Letters to the editor for Tuesday, June 24

Charles Krauthammer criticizes Barack Obama's stated goal of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq ("The Iraqis stand up, and Obama fails to notice," June 14) by singing the praises of the Iraqi army and its ability to stand on its own two (hundred-thousand) feet and effectively operate autonomously.

I doubt if Obama could've made his own argument any better.

STEPHEN MONSON, GOLDEN VALLEY

George Will, in his June 22 column, denies that America has a problem surrounding the high numbers of black men in incarceration and that Americans "feel, and are, safer." Will should have come to the Minneapolis Juneteenth Festival last weekend, as I did.

At the crowded festival, gunshots rang out and bullets flew only inches from a good friend of mine, barely missing her. Three others were not so lucky.

The fact that a celebration of black freedom in this country was disrupted by gunfire from shooters witnesses identified as black men serves as a reminder of the challenges the black community faces. It should also be a reality check for sheltered writers like George Will.

JARED CRUM, MINNEAPOLIS

Here is a group of citizens attempting to live more responsibly by reducing their consumption and being conscious of the impact their everyday choices have on our communities and our world. They should be applauded, not lampooned.

HEIDI MARTY, MOUND

I commend the Star Tribune for its excellent editorial of June 19, "Compromise is key with religion at work."

The Twin Cities has become increasingly ethnically diverse in recent years, and the workplace has been impacted. Diversity can be a positive dimension that expands and enriches the workplace environment, or it can lead to increased misunderstanding, conflict and decreased productivity.

Muslim employees are not monolithic. Their behavior and religious observance will vary in degree based on a number of factors such as national origin, ethnic background, culture, assimilation, level of education, upbringing, role of religion in their lives and so on. Also, among observant Muslims, you will find many interpretations of issues relating to clothing and gender relations.

ZAFAR SIDDIQUI, BLAINE;

PRESIDENT, ISLAMIC RESOURCE GROUP

Recent articles have pointed out the rapid growth of charter schools and loss of students in district schools, particularly Minneapolis. Parents make choices, and many chose to leave district schools and enroll in charter schools. Why should this be, and what can be learned?

For many years as a school district principal, I experienced the frustration of having exciting ideas I and staff proposed turned down by layers of administrators and school boards. Districts are too reluctant to yield decisionmaking authority to teachers and principals. Districts want uniformity and regulation in an era when people desire to exercise creativity in order to meet challenges.

Charter schools fill the bill with small, responsive programs. Nothing prevents districts from doing the same thing other than lack of trust in their own staff to initiate new programs. Many millions of dollars to support change in district schools hasn't produced a winning formula.

WAYNE JENNINGS, ST. PAUL

I applaud the people of the Midwest who have come together to deal with the effects of devastating floods, but it just doesn't compare to Hurricane Katrina.

Does a June 23 writer remember that nearly 2,000 people lost their lives during Katrina and the estimated cost of the damages was $81 billion? I don't know why the writer would use this as an opportunity to attack the victims of one of the greatest national disasters in U.S. history. As an American, I am ashamed by our response to Katrina, and I certainly don't blame the victims.

LOREN OLSON, MINNEAPOLIS

Toyota plans to market a plug-in hybrid, Honda is selling hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars in California, and GM is struggling over whether or not to discontinue the Humvee.

Which Barack Obama should I consider voting for? The Obama for free trade or the one who is against it? The Obama for public financing of campaigns or the one who refuses it? The Obama who will talk to all foreign leaders without preconditions or the one who will require preconditions?

STEPHEN MANDERFELD, HOPKINS

"Other Voices" (June 21) cites the big newspaper oracles criticizing Sen. Barack Obama for opting out of public financing even though none of them reports Sen. John McCain's own problems on the subject, concisely summed up by Josh Marshall of talkingpointsmemo.com on June 20.

"McCain opting into public financing, accepted the spending limits and then profited from that opt-in by securing a campaign saving loan. And then he used some clever, but not clever enough lawyering, to opt back out. And the person charged with saying what flies and what doesn't -- the Republican head of the FEC -- said he's not allowed to do that."

Obama may be disappointing; McCain is violating the law.