Readers write for Saturday, Aug. 21

President Obama was right: It is constitutional to allow a mosque to be built so close to ground zero. But he is also wrong. It's not morally right to do so.

If Obama had to look into the eyes of the relatives of 2,966 family members who lost loved ones on 9/11, maybe his heart and mind would change. (Wishful thinking on my part.) I doubt that the family members of the 6 million Jews who died during the Holocaust would be very excited to learn that the Nazis wanted to open up a souvenir store just two blocks away from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Maybe if Obama showed some real courage and leadership, and came out publicly against the project, his level of respect (and polling numbers) would climb among all Americans.

The people who can put the brakes on this are the construction workers of New York. After seeing first-hand the results of radical Islamists, they know the right thing to do.

On the slim chance the mosque does get built, wait until you see the video clips of the radical Islamists overseas celebrating the big win. It will be as though they just gave the people of New York, and America, the finger. They did.

NEIL ANDERSON, RICHFIELD

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I saw a picture in a magazine of man holding a sign saying "Islam Kills." I wonder (doubtfully) if the other side of that sign read "Christianity Forgives." Because that's the central premise of the faith of many of those now throwing hyperbole at the debate to build a community center and mosque near ground zero, which, by the way, is a situation that really should be handled by local New York City authorities.

If politicians like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich were serious about their Christian values, they would be urging people to apply Jesus' directive to turn the other cheek to those who strike you, and to follow the reminder to welcome the stranger for "what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me," rather than blaming innocent people for the Sept. 11 attacks.

The gesture of acceptance made by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other New York officials is one of grace and is also in line with how the U.S. Constitution applies even in non-Christian contexts.

I'll admit that there are times when I struggle with the unfair expectation that the people of the United States should be more magnanimous than the next country. To get me through that, I remind myself that it's what is expected of the good guys. I would also caution those arguing for the construction of the Muslim community center to be sensitive to the families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, because although it may be easy for Jesus of Nazareth to turn the other cheek, human beings sometimes need a little more time.

ARTURO CRUZ, LORETTO, MINN.

So more than a third of conservative Republicans now say President Obama is a Muslim, nearly double the percentage saying so early last year ("One-fifth of Americans think Obama is Muslim," Aug. 19).

Wow! It's almost as though there were a TV faux-news organization dedicated to spreading rumors and lies and stories it's made up. Or as if there were radio personalities thriving on manufacturing anger.

But that's impossible, because to succeed at that there would have to be an audience composed of people who aren't interested in truth, but who only want to hear falsehoods that confirm their fears, their anger and their prejudices.

And what kind of person would want to do that?

BRUCE HUGHES, Brooklyn Park

George Will ends his reflections on a visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by writing, "If Israel strikes Iran, the world will not be able to say it was not warned" ("Will Israel do what the world won't?" Aug. 16).

I hope Will warned Netanyahu that such a strike would likely be disastrous for Israel, the Mideast and the United States. And that he encouraged him to act more wisely by calling for a nuclear-free Mideast, by stopping settlements on Palestinian land and by doing all he can to enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state, including being open to sharing Jerusalem as the capital and to inviting an international peace force to the guarantee the security of both states.

Without some such agreement, Israel, whatever its military actions, will never be secure.

LOWELL O. ERDAHL, ROSEVILLE

School grades are the very last reason why I would, or would not, want our teenagers engaging in sex ("Teen sex and grades: Love makes a difference," Aug. 16).

Grades are grades. Having sex involves way more long-term issues than a report card that comes once every quarter.

The coauthor of the teen study, Eric Grodsky, states: "Engaging in sex is part of growing up." Says who? Engaging in sex is a part of marriage -- not part of growing up.

KELLY COTE JASPER, EDINA

Hallelujah! Now that our savior has returned, all the Vikings have to do is go through the motions.

We have won every game and the Super Bowl. Hooray!

KENNETH MEYER, PLYMOUTH

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What a contrast between Minnesota's two star athletes.

On the one hand we see the circus surrounding the return of Brett Favre for yet more adulation, and on the other hand we hear Joe Mauer apologizing about taking so long to hit a home run at Target Field.

KATHLEEN LAURILA, MINNEAPOLIS