Readers Write (Feb. 18): Bullying, casinos, drugs, ticket sales, gun laws, voter ID

The neutrality policy previously embraced by the Anoka-Hennepin School District fostered discrimination, bullying and homophobia among adolescents ("A closed door opens," editorial, Feb. 15). And frankly, being forced to conceal one's true identity poses a threat to human rights.

The law of nature suggests that humans are born as equal beings, thus all children regardless of differences should have equal opportunity to receive an education and should be protected from harm.

The goal of education isn't to impose on children the ideals we've taken for granted, but to lead them in developing their talents according to their distinct natures and personalities. The proposed new policy is beneficial and necessary.

The objection that it would harm the conservative students and justify "homosexual activists" makes no sense at all. This policy calls for equality and respect for human rights.

XIRAN LU, ST. PAUL

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The school board should be acknowledged for its recent decision in favor of promoting the safety and well-being of its students. It's disturbing, however, that the community had to lose some of its youths to suicide before the district began to take the steps necessary to create a safe learning environment.

Teaching tolerance and plurality in a democracy should be the object of any good educational institution, whereas bullying and harassment should be actively discouraged. To suggest that supporting one group of students against repeated targeted personal attacks is an assault on other students' well-being is patently absurd.

The school district has taken a grudging step in the right direction, but the board members must recognize that they cannot yet wipe their hands of the matter. The new policy isn't a final solution, and considerable work remains to be done within the district to ensure that all of its students benefit from a positive learning environment.

NIKO WALKOWIAK, ST. PAUL

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Are American Indians going to buy their monopoly on gambling again by promising to share their profits in exchange for that monopoly ("Tribe jumps into stadium fray," Feb. 16)? Many people open to another casino want a state-run casino, not another tribal operation. Where but in Minnesota would free enterprise be limited to one group? The White Earth tribal leader says the plan creates a win-win situation. Really? How about for the patrons of the casino?

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Why the perplexity over Sen. Rand Paul's holding up a vote on Sen. Klobuchar's bill to ban synthetic drugs ("Sen. Paul stalls Klobuchar bill on synthetic drugs," Feb. 16)? Paul is right in his stance that this isn't a federal issue but a state issue. Klobuchar is well-intentioned but wrong.

JIM PAULSON, FARMINGTON

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How many times have you been first in on a ticket website, even with the early bird access granted by some credit cards, only to find all the floor seats gone and best available in the lower part of the rafters "(You bought it, you own it ..." Feb. 16)?

No worries. You can e-mail the promotion company contact provided with a replacement name, and in a couple of hours the tickets are registered to a new, happy concertgoer. Finally, if you don't like the rules, don't buy the tickets.

SAM VAN ALSTYNE, ST. PAUL

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Once a criminal decides to break and enter into your home with intent to steal, do physical harm, rape, or kill, he has voluntarily elected to give up his rights while committing a crime ("A bill for the trigger-happy? Bulls-eye," Feb. 15).

Citizens have a right to protect themselves, their loved ones and property from harm. As far as calling 911, the response time can be about 30 minutes. Retreating isn't an option when in your home. Retreat to where? Cower in a closet hoping the criminal will not find you while he takes what he wants?

I will exercise my constitutional rights whenever I deem it necessary to defend myself, and the criminal is the one who can better decide to retreat while he still can.

RICK PETREKOVIC, PRIOR LAKE

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The Pew Center on the States reports that more than 24 million voter-registration records in the United States -- about one in eight -- are inaccurate, out-of-date or duplicated. Having worked with registration lists for 24 years and having served as an election judge, I agree with the report's conclusions.

Voter lists contain the most corrupt data of all commonly used databases. Debate on the extent of voter fraud in Minnesota is useless because fraud is largely undetectable. Fraud prevention is the only approach that will work.