Readers write for Friday, March 4

The Supreme Court has ruled that gay-bashers have the right to demonstrate at funerals of U.S. soldiers fighting our obnoxious wars. The justices, including the four appointed by liberal Democrat presidents, ruled that such demonstrations are protected under the First Amendment.

Yet antiwar protesters for peace are harassed by the FBI and are summoned willy-nilly to appear before a grand jury.

GREGORY STRICHERZ, MINNEAPOLIS

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Like everyone, I believe in the First Amendment; however, limits should be put on how close protesters can be to a church where a funeral is being held so they cannot be heard inside and cannot disturb the grieving family.

Evidently screaming "God hates you" is their sick way of showing respect. That's hate speech, and there should be some protection from it.

Why is it that a protester at a political rally or at some other public event can be physically hauled away? There is no consistency.

As a former teacher, I am angered to read what is being said about teachers and their worth to communities. Their collective bargaining rights are about to be taken away.

Meanwhile we have a labor dispute in the NFL between the players' union and the owners. Wouldn't it be right if teachers and schools had enough money to educate all children and the NFL needed to hold bake sales to continue?

MARY KNUTSON, MINNEAPOLIS

If more children enroll in all-day kindergarten, we'll see better academic achievement ("All-day kindergarten nears 'tipping point,'" March 3).

If children start going to school every day, all day at a young age, they are more likely to keep a good attendance record throughout their education years.

CARLY WESTHOFF, ST. CLOUD

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Letters published this week on the topic of public broadcasting have made reference to "hundreds of channels" or "commercial stations." There is a faulty assumption here that all of us have access to those hundreds of channels. Many of us don't, usually because of the cost.

My mother was a kindergarten teacher some 40 years ago when the first wave of what came to be called the "'Sesame Street' kids" entered public school.

It was an amazing event: Within two years, she and her fellow elementary teachers went back to school themselves to learn new teaching skills and subjects, because these children already knew what had previously been taught in the first two grades.

SHANNON EMIL, SHOREWOOD

Here we go again: More controversy on a new bridge at Stillwater. According to the naysayers, the St. Croix is a protected scenic river, and a bridge would disrupt its beauty.

That's hogwash.

The St. Croix is very scenic where it meanders into the Wisconsin countryside, north of Taylor Falls -- but what we have from Stillwater to Hastings is not scenic or wild in any sense of the word.

It has 2,000 to 3,000 boats and 10,000 people on it every weekend. They flood any sandy shores with bonfires, tents and barbecue grills.

So let's end this hypocrisy and build the bridge. It's going to be built sooner or later.

HAROLD OLSON, MINNEAPOLIS

A letter writer criticizes 3M's CEO for favoring shareholders over the greater good of citizens.

Has this writer never owned a share of stock nor given a thought about why citizens and organizations buy stock?

While companies should try to be good citizens, their primary goal is to make money. Economics 101.

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Readers: To offer an opinion considered for publication as a letter to the editor, write no more than 250 words to opinion@startribune.com. Include your name and the city where you live.