Readers Write (Dec. 2): Holidazzle parade, IQ, protests, transgender athletes, Stephen Wilbers, Gopher football

I was quite disappointed and shocked at the Minneapolis Holiday Market downtown ("Holiday sizzler," Nov. 29). After paying $6 per person, we went inside to find shops and food vendors, where one can pay even more. On Nicollet Mall, there was a stage with carolers and a few reindeer. Big deal. This is small, poorly put together, uneventful and not festive at all. I cannot believe that the design for the marketplace was approved by the fire inspector. One fire and there will be many casualties. As you enter, filing past the shops is almost impossible in the bottlenecked shopping area. Once truly inside, there is a small area of wooden buildings serving drinks and food, with hardly a way out, especially if people were to panic. Thanks for nothing, Minneapolis. We want Holidazzle back.

CINDY STOEWER, Minneapolis

INTELLIGENCE

Praise for hard work, persistence over IQ

Charles Murray's article regarding the impact of parents, environment and socioeconomic status on intelligence fails to acknowledge that IQ is just a number and not a measure of success ("Parenting's minimal impact on IQ," Nov. 28). Much more important is a student's attitude, work ethic and mind-set. A high IQ could help a student get into honors classes or a prestigious university, but students who take risks, challenge themselves and are passionate about their learning will ultimately be more successful in their classes and in their lives.

Having taught gifted students at an elementary level, I can attest to the fact that bright, hardworking, passionate students are more productive then those who have high IQs and rest on their laurels. Whether or not Murray realizes it, he undoubtedly contributed to his children's success by encouraging them to be persistent and to learn from their mistakes.

I fear that parents reading this article could discount the importance of their own roles in their children's lives. The data examined in the two studies highlighted in the article put undue emphasis on IQ numbers. In her book "Mindset," Carol Dweck explains how valuing hard work over "being smart" makes sense. In his "16 Habits of Mind," Art Costa details factors more important than IQ that will help us face all of the problems that we encounter in this world.

There are no bumper stickers listing IQ scores and no words of wisdom about their importance. Let's put the focus where it belongs.

Elaine Barthelemy, Apple Valley

Protests

Why we marched, in 1969 and now

Oct. 15, 1969: Dean C. Nelson (Readers Write, Nov. 28) did not participate. I did. My older brother had served in Da Nang and Chu Lai before returning home in January 1969. A classmate had fallen. Thousands marched because siblings and friends were coming home in black, zipped body bags from a war that wasn't ours. We marched, opposing perceived wrongs. Nelson was a 27-year-old Vietnam vet home from the war. He watched us from the bridge and made erroneous assumptions.

Nov. 26, 2014: Dean C. Nelson did not take part. I did, as neither a South High School student nor a truant. I marched with youth and elders. My own closest march-mates were two young women who happened to be black, who happened to be from St. Louis. We held hands, chuckled about the cold temps, cried about another death to gunfire and chanted as one, raising our voices to the sky for justice, equality, for all lives that matter. We marched because we opposed a perceived wrong. We respect that Nelson did what he believed in when he served. But on Nov. 26, Nelson watched, making erroneous assumptions. Again.

Rubin Latz, St. Paul

TRANSGENDER ATHLETES

We're just normal kids who want to play

My name is George and I am writing to you because it is important to me that the transgender athletics policy is passed. I am 11 years old. I identify as a transgender male. As a transgender kid and living as one and meeting other transgender kids and knowing kids who aren't transgender, I have noticed that we are exactly the same and I can't find a single difference between us. It is not about our parts. All kids really care about is having fun. Some athletic kids don't get to play on a team that matches what their identity is. I think that is wrong. No one should be told that they can't play on the team they belong to. By saying a transgender kid can't join their preferred team, you're saying that a "normal" kid can't join a sports team. Because that's what we are, just normal kids.

George Dunkelberger, Minneapolis

ON WRITING

Please don't drop the Wilbers column

Just a quick note to express my dissatisfaction at your decision to discontinue the Stephen Wilbers "Effective Writing" column ("Parting is such sweet sorrow, even for columnists," Business, Dec. 1).

If the Star Tribune needs evidence or assurance that a column of this type has value, they need only take a look around at the scores of misspellings, failed punctuations and misuse of words a person encounters on a daily basis. Wilbers was able to offer great insight and clarity on a subject that has obviously been back-burnered in schools for several decades, resulting in a society where there is little regard for the difference between "to, too and two" or "do, dew and due." I cringe when I see things like a restaurant offering "Lunch Taco's" or see a box behind the counter of a convenience store marked: "Customers Coupon's." And I know I will quietly mumble to myself with every Christmas card I get addressed to "The Trojak's."

If you can dedicate valuable column-inches to fantasy football, I think you can do the same to help ensure that effective communication does not die a slow and painful death. By the way, my decision to use the word "that" in the previous sentence is the result of one of Wilbers' columns, proving that we can all still learn.

Please rethink this decision; we, as a society deserve it.