Readers Write (Sept. 11): 9/11 anniversary, Southwest light rail, teacher's essay, Wells Fargo, Gretchen Carlson

I found my colleagues glued to the break room television that morning. On screen, smoke poured from a skyscraper. I remember asking what movie it was, and no one answering. I joined the crowd and waited for a cut from the newscast to a protagonist coming to save the day — the cut never came.

I joined the military during peacetime; the thought of actually going to war seemed distant. The only time I had fired an M-16 was in basic training, and even then, only for a day. For three months after Sept. 11, 2001, I had that weapon hanging off my shoulder 14 hours a day. It was heavier than I remembered. Its weight tugged at the shoulder straps of my armored vest and left cuts in my shoulder — it was the intangible made tangible.

Memories have a way of losing their focus, like old family photos faded and covered in dust. The mind's eye sees the past through a hazed retina wearing rain-sheened glasses. Even the most important events of my life now seem a bit blurry; my graduation, my wedding, even the birth of my daughter seven years ago today appear in a slight fog. Perhaps it's a defense mechanism, meant to obscure the less desirable aspects of those points in time and leave only the good.

Why then, do I remember that day with such clarity? It is 15 years ago today, yet I can replay it in terrible high-definition. Will the memories eventually fade, like the scars on my shoulders? I think not, but maybe that's how it should be.

Regarding the Sept. 7 editorial about "Gretchen Carlson's watershed victory" in her sexual harassment case, I fondly remember Carlson playing Pablo de Sarasate's "Zigeunerweisen" in the Miss America talent competition 30-some years ago. She played so intensely that the artificial flower in her hair began to fall out. At the end of the piece, she simply tore the flower out of her hair and took a confident bow to the audience. At the time I simply thought she had such guts. Indeed.

Thanks to Lori Sturdevant for her Sept. 4 column "Some brief but critical context on Southwest light rail." Her article was concise and informative and addressed the most critical frequently asked questions about one of the most important public projects in Minnesota history. As a strong supporter of the project, I was pleased that she made such an effective case for moving ahead. I only hope that we can keep the momentum going for support for metro mass transit by finishing the buildout of the Bottineau light-rail line so we have a full system in place to take full advantage of the enormous investment we have already made for our transportation future. Hopefully the bus rapid transit Gold and Orange lines will also be in the mix.

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Sturdevant fails to ask the most important question: What do real transit riders want? These people can be defined as daily riders whose livelihoods depend on transit.

When surveyed, these riders always ask for lower fares and more frequent service. Unfortunately, the so-called light rail offers higher fares and less frequent service — the vehicles are quite heavy and three times as capacious as a bus. Three times as capacious means three times as infrequent.

Faced with these facts, citizens can conclude, and must conclude, the following: 1) Southwest light rail, at $2 billion, is the biggest boondoggle in the history of Minnesota, and 2) the Southwest line would make the Twin Cities area the laughingstock of Denver — its great, natural competitor.

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There is a completely dedicated bus line between the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses, passing by the State Fairgrounds. Why not consider this superior idea again for the Southwest Corridor?

I have been a friend of Dick Schwartz ("A strange but smart student I can't forget," Opinion Exchange, Sept. 4) since the early 1970s when we taught together during his first few years of teaching, and we interacted daily.

The personal character traits underlying his essay and allowing him to write such an insightful piece were there from the start. They have simply been honed and enriched through many years of experiencing and teaching students.

As the school year begins, I would imagine most parents would desire a teacher of similar traits with the ability to recognize and acknowledge the individuality of each of their daughters and sons.

My hope for all teachers who have begun or are about to begin a new year of teaching is that they have the opportunity to experience a similar insightful relationship with one or more of their students.