Readers Write, for Friday, June 5, 2009

Mathematics is an international language understood by people all over the world. It is disappointing that in Minnesota you can now be a three-time failure in this important discipline and be a graduate of our educational system. We are competing in a knowledge world economy, and we have just been taken out of the economic development race.

DOUGLAS BRUCE, BLOOMINGTON

The Twins will have a fire pit on the roof of Target Field? That is an accident waiting to happen. Either a child or some drunken idiot will get burned, or the fire will get out of control. The Twins -- and their fans -- will regret this poor decision.

DEREK L. TERRELL, HOPKINS

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I'd really like to know whose idea it was to introduce a fire pit to the new Twins stadium. Fire pits are not a Minnesota staple; they are trendy and frankly quite annoying.

I'm far from a party pooper or a whiner, but it should be pointed out that people with respiratory issues are going to have a harder time attending your new stadium. Why can't they see a good, clean game of outdoor (air) baseball?

Regarding the murder of Dr. George Tiller, the antiabortion zealots would like everyone to think late-term abortions are never performed for a good reason. (The woman's life, health and wellbeing and severe fetal defects are not considered good reasons.)

Perhaps a real-life example will help everyone (at least the decent people) understand this issue.

When I was five-and-a-half months pregnant, I started filling up with huge amounts of fluid. The doctor said it indicated a severe fetal abnormality. Since I was a devout Catholic, abortion was not even considered.

I spent the next two and a half months in considerable physical and mental pain. At eight months, the doctor said there was no point in continuing the pregnancy and the suffering I was enduring, so he decided to induce labor. If the fetus was actually OK, the slightly premature birth would do no harm.

A cute red-haired baby girl, looking quite healthy, was born, although weighing only 4 pounds. An examination showed her esophagus was solid instead of hollow and her intestines were just a fibrous mass. She could not eat. It took her a few days to starve to death.

MARIE ALENA CASTLE, MINNEAPOLIS

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The recent murder of a doctor who performed late-term abortions brings up the term terrorist in discussions. It's a fair point, too. There were many people who called the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks "terrorists." There were also some who viewed the Sept 11 attacks as retaliation against U.S. foreign policy. Maybe this murderer was also retaliating against U.S. domestic policy.

TIMOTHY WINN, ROSEVILLE

Part of the stimulus money the city of Minneapolis receives should be spent on the arts -- but not on the Shubert Theater.

The stimulus money, in part, is supposed to help "Main Street." In my mind, more of the "Main Street" population would benefit and afford participation in and attendance at smaller venues.

I ask the Minneapolis City Council to reevaluate the Shubert option.

NAOMI TSANTIR, ST. ANTHONY

Being the selfless, benevolent person I am, and understanding the financial distress in which the state finds itself, I feel it is my civic duty to volunteer to slap up a few new road signs for the airport and charge the state only $900,000 to do it (rather than the $1-plus million price tag that is estimated).

Yes, I'll be saving the state an extra $100,000 for its coffers, which it can use to really go the extra yard and do a little extra sprucing up of the Shubert Theater. Hey -- I'm also pretty good at cleaning drapes, and I'll only charge the state $100,000!

We heard over and over again from the bishops around the county, including Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Archdiocese, about their outrage that Notre Dame had invited President Obama to speak at its graduation.

Why haven't we heard of this outrage from the archbishop over the programs for the poor that Tim Pawlenty has already cut, and is planning to cut again, to balance the budget? He should be very vocal before Pawlenty devastates the poor and middle class even more than he has already.

LEONA JOHNSON, PRIOR LAKE

In response to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of the antibullying bill, I would point out that this issue falls into the lap of irresponsible parents.

They wanted to protect their kids from the school districts, telling them they had no right to discipline their kids. Then they fail to discipline them themselves. Thanks for creating the bullies.