Letters to the editor for Monday, April 28

I read with sadness about the untimely death of 8-year-old Hunter Klaseus, who was accidentally shot by his father when they were turkey hunting (Star Tribune, April 21).

This unfortunate death is all the more tragic because it was avoidable. Hunter's father, Anthony Klaseus, violated one of the cardinal rules of safe hunting -- always be sure of your target before pulling the trigger. Anthony Klaseus apparently fired his 12-gauge shotgun in the direction of a rustling sound in the woods, thinking there was a turkey hidden in the long grass, not knowing it was his son.

I don't know Klaseus, his hunting experience or his knowledge of the rules of safe hunting, but, as an adult, he was responsible for knowing and following those rules. Instead, a young boy has been killed, and his grieving father will regret that hasty shot for the rest of his life.

PAUL RUFFLE, PLYMOUTH

I cannot believe that you decided to report that Anthony Klaseus had not purchased a proper license to hunt turkeys. Do you at the Star Tribune have no compassion?

This man and his family have had the unimaginable happen to them. Let them grieve for their loss and let them be. You should be ashamed of yourselves for letting this story go to print.

JOHN BASHAM, MINNEAPOLIS

Will implies that, by ridding ourselves of the dastardly National Education Association, we can accomplish such. After all, what profession, or any group of employees, needs, or wants, representation when it comes to negotiating pay and working conditions? Why, that's downright un-American. But, of course, we would still require our teachers to have college degrees, and in many cases advanced degrees. So we should expect any competent teaching applicant to come to the table with at least $40,000 of student loan debt. With the promise of an ultimate annual salary of, say, $40,000 per year and 50 kids per class, we should expect competent teachers to flood school districts with job applications!

And once this has all been accomplished, we can finally lower those pesky property taxes. Why, I'm surprised Will hasn't been named secretary of education yet.

TOM OBERT, ALEXANDRIA, MINN.

I was pleased to read Michael Gerson's balanced and well-written column about the Catholic Church (April 23). Wish we could read more such reports in your newspaper on the indispensable work that the church has done for more than 2,000 years in the meeting the physical needs of the needy and in defending reason, morality and human dignity.

LAURA AHLQUIST, BLOOMINGTON

Al is not doing what he's doing because he's an ambitious political climber. He wants to bring his talent for understanding and debating the issues to where it will do the most good. At that he deserves a chance.

PATRICK MCCauley, Edina

Steve Sack's April 23 cartoon depicting terrorists inside Jimmy Carter's head with the caption "Habitat for Inhumanity" is insulting to the former president and to anyone who refuses to buy into the Bush/ Cheney propaganda about the Middle East. Although Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Carter should not have visited with Hamas because he might "interfere with the peace process," Carter accomplished more in two days toward real peace between Israel and the Palestinians than Rice (or any Bushite) has accomplished in seven years.

Where, for instance, is any evidence that there is a peace process that would provide justice for the Palestinian people? Would not a similar resistance group arise in the United States if we were occupied by another country that wanted to subjugate us? Would we then be "terrorists?" Would other countries refuse to talk to us?

BERNICE VETSCH, ST. PAUL

The latest USA Today/Gallup Poll shows 63 percent of Americans think President Bush made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq. In the April 18-20, 2008, Gallup Poll, Bush's disapproval rating was 69 percent, the highest presidential disapproval rating in Gallup's 73-year history.

I'd be interested in knowing who conducted the polls the writer cites, how the polling questions were worded, when the polls were taken and of whom these questions were asked.

As my grandpa used to say, "It don't add up."

ADAM GRANGER, ST. PAUL

Two university professors are accused of drawing salaries from two institutions at the same time. Not good. How can such an arrangement be fair to both institutions? Good question.

Oh, I know, they will say these additional boards help them in their principal work; that they are really engaged in activities that benefit their employer; and that the pay is just part of their overall remuneration. Uh huh. Apparently it's not real money and they have no self-interest, although they do put the money in their pocket.