Readers Write for Friday, Aug. 14

I was disappointed to read that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has refused to meet with Minnesota legislators, former governors and other state leaders who are trying to solve the state's ongoing financial crisis. Isn't this when all of our statesmen and experienced lawmakers should share ideas and cooperate in an effort to help the people of Minnesota? Shouldn't our leaders be above petty remarks and join together in order to work for Minnesotans?

How can we ever consider a man for president who is unwilling to listen to and work with leaders of all parties, backgrounds and experience?

GRACE K. WIGGEN, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

The Aug. 10 editorial, "Young women and breast cancer," correctly points out that the American Cancer Society and others have serious concerns about the legislation authored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar on this issue.

About 5 percent of the 192,000 new cases of breast cancer annually occur in women under 40, and there is no evidence to suggest that a broader education campaign directed at them, as recommended by Klobuchar's bill, would result in fewer cases or fewer deaths from the disease.

The ACS's evidence-based guidelines recommend that screening women for breast cancer begin at age 40, because at that point the lifesaving benefits of screening outweigh the risks. Those risks include false positives, which lead to unnecessary testing and unnecessary anxiety. Another real risk is the mammogram missing the breast cancer tumor, and this occurs more often in younger women than in older women because the dense breasts of younger women make breast cancers more difficult to detect in mammograms.

Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient scientific evidence to suggest that women under the age of 40 should do anything other than be aware of any changes in their breasts, understand how their breasts look and feel, and speak with their doctors if they have a concern.

DR. OTIS W. BRAWLEY, WASHINGTON;

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

If a schoolteacher slaps or punches your child in class, how should parents respond? The school district employing such a teacher?

The conduct of two teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District was far worse that a slap or a punch. Walter Filson and Diane Cleveland verbally assaulted and humiliated one of their students over their perception of the student's sexual orientation (Star Tribune, Aug. 13). In doing so, both teachers violated the most basic principle of teaching: Protect your students from harm, both physical and emotional.

Instead, both teachers held this child up for ridicule and abuse by others, including the student's own peers.

And shame on the Anoka-Hennepin School District. These teachers have no business in the classroom of any school, anywhere. They should be fired immediately.

JOHN PETERSON, APPLE VALLEY

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I could not believe the story about the student who was subjected to slurs by two teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

I don't see this as a human rights violation regarding potential sexual orientation, but of a violation of one of a teacher's prime duties. We can't expect our schools to always protect students from bullying by other students, but we certainly expect our students to be protected from bullying from teachers.

It was a great disappointment to learn that the likely route for the Southwest light-rail line will be along the Cedar Lake trail rather than down Nicollet Avenue through Uptown.

This will make the route a commuter rail. It will not be a contribution to an urban mass transit system (like the Hiawatha and the Central Corridor lines). The chosen path serves the suburbs, not the city. We will lose a once-in-a-generation chance to link Minneapolis' downtown with its second most important focus of activity -- the Uptown neighborhood.

We need to take the long view. The cost of individual transportation will rise disproportionately in the next 20 to 30 years. The cost to our nation of excess oil importation is insufficiently recognized in our policies. The best answer to both problems is promotion of population density. Urban mass transit is a key component of that goal. Our area will be more competitive in the decades to come if we create these efficiencies now.

What opportunity for development exists along the Cedar Lake trail? Practically none. But Nicollet Avenue and the Midtown Greenway present a perfect base for important development.