Readers Write: (Sept. 20): White privilege, renewable energy, Minnesota Vikings, Minneapolis schools, child protection

Stu Bykofsky ("White privilege? Gag me," StarTribune.com/opinion, Sept. 17) writes from the perspective of being what he described as "lower class." One of the interesting points here is that he references class. Class is a big issue. Money and power do afford privileges to people of all races. However, some of the most successful black men in the United States can share stories of being racially profiled or pulled over for dubious reasons even at the height of their power.

To deny the presence of racism and racial privilege is ignoring ongoing realities. This is exemplified when Bykofsky reports that "most African-Americans won't agree with me." In essence, he is arguing a position that he knows is not an everyday reality for nonwhites.

He also says that if we are going to have "elusive conversation about race, both sides have to be willing to listen." In my experience, the only ones not willing to have the conversation are Caucasians.

"Black disadvantage" is not a better term, as he suggests, since it negates the privilege that whites enjoy. I am a white woman. Do I feel like I have "boosted up?" No. It is clear to me that the author misunderstands the meaning of white privilege. I do feel that I enjoy societal comforts in how I am perceived and treated that people who are nonwhite are denied. Understanding white privilege has been transformative in making me a better teacher, friend and human.

What an insult to the readers of the Star Tribune. I reference the commentary by state Sen. John Marty ("Minnesota can control its energy future"). Marty seems proud to have authored a law to make Minnesota a "100 percent renewable-energy economy, eliminating use of fossil fuels."

Does the senator take me and all readers of the Star Tribune for fools? I hate to disturb his slumber, but please tell me: What farmer has a wind-powered tractor? What truck driver makes deliveries with a solar truck? What executive flies off to a meeting in a renewable-powered airplane? How does our good senator get to the store to buy food? How does he visit his family on Thanksgiving?

Now, about the factories that built that airplane, truck or tractor — is all that manufacturing done with fairy dust and magic?

A$ a lifelong Viking$ fan and $upporter, I wi$h to thank team owner$ and the Viking$ admini$trative per$onnel for admitting their mi$take and now "getting it right." It ha$ been a long-$tanding tradition with an e$calating trend for the entire NFL franchi$e to ignore or minimize code-of-conduct violation$. I have a $ugge$tion, however, that before any televi$ed new$ conference participant$ coordinate their turn at the microphone$ to make it cry$tal clear to li$tener$ that deci$ion$ reached were not unduly influenced by political pre$$ure or bu$ine$$ financial concern$, but by integrity and compa$$ion. In a $earch for the truth, Minne$ota wonder$.

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To those who support corporal punishment for children, I have to ask: At what age is it no longer acceptable? If a stick or "switch" is acceptable, what sizes? Is a two-by-four OK? What parts of the body are OK to strike? Why can't we discipline adults in the same manner? Perhaps we could substitute a good "whooping" instead of paying a parking ticket.

In their Sept. 19 counterpoint about school partnering with community organizations ("Minneapolis schools made funding call"), state Sens. Jeff Hayden and Bobby Joe Champion challenged "critics to look at the model and the priorities of these community-based organizations — not the personalities — as they offer constructive solutions to resolving the achievement gap." Based on the information in the Sept. 11 article to which they were responding ("North Side school effort called failure"), the Minneapolis public schools system is doing just that.

Why should the Community Standards Initiative — or any organization, for that matter — continue to receive funding with no documented results? It appears that CSI was chosen without competitive bids, has met no outcome goals for any of the months it has been in operation and has not submitted required reports. In addition, the organization initially received help from the district leadership team to craft a "workable proposal" as well as money and services (a program manager) in order to "create a concrete plan."

In a Sept. 18 article about the Adrian Peterson case, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said that if his agency received "any credible concerns" about Peterson's child, it would respond. On Friday, the county did indeed seek a protection order.

But I wish I had a fuller sense of confidence in child-protection efforts. As an emergency-department physician, I am a mandated reporter for concerns of child abuse. When I make a report, however, my heart sinks, because my perception is that the large majority of the cases are screened out or not accepted. Facts support my perception: Twenty-nine percent of cases reported in Minnesota are accepted for further review, vs. 62 percent nationwide. Why? My partners and I have years of training and medical experience, and when we report concern about a child's well-being, it should be taken seriously.

With recent heightened public attention to this issue, now is the time to make changes. Counties should have standard guidelines for what meets criteria for further investigation, rather than having widely variant practices. Strengthen county programs by increasing state funding, which is currently only about 15 percent of the county budgets. Hopefully, all these issues can be addressed in the next legislative session.