Readers write for Sept. 9, 2010

Florida pastor Terry Jones' threat to burn the Qur'an endangers not only American troops, as Gen. David Petraeus warns, but also American civilians working in our embassies or as contractors in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere in the Islamic world ("Despite Petraeus' plea, pastor defends plan to burn Qur'ans," Sept. 8).

In truth, such insulting, know-nothing behavior endangers Americans everywhere by antagonizing the people whose hearts and minds we're trying to reach.

RICHARD VIRDEN, Plymouth

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I am proud of our religious leaders, the president and secretary of state for publicly expressing their outrage at this desecration of texts considered holy by a large percentage of the world's population. I am shocked, however, that there have been no reports of condemnation by any national or local Republican leaders. Gens. Petraeus and Ray Odierno have both warned, and common sense suggests, that publicly burning the Qur'an will be a danger to our troops and will have a negative effect on our image abroad.

While I believe that the pastor's action may be protected by the First Amendment, it is incumbent upon responsible public and political leaders to condemn it.

Republicans, where are you?

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Political, military and religious leaders from around the world have spoken against the planned Qur'an-burning event.

Enough has been said. The best thing now would be for no one to show up. No protesters. No cameras. Not one word in the press. It is called shunning, and it is very effective.

Think of the respect to be gained if not one U.S. news agency gave this any coverage. Wishful thinking, I am afraid.

MARY MCfetridge, New Hope

So a few Muslim houses were burned to the ground, which was blamed on Christians. Then counterattacks were staged to build animosity in the other direction. Soon hatred erupted into a full-blown civil war. A beautiful island with an emerging tourist industry was overtaken by violence. The Indonesian army benefited because it had a war to fight.

When I hear politicians such as former New York Gov. George Pataki deny the right of Muslims to build their community center, the damage to the people of Ambon comes to mind. When I hear him question the source of funding and imply that it comes from Iranian terrorists, I see the same self-serving government opportunism that the Indonesian military used.

National politicians, including our very own governor-who-wants-to-be-president, Tim Pawlenty, use hurt feelings as a reason to deny freedom. This is always followed by all types of other allegations to fan paranoia around the country. Simply defending the victims of 9/11 is not enough; it is only an excuse for the real political agenda. That requires much deeper hostility and hate.

America should look at the island of Ambon and see the war that was created by this type of hostility now underway on our nation's political landscape. This type of hatred should have no place on our island.

MICHAEL EMERSON, EDEN PRAIRIE

But Emmer ignores the fact that not all children have parents who can help them. Not all children reveal that they are bullied. Not all staff intervene when bullying takes place. No child should be slammed into a locker because he or she is gay. No child should be harassed for having a mental illness or physical disability, or for being different in any way.

Schools need to be safe for everyone. I hope that your readers will join the campaign for safe schools for all children. The American Medical Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness support antibullying legislation.

PATRICIA MACK, MINNEAPOLIS

The Minnesota State Fair just completed another successful run with near-record attendance ("Fair attendance falls shy of last year's record," Sept. 8). This was accomplished in spite of having public schools in one of the most agricultural parts of the state, southwestern Minnesota, start before Labor Day. State law prohibits starting before Labor Day, but these districts were granted a waiver on the basis of gaining better efficiencies and raising student achievement.

Development of school calendars needs to be returned to locally elected school boards. The State Fair Board has lobbied long and hard to prevent schools from starting before Labor Day. While the intent is commendable, the rationale is outdated.