Letters to the editor for Friday, March 28, 2008

Judging from his March 27 column, Nick Coleman is brilliant at sniffing out a "political agenda [that] hid behind talk with heroes." We sure wouldn't want students to be duped into thinking our veterans are worthy of setting foot in a public school to offer their perspective.

We simply cannot allow people who have fought in Iraq to voice an opinion or tell their story. How would they know the truth about what's going on there? After all, we have objective reporters like Coleman and a sea of great left-wing pencil patriots who've sacrificed greatly for our nation to tell us war is bad.

WILLIAM IRWIN, FARMINGTON

How about a debate? Forest Lake High made the right decision in canceling the event for Vets for Freedom. A public high school venue is not appropriate for a political group like Vets for Freedom to spread a partisan message on military involvement in Iraq.

Yes, their service is honorable and deserving of praise, but that is not the issue here.

Impressionable high school students should not be manipulated by a one-sided view on a critical issue like Iraq. If the high school were to hold a debate or forum that presented opposing viewpoints from veterans or veterans groups, that would be appropriate. But to allow only one veterans' group with its partisan viewpoint on Iraq to create the impression that it represents how all veterans think is wrong.

RICHARD HENDERSON, LAKEVILLE

I doubt it, since they are on the other side of the political fence from the Vets for Freedom.

JAMES HOWE, NORTH BRANCH

A missed opportunity We often discuss controversial subjects in my social studies classes. I have two questions for the officials at Forest Lake High School about the National Heroes Tour: If not here, where? If not now, when?

Schools are the birthplace of discussion. When some people threatened to protest, they should have been allowed to express their First Amendment rights as long as they did not disrupt the learning process. However, caving in to the pressure of a few by canceling the event is appeasement, not leadership.

In this case, I congratulate the students who went to the American Legion to listen and ask questions, whether they agreed with the presentation or not. I also commend the Legion for opening its doors. I cannot do the same for the officials at Forest Lake High School. They dropped the ball.

In the March 26 Blog House, Tim O'Brien decided to run a partisan attack from a DFL blogger against Rep. Michele Bachmann. O'Brien decided to note their off-topic attacks and even used the phrase 'dim bulb' as a lead in.

My blog, residualforces.com, also addressed the subject, but mine was in support of Bachmann and her plan to save the light bulb, so it was ignored.

I wrote, "In an attempt to reverse the stupefying move by the dim bulbs who wrote and supported the energy bill, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R MN6) is authoring a bill to bring back the light bulb. ... In case you didn't know, the recent energy bill has put the incandescent light bulb on the endangered species list and will ban the sale of them altogether in the very near future. Bachmann opposed the social engineering Energy bill which actually created no new energy and, in fact, was designed to make it harder and more expensive to get reliable and abundant energy."

Maybe my comments just didn't fit the anti-Bachmann agenda. Liberals always seem to demand choice, so long as they get to control the options. (You can also find some more fabulous factual coverage at truthvmachine.com.)

So for those of you who read O'Brien's column, please keep in mind that what Bachmann is trying to do is allow you to choose the light bulb you want -- it has nothing to do with bedrooms.

Don't stop there I would like to thank Rep. Bachmann for bravely taking this initiative with the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, citing our nation's embrace of energy efficiency as one "of science over fads and fashions." This is truly an important and monumental step in preserving the integrity of our free market.

I was hoping that after this bill triumphantly passes through legislation, Rep. Bachmann might be able to help undo another fad that has worn thin: the inability for me to use lead paint. Sure, it may have poisoned a child here and there, but why should we as consumers continue to suffer this other "massive Big Brother intrusion into our homes and our lives" as a result?

JUSTIN JAGOE, MINNEAPOLIS

Odd priorities Let's see if I have this correct. Rep. Bachmann wants to rescind the law that requires that the incandescent light bulbs be phased out in favor of fluorescent bulbs.

Health care costs are bankrupting our country, we have the highest national debt in history, the war in Iraq has no end in sight, unemployment is rising, homes are being foreclosed at an alarming rate, and her concern is light bulbs?

In a March 26 counterpoint, Heather Martens wrote, "Keeping guns out of the wrong hands is a basic responsibility." This is the only thing she wrote that made sense. I have been around guns all my life and have never had one stolen or had an accident. I am a responsible law-abiding gun owner.

Why does Martens want to keep me from exercising my Second Amendment rights?

PATRICK TITTERINGTON,