Readers Write (Dec. 31): Mall of America, First Ladies, Sen. Amy Koch, crime, obituaries, gray wolves

The Mall of America brawl that occurred Monday was a disgrace ("Chaos as mob swarms at MOA," Dec. 27). Like any shopping venue, the mall is there for customers to have a joyful experience.

Whether they're eating at the food court or buying merchandise, no one should have to worry about brawling. This kind of melee hurts merchants as well as shoppers.

People may choose to shop online rather than venture into a mall where they have safety concerns.

In this current economic climate, merchants can't afford to lose customers to this kind of nonsensical behavior. Uncivilized people, please stay home and leave shoppers alone.

BILL MILLER, LAS VEGAS, NEV.

* * *

First ladies have long tried to address national issues that are nonpartisan and good for everyone. Even so, they're ridiculed and made the target of jokes.

To that end, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., recently said that Mrs. Obama has a "big butt." He later apologized after public outcry.

Such a boorish wisecrack directed at the first lady was inexcusable. Perhaps eradicating such uncivil behavior among elected officials should be her focus for the next four years.

LISA WERSAL, VADNAIS HEIGHTS

* * *

The notion that former state Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch was treated differently than a man would have been in similar circumstances is hogwash ("Was gender an issue in Koch's fall?" Dec. 25).

There's a long list of male politicians who, with the exceptions of President Bill Clinton and Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, were forced to resign from leadership posts.

Some were even forced from their elected offices. A small few attempt to return after time, but they never made full comebacks.

Under the circumstances, Koch is lucky to be able to retain her seat.

Given the political atmosphere, with a Koch-endorsed, human-rights-crushing marriage amendment on next year's ballot, any man in such a position would have been forced to slink away into the night.

KEVIN DRISCOLL, ST. PAUL

There have been articles and commentaries telling us the violent crime rate has declined ("Violent crime plunges. Wanna know why?" Dec. 28).

Homicides are down, and the courts are handing out fewer death sentences. All the so-called experts cannot tell us why.

They say the statistics go against logic in this downturned economy.

Well, here's my thought: Could the reason for the decrease in violent crime be that having a death penalty is actually a deterrent?

ROBERT GJERTSON, FRIDLEY

Thank you for the wonderful obituary about the TV promoter ("Georgia Gould-Lyle, writer and TV promoter," Nov. 20). The reporter did a nice job of describing her life.

Could you please include more stories on the "remembering" page about women who died? It seems the stories are almost always about men.

Are newsworthy women really only dying once a week, while men of note die on a daily basis? I doubt that.

JOAN DIEDRICH LUND, BLOOMINGTON

* * *

If the situation wasn't so sad, it would be laughable.

Gray wolves finally reach a stable population, and now people want to hunt and kill them. Something about this seems wrong.

MARY KASPER, EAST BETHEL

* * *

Economists seem slow to recognize the absence of religious influences in the economic policies of European countries. This is true in all countries that have residual heritages of Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christian traditions.

Perhaps there is a correlation between the economic problems of Europe and the failure of the social teachings of the churches to guide the role of citizens in public life.

THE REV. JOHN H. SINCLAIR, ROSEVILLE

* * *

The article on sleep-texting should serve as a wake-up call to parents of teens ("Hey u wassup??? Let's zzzzz ...," Dec. 26). I've felt for a long time that the texting generation was in trouble.

This is a sign that it's starting to show. MRI studies have shown similarities between texting addiction and drug addiction in their effects on the brain. But many adults have a problem, too, when it comes to cellphones.

So much so that we are ready to post a sign at our house: "Check your cell phones at the door."