NCC'S MEDITATION ROOM
Everyone's welcome
I read Katherine Kersten's Dec. 17 column, "Normandale's 'meditation room' is home to a single faith," with much surprise and discomfort.
I am Jewish, and I always have felt welcome in the meditation room at Normandale. In fact, I have been invited by students to use the room on more than one occasion. I recall being grateful for the room shortly after my mother passed away. I have meditated in the room.
Many psychological, spiritual and religious traditions believe in the benefits of meditation. And my experience has been that anyone who feels that meditation is good for the psyche, soul or spirit is free to walk into that room.
AVA ROSENBLUM, EDINA;
SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT,
NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Sounds like a mosque Normandale Community College has permitted a small group of Muslim students to convert a nondenominational "meditation room" into a de facto mosque -- complete with mandatory covering of women, anti-Semitic/anti-Christian literature and foot washing in the restroom sinks.
The college administration's capitulation to the demands of a militant religious minority reeks of cowardice and hypocrisy. Imagine their howls of righteous indignation if a majority of their students demanded that a Christian chapel be constructed on campus.
What's next? Minarets and daily calls to prayer blaring out over France Avenue?
PETER D. ABARBANEL, APPLE VALLEY
Her next column If Katherine Kersten's facts about the meditation room at Normandale Community College are correct, they point up how unfair it is to make public provisions for a sole religious group.
It will be interesting to read Kersten's next column, wherein she explains to us how important it is to insist that our public schools be told to cease creating holiday programs of singularly Christian material and begin to include art, music and literature from other spiritual sources if they wish to honor the season. Certainly she will tell us how important it is that public places honor more than just the Christian crèche or tree at this time, and that they display a variety of religious commandments in places where they create and conduct the process of law if they wish to honor the 10 from the Hebrew Bible.
Kersten is right: We must not single out one religion over another in our public places or laws -- and we must honor those who do not practice religion, per se, as well.
SHAWN GILBERT, BLOOMINGTON
Playing favorites I was extremely surprised to hear that a "meditation room" for Muslim students had been set up at Normandale Community College. Where are the rooms for every other religion in America? To me, this shows a complete lack of respect for every other student and religion represented at the college.
JAN GECKLER, EDINA
On the same side
Once again Katherine Kersten has written on a subject with which the ACLU of Minnesota has long wrestled. If the facts are correct, then the ACLU of Minnesota agrees with her position on the issue of church/state entanglements.
We have sent a letter to Normandale Community College asking them about these allegations and urging them, if they are true, to remedy the situation immediately.
This situation and the aftermath illustrates again the wisdom of the founding fathers' position on entangling religion and government.
CHARLES SAMUELSON, ST. PAUL;
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACLU OF MINNESOTA
bali climate conference
Time is running out
Headlines about the Bali Climate Change Conference describe the conference as a moderate success. A basic framework for fighting climate change was developed, but the most ambitious goals were left out due to American objections. Let's be honest about a few facts.
First, every serious-minded American and world resident knows that climate change is a problem of our own making and will worsen. Second, American politicians understand this, but too many lack the courage to act, mainly because they fear the cost of change and a possible loss of votes. Third, people are either openly or inadvertently supporting this political inaction when they ask for action on environmental issues while also demanding cheap energy, low taxes and gas-guzzling cars.
Time is running out for us to wake up and reduce our environmental impact on the world. We owe this to our children and grandchildren.
THOMAS LUCY, ST. PAUL
