Readers write for Monday, July 26

To the July 21 letter writer who wonders "Where is the anger?" over the war in Afghanistan: Our two wars are very different in nature and intent. Iraq was a useless, unnecessary endeavor started by a president determined to get back at the man who tried to kill his father and to protect our oil interests there.

Afghanistan, also started by the same president, was in direct response to a catastrophic attack by an organization bent on the destruction of western democracy and religions -- an organization that, by all accounts, is still there and still operating.

It is a justifiable war compared to Iraq.

Criticize the strategy in Afghanistan if you must, but you can't compare the two.

KEVIN DRISCOLL, St. Paul

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Let's remember that when the United States invaded Afghanistan, it was because the Al-Qaida leadership, responsible for the events of 9/11, was based in that nation.

We know why we invaded. But why are we sending our troops to fight and die in Afghanistan in 2010? It is time to bring our courageous servicemen and women home.

CAROLE RYDBERG, PLYMOUTH

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As a lifelong Republican, the following statements about our foreign policy are now crystal-clear:

We must declare victory and leave Iraq and Afghanistan; immediately resign from the United Nations; return 50 percent of all of our military back to U.S. bases, and focus like a laser on rebuilding the vitality of U.S. capitalism.

BILL PETER, EDINA

St. Paul law Prof. Peter Erlinder, who is being treated like a hero who survived an "African jail" because he was prosecuted for violating a Rwandan law, should never have questioned the country's genocide, just as no one should question the Holocaust. In his writings, he described the events as "spontaneous killings."

I know the difference. My parents had an intuition of what was coming, and they were able to flee.

But my extended family did not. More than 150 family members died during the genocide, from my uncle's son, who was 3, to my great-grandfather, who was 84.

I saw our family being exterminated on TV. I saw my country full of bodies just after the genocide, and I know what it is like to not have an extended family, unlike here, where almost everyone seems to enjoy their grandparents' company. I know what it is like to not know if tomorrow you are going to survive or you are going to be killed just because of who you are.

If the International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda wasn't able to prove the planning of the genocide, that doesn't mean it wasn't genocide.

Erlinder can play with the rules, but please do not play on the bodies of those who perished in the genocide.

ROSINE URUJENI, LA CROSSE, WIS.

As cochairs of the Hope Community Board of Directors, we thank you for your July 21 article "Housing costs bleed many Minnesotans," about the lack of affordable housing for low-income people. It is an issue that has been a priority for Hope Community for the past 33 years.

The article also highlights the Franklin-Portland Gateway development and Aeon, a nonprofit housing developer and Hope's development partner for the Gateway. In the interest of accuracy, we must point out that Hope Community created the original vision for the Gateway Project in order to build affordable housing on the four corners at Portland and Franklin. Hope then invited Aeon to become its development partner to make the Gateway Project a reality.

In addition, Hope Community provides another 53 units of rental housing in renovated houses and buildings in Hope's neighborhood. Through its real estate development and community engagement programs, Hope has been a pioneer and continues to be a leader in the revitalization of what is a vibrant and growing community within the Phillips neighborhood.

CLINT HEWITT AND PAT CUMMINGS, COCHAIRS, HOPE COMMUNITY

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Edina's City Council held a public hearing on Colonial Church's request for rezoning for a senior nursing complex in a single-family neighborhood. I hope, for their sakes, that seniors in other communities are able to self-advocate without embarrassing themselves like some of our seniors did.

The behavior of some (mostly male) seniors was self-serving, rude and malicious. There was a high level of mutual respect from most of those on opposing sides of the issue. However, many elderly people sneered loudly while others spoke, high-fived each other repeatedly after speaking and used personal attacks to characterize the opposition. One elderly man completed his remarks and left the chamber, saying he'd better "get to the car before they slash my tires." Wow.

Aging has its privileges. But bullying others isn't one of them. I left before the council voted, but either way it went, Edina lost something.