Readers Write (June 23): Outdoors, voter ID, Gary Schiff, Trader Joe's, Roger Clemens, marriage amendment, North Dakota

Commentary writer Stephen Wilbers criticized the recent Court of Appeals ruling that allowed a 450-foot AT&T broadcasting tower to be built on top of a ridge adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ("A scar on 'bewildering beauty,'" June 20). Wilbers exemplifies the lack of imagination that is widespread among today's citizenry. Why can't wilderness advocates simply imagine that the lights they are seeing are just holes in the cloud cover that allow parts of a spectacular red sunset to penetrate? Why can't they imagine that the chirping cellphone rings from across the lake are simply Canada Jay calls in a pristine wilderness setting? Maybe we should, collectively, imagine that we value the breathtaking beauty and solitude of our unique and precious wilderness country. Maybe we should imagine that AT&T is a company we should be doing business with.

MIKE GARBISCH, ROSEVILLE

• • •

For decades Stockholm, Maiden Rock and Pepin, Wis., have been developing a reputation for their natural beauty, arts and tourism. Despite the challenging economy, these towns and villages are thriving by using the talents, ingenuity and determination of their residents. This is not a region looking for an industry to displace what they've already created and for which they have been regionally, nationally and internationally acknowledged (please see AAA, Midwest Living, Huffington Post, Budget Travel, Midwest Weekends, etc.). This region has an identity not to be squandered, sold or mined away.

KELLI TATUM, HASTINGS

* * *

The proposed voter ID amendment would affect us all in many ways. More tax money would be needed to fund free IDs and additional elections staff. Voter registration on Election Day would no longer be possible. Absentee voting would become more difficult, even though it was meticulously improved after all we learned from the 2008 Senate recount. Election returns would be delayed by the acceptance period for provisional ballots. Haven't voted in a while, so your name is no longer on the roster? Just moved to a new home? Away at college? Traveling on election day? Lose your wallet with all of your IDs? Serving our country overseas? Don't drive? You would be affected by this amendment. Please, vote against the photo voter ID amendment this fall.

* * *

The article on Gary Schiff calls his style "brazen," but that isn't accurate ("Council's Schiff: 'Not one to sit on a fence,'" June 19). He's admirably outspoken and a person of conviction, but he's not brazen, impudent or shameless. In his opposition to taxpayer financing of the Vikings stadium, he spoke for the majority of Minneapolis residents who surely would have defeated the plan had it been put to a referendum, as required by law. His stand on the issue was stalwart, principled and praiseworthy. It was not prideful, as the reporter's words implied.

KENT SIMON, MINNEAPOLIS

* * *

I live eight blocks away from the proposed site of a new Trader Joe's in Minneapolis. The reasons for my opposition are simple. Traffic in this neighborhood has steadily become worse in the 16 years that I've lived here. Trader Joe's would affect this already poor situation negatively. We already have diverse and numerous choices for groceries. From the ethnic grocery stores, the Wedge food co-op, Kowalski's, Lunds and Rainbow Foods to Supervalu, we have plenty of choices. What we don't need are more traffic and parking burdens. Trader Joe's obviously wants in because of the high volume of traffic that already exists in the area. It needs us, but we don't need or want it.

* * *

It certainly is unlikely, but hopefully someone in Washington, D.C., has learned something from the Roger Clemens brouhaha. Perhaps someone in a position of authority will realize that government enforcement of the rules of entertainment entities is as wasteful as it is absurd. If Major League Baseball or the NFL or the NATA (North American Tiddlywinks Association) are unable to control their players to the point where juiced-up, bubble-headed freaks dominate the contest, then their "sport" and its record books are meaningless. Americans are free to embrace some other distraction. No one -- especially the government -- should care.

GENE CASE, ANDOVER

* * *

If the Catholic archbishops are concerned enough to "call attention to the growing need to protect the religious freedom of all faiths guaranteed by the Constitution," why on earth are they feverishly promoting an amendment to the state Constitution that would limit the religious freedom of many other churches to marry their parishioners? They must believe that only Roman Catholics deserve religious freedom.

* * *

I was glad to hear our western neighbors were finally giving up on "Fighting Sioux" as a nickname for the University of North Dakota, but lo and behold, in the same article there's mention of "Magnificent Sioux" as an alternative. So they're not fighting anymore, but they're magnificent, and I'm still talking about a group of white people who could care less about the pride of the local tribes. They need to get their act together and pick something meaningful that represents their state well, yet cannot be construed as offensive. It may be too late, but I'm hoping they'll consider my personal preference -- the UND "Fighting Frackers."