The writer of the Feb. 1 article "Let's not mince words: Banning books like 'Maus' is the work of bigots" rightly excoriates censorious parents and school boards that are behind a recent spate of book bans. There is simply no place for this sort of censorship in a country founded on enlightenment liberal values of freedom of thought and discourse.

I do, however, think the writer engages in rhetorical sleight of hand by omission when she highlights some of the books that populate the American Library Association's annual list of the most frequently banned books. Near the top of this list, as she explains, are books that address the experiences of historically marginalized groups. The implication is that this is the work of reactionary — possibly racist or transphobic — parents and school boards standing in the way of a progressive conception of social progress. This very likely is the case.

But left out of the article are books Nos. 7 and 8 on the ALA list: Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" and John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." Inconveniently for the book-banners-are-reactionary narrative, the impetus to ban these two titles most commonly comes from the political left. Just last week a Seattle-area school board voted to remove Lee's work from student required reading lists. This occurred in a county that voted 58% Democratic in the last presidential election.

Traditionally liberal values such as freedom of inquiry are not only instrumental to the search for truth, they are also social technologies that facilitate cohesion across a vast and increasingly diverse country. A collective commitment to refrain from book bans eliminates hyperpartisan debates about what is banned and who has standing to decide. In our tumultuous political environment, it's easy to forget that at the end of the day we need to find a way to live together and peacefully contribute to common civic projects. Fortunately, a transideological avoidance of censorship politics would make this a little easier.

Brian J. Krause, Minneapolis

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Regarding the article on the campaign across the country by citizens to ban books: Are these the same citizens who object to government programs and vaccinations because it will lead to communism? Well, guess what: Look no further, book banning will do it.

It seems unfair to blame the police officers who actually have to restrain uncontrollable and threatening individuals, usually men, and employ postures proven effective at restraining people in an altered mental state ("Ignore ketamine report, officers told," Feb. 1). Perhaps the police officers can be faulted for overapplying their weight on the person or doing so for too long, but the fact is that uncooperative individuals must be controlled. Yes, sometimes an opportunity for de-escalation is missed. Situations change rapidly, and police officers asking for ketamine by name reveals an aversion to physical altercation.

The blame for the death of George Floyd and other unfortunate, sometimes unnecessary incidents involving uncooperative people lies with the supervisor and immediate managers on the precinct level, who allow the insulting, degrading attitudes toward fellow human beings to not only emerge but thrive. Yet when a subject has resisted arrest, must be fitted with spit hood and strapped down on a stretcher, it is we taxpayers who recoil at such uncontrolled behavior. But the laughing at these situations, the police officers seeming to prescribe medication and color-of-law retaliation is wrong.

Bruce Lundeen, Minneapolis

Although I consider myself a rabid environmentalist and a committed urbanite, I have to say that year-round dwellers of the Iron Range concerned about the lack of good employment options have an excellent point ("One town, two voices," front page, Jan. 31). Full-time jobs in the mining industry are not easily replaced, along with all the coattail business that a major employer brings along. It's not enough for those of us who want to preserve the pristine nature of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to say no to mines: We have to figure out where else we'll get the minerals for our cellphones and solar panels, and we have to provide something to those who want decent jobs in Ely and Virginia and Mountain Iron.

The former is more abstract, but it's a question of fairness: If we aren't willing to sacrifice our wilderness, who will make the sacrifice instead of us? Fellow citizens living by beautiful natural areas in a different state? Residents of poorer nations with lax industrial regulations? Maybe we need to invest in a sister city to acknowledge our gratitude for what they provide to us and to others.

We liberals talk a lot about our big tent. Let's make sure that tent fully extends Up North and in all directions outstate.

Jeff Naylor, Minneapolis

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Kudos on the front-page article regarding the state court of appeals turning back the PolyMet wastewater permit ("PolyMet permit turned back," Jan. 25). It was interesting to read how all sides in the argument claim victory in this decision. But a single sentence near the end of the article made me wonder why this is even up for discussion.

"PolyMet's open-pit mine would destroy more than 900 acres of wetlands on former Superior National Forest land and generate more than 200 million tons of polluted water to be stored behind a dam that would require indefinite maintenance."

Vincent Wyckoff, Minneapolis

The writer of the letter about vaccination requirements ("Some do end up going elsewhere," Feb. 1) said that Minneapolis restaurants may lose business because of the vaccine mandate fails to mention an equally important counterpoint. How much business do they gain from people who, for their safety and that of the restaurant staff, choose to patronize only those establishments that uphold the mandate? I do this. It is one of the keys to my decision on where to dine.

Vic Spadaccini, Grand Rapids, Minn.

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Just a little common sense here, people, regarding vaccine cards. Smartphone cameras are ubiquitous nowadays, so a scan of your vaccine card is as far away as your phone — that is, unless you are not vaccinated. Which I suspect is behind all the moaning.