Readers Write (Aug. 19): Presidents, same-sex marriage, Scott LeDoux

During his last stops in Illinois this week, President Obama compared himself to Abraham Lincoln in regard to the way he is being criticized. He did it with a straight face.

To go back in history: During the 1988 debates for vice president, Dan Quayle compared himself to President John Kennedy in regard to how his years of service in the Senate qualified him in the event he had to be president.

This prompted the famous response from his opponent, Lloyd Bentsen: "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Mr. President, you're no Abraham Lincoln.

TOM CARLSON, NEW BRIGHTON

• • •

The religious beliefs of presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry deserve to be up for discussion because these two candidates in particular have used their religion to promote themselves as candidates for public office.

As a result, people of blind faith have to make up illogical explanations or 21st-century interpretations so that the bitter pill tastes a bit more sweet for their followers.

Judgment, fairness and critical-thinking skills are essential traits for a presidential candidate. The candidates' religious beliefs are fair game for testing those qualifications.

Mrs. Bachmann, the Bible was very clear; you must be submissive to your husband if you believe in it. And no, you cannot have your cake and eat it, too.

CORBY PELTO, PLYMOUTH

• • •

Would she "respect" her husband in the same way in decisions she would make as president?

JOHN ZIMMERMN, LAKEVILLE

* * *

It's great that we have 15 months before Minnesota votes on its amendment to save marriage ("Brace for a 15-month brawl," Aug. 18).

That time span gives me more than one chance to watch the wonderful film "For the Bible Tells Me So," and to get other people to watch it with me. It's readily available on Netflix.

FRANK ZIEGLER, LINO LAKES, MINN.

• • •

The petition by the Parents Action League to the Anoka-Hennepin school district that it keep its policy on neutrality -- asserting, among other things, that "homosexual behavior exposes participants to many life-threatening health risks" ("Petition supports Anoka-Hennepin GLBT policy," Aug. 18) -- is enlightening in its nuance.

When they say "HB," they clearly mean "PB" (promiscuous behavior). Promiscuity does indeed threaten public health. But let's be clear. Promiscuity is a behavior. It's not a sexual orientation, as are homosexuality and heterosexuality.

When did gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons become the poster children for promiscuity? Has this behavior not been the overwhelming province of our heterosexual brethren since time began?

To be sure, I have never attended a conference where I have not witnessed a high percentage of men and women liaising clandestinely or overtly for sex while their spouses, fiancées or significant others await at home, some, perhaps, engaging in a covert tryst of their own.

Nobody objects to efforts to discourage promiscuity as a threat to public health.

However, I take issue when bigotry borne of ignorance and misinformation rise up to endorse a policy to suppress the support that homosexual children so desperately long for and the sensitivity counseling that their heterosexual peers must have in order to begin accepting them as equals.

JOE EVANS, MINNEAPOLIS

* * *

He told me: A boxer who had fought the great ones. I got in touch with LeDoux and asked if he would be willing to meet with my son. He very graciously accepted the request.

He arrived without fanfare, and for the next few hours told my son stories about his most famous fights. It was Scott's wedding anniversary that day, and his wife called a few times to see when he would be home. He assured her that it would be soon and continued telling his stories.

On that day, this mountain of a man reached out to my son, who was frail and sickly, and touched his spirit in countless ways. He left my son with an autographed photo and an autograph on a pair of boxing gloves. He also left his imprint on our lives.