I find it hard to participate in discussions concerning government policies, because I feel ignored and insignificant. When I try to explain why I disagree with certain laws, my opinions are disregarded. I find myself wondering: Is it because I don't look like an "American"? But what does it really mean to be a U.S. citizen? Do race, religion and gender define you? Is it ethical for people to judge my political stance or patriotism based on my skin color and-or beliefs? People have made me believe that my thoughts on political issues don't matter since I'm not really an "American." I have succumbed to the constant belittling of my feelings, and it's unacceptable. We need to address the division between the majorities — meaning white citizens — and the minorities who feel like their views don't matter. No matter what some people have to say, I am a U.S. citizen and I deserve to have my voice be heard.

Kifah Mohamed, Eden Prairie
ROLE MODELS

The phrase ''like a girl' can be a compliment instead of an insult

I understand the March 14 letter writer's concern regarding the negative use of the phrase "like a girl" (" 'Like a girl: So much more than an insult"). As a children's book author who writes about girls in sports, I am dedicated to empowering young girls with strong, smart, brave characters and working to change the context of "like a girl," from belittling to empowering. Young girls have role models who play baseball like a girl (Mo'ne Davis), play tennis like a girl (Serena Williams) and play soccer like a girl (the entire U.S. women's soccer team), to name a few. Applied to such accomplished athletes, "like a girl" is hardly an insult. But every little girl should own this phrase as well as confidence in her abilities, no matter what they are. Fortunately, my effort writing for the Go! Go! Sports Girl Dolls is part of a larger conversation about gender equity and stereotypes. From corporate advertising to social media (and letter-to-the-editor writers), people are recognizing the need to change the meaning of "like a girl" into a compliment that celebrates the reality of strong capable females.

Kara Douglass Thom, Chaska

The writer is the author of the "Go! Go! Sports Girl" book series.

CIVILITY

Should editors have printed encryption letter's ending?

Please take seriously the writer of the March 16 letter "No place on the editorial page for that kind of vulgar slam," Readers Write). As a frequent contributor to your opinion pages, I too was deeply saddened that you not only approved a reader's "ingenious" language as appropriate, but you put a halo around it by offering his opinion as your featured letter ("Why, oh, why, might we be wary?", Readers Write, March 15).

It's alarming to realize that a respected publication has welcomed presidential candidate Donald Trump's vulgarity into civil discourse — welcomed it quickly and importantly (unless you consider your readers' contributions to be trivial). This might be the time to mention that Marco Rubio promptly disavowed his own clever nastiness directed toward his political opponent, telling the world that he had embarrassed himself and even his children.

This isn't simply a matter of naughty words; this is an authentic measurement of the quality of our political sagacity. Frankly, I think you owe your readers an apology, as well as those of us who have trusted you as an effective venue for our own thoughts.

Shawn Gilbert, Bloomington

• • •

To the gentle reader who was offended to read your spotlight letter's phrase "a single, unencrypted digit," I say thou doth protest too much. There is nothing profound in the profane, but in this case, vulgarity is in the eye of the beholder. For instance, if some pervert dismantles a one-way peephole in a hotel room and films a faux celebrity sports reporter brushing her hair in the nude, then posts that clip on the Internet, that sports reporter is awarded $55 million in a court of law. But if the FBI, CIA or the NSA does essentially the same thing with your computer device and they call it "national security," there is no check, no balance, no court of appeal. Tell me, honestly, which example is more vulgar? Is your life so cheap, your privacy so inconsequential, the threat so great that you would lay down your human dignity on the altar of "national security"? Then you, gentle reader, are not the best judge of vulgarity. Besides, the brilliantly written letter you are referring to is making use of the literary device called the entendre. Not only is the writer referring to the "single, unencrypted digit" you found offensive, but also to the computer reading of the digit one and zero (not one), which comprises the language of its code, and to a finger that government security agencies have in all of our lives each time we turn on our computer device and venture onto the landscape of zeros and ones. The editorial staff of the Star Tribune chose wisely to publish, because this letter writer posited a polite, proper response to government meddling into his personal affairs.

Benjamin Cherryhomes, Hastings