Readers Write for Thursday, Jan. 14

With gubernatorial candidates entering and dropping out of the race at a dizzying pace, I'm still amazed at the lack of a truly moderate voice. The folks I talk to want less blaming and yelling and more conversation and understanding. Perhaps anyone coming out of either party can't create common ground. I know the infighting on the right and the left leaves little room for people who don't toe the party line. Most Minnesotans can't define themselves as fully Democrat or Republican.

I knew a wonderful priest who said that there are rightly few people who can believe a particular religious doctrine is the only way; faith requires us to discover the parts that work for us while remaining open to the rest. There can't be an "only way"'; Minnesotans are incredible in their ability to start a conversation on reasonable terms with anyone. We need to demand that our next governor make room for the chance that neither party has the answer and that the solution comes in finding common ground.

JIM HORAN, MINNEAPOLIS

It's interesting that Democrats find comfort and resolution in Sen. Harry Reid's apology to President Obama, and in Obama's acceptance of Reid's apology. But the senator's racial comment was not an insult to Obama; it was actually intended to be a positive observation.

The real offense was to other African-Americans who, according to Reid, have little chance of ever becoming the president of the United States if their skin is too black or their dialect is too ethnic -- no matter how qualified and deserving of the opportunity they may be. Secondarily, he accused millions of Americans of being racists who will never vote for a dark black candidate with a Negro dialect. I am offended and am still waiting for an apology.

JOHN HALL, BURNSVILLE

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My white friends and relatives in Indiana say, "Hey, how youns?" My New York friends say, "How's by you?" My Japanese godchild's grandparents say, "Her-ro, you good?"

Politicians and journalists say, "Hey! Gimme a rock to throw." In Minnesota, we sing: "Let it go, let it go, let it go."

JANE M. GRUBB, MINNEAPOLIS

The Jan. 13 Star Tribune had side-by-side front page articles about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and the "spat" in Sen. Al Franken's office, where somebody resigned because of a disagreement with his boss. Maybe (one infers) he and his boss didn't much like each other!

The spat in a Washington office gets nearly the same column inches of coverage as the human catastrophe in Port-au-Prince.

DICK BERNARD, WOODBURY

A couple of years ago another driver made a dangerous left-hand turn close to and across the front of my car as I routinely attempted to pass straight through an intersection at a green traffic light. Startled by my sudden stop, the other driver sheepishly grimaced in apology and hunched his shoulders. His hand grasped a cell phone. He had been zoned out by his conversation on that phone. He knew it. I knew it. Let's all know it.

Using a cell phone while driving is not the same as talking with a passenger. Observe cell phone-using drivers at a stoplight. Even when they start to roll again, they stare directly ahead, hardly ever moving their heads to observe surroundings. Instead their minds are visualizing people on the other end. There's no need to do that when a passenger is sitting in the same car.

Of course, there's the argument that eating in the car can reduce driver focus. Granted, but in that case the driver's mind is not usually elsewhere.

Some also argue that prohibiting cell phone use while driving would infringe on an individual's right to communicate. However, others' right to keep living, so that they can communicate every day, not just during the pressing moment, must take priority.