First, the 100-car oil trains were a safety concern. Now they are overloading the rail system ("Minnesota farmers beg officials to fix rail problems," Sept. 14). Because the rail system is the only efficient way to move tons of agricultural production to market, the overloaded railroads are failing our farmers.
So when the politicians complain about rail service, they miss the point. What's needed is a multifaceted transportation system including pipelines connecting to North Dakota. Can everyone say Keystone XL and Sandpiper in unison?
STEPHEN JOHNSON, New Brighton
ADRIAN PETERSON
What we've learned about parenting skills
Parents like Adrian Peterson need to learn that harsh discipline doesn't work. Study after study conclusively prove hitting, whipping, slapping, switching, paddling, kicking, whooping, punching, spanking or belting a defenseless child may relieve a parent's frustration, but the child will have to be hit again because nothing has been learned to change behavior. Hitting has a long-term damaging impact on children and makes them more aggressive.
One of the best parent education programs in the United States is available in Minnesota, thanks to farsighted legislators 30-plus years ago. Every local school district has Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). Millions of Minnesota moms and dads have learned basic principles of good parenting and gotten support from other parents in low-cost ECFE programs. The cycle of "I was hit and I turned out fine" ends by loving your child unconditionally, treating your child respectfully, learning positive discipline, modeling good behavior and adapting parenting to fit each child.
MARILYN MARTIN ROSSMANN, St. Paul
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The resolution to the Adrian Peterson situation is simple. With a newly engaged parenting coach, he should address the media and begin a national discussion about abuse-free child rearing. If he would do that and pledge a year of his salary to child care and child abuse organizations, he would become the face and force for positive change. This is a huge opportunity. Let's give AP the chance for redemption — not consign him to the junk heap — and benefit children and families everywhere.
FRANK C. FEINBERG, St. Louis Park
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I am disgusted by Patrick Reusse's support of Adrian Peterson ("Due process for AP is a good thing," Sept. 16). His call for "a full look at the facts" shows he ignored Peterson's reported admission that he beat his 4-year-old bloody with a stick. Peterson stated that he never intended to harm his son. What did he think would happen when he beat him with a stick? Reusse disgustingly cares more about the Vikings winning than a bloodied 4-year-old. And thanks to Jim Souhan, who had the morals to write in support of protecting the boy ("Audible on Peterson signals win-above-all mentality by Vikings," Sept. 16). What kind of society will we have if we won't protect children from this sick abuse?
