I took some time off of work last Tuesday morning to go listen to what the Vets for Freedom guys had to say.
I got choked up a couple of times. I saw grown men wipe tears from their eyes. These men are real men; they won't call themselves heroes, but I will. The stories were amazing. Among the speakers were a Medal of Honor nominee, another won the Navy Cross, one step below the Medal of Honor, all very decorated soldiers.
After the heroes spoke, a World War II vet stood at the podium and led us all in the singing of "God Bless America."
It's a shame that those students at Forest Lake High School didn't get to hear about the bravery, courage and sacrifice that it takes to keep America free.
LUKE ELLIS, STILLWATER
No more money to the novelty called light rail
Sue Jeffers hits it square on the head in her March 25 letter excoriating County Commissioners Peter McLaughlin (Hennepin) and Tony Bennett (Ramsey) for their support of the metro sales tax increase.
Advocates of light-rail transit never miss an opportunity to tell us about ridership growth. What they never discuss is whether LRT has actually reduced congestion on the roads. After all, isn't that what we expect from LRT? Well, they don't discuss this because LRT has not reduced congestion; in some ways, it has exacerbated the congestion problem.
Better to cloud the issue with happy talk about ridership, but in terms of traffic capacity, the Hiawatha line accounts for just over 1 percent of vehicles miles driven. Given the cost of LRT, you're going to need a heck of a lot more ridership growth to even come close to classifying it as anything more than a novelty; there simply is no justification for needlessly wasting another $1.1 billion of our money on this ineffective nonsense.
DEAN FAIRBROTHER, NEW BRIGHTON
Let Vikings stadium solution involve team's fans
In reference to Sid Hartman's March 24 column reporting that Gov. Tim Pawlenty understands the importance of securing a Vikings stadium but it won't be done without a partner like Hennepin County because now is not the time to get a stadium done in the Legislature, I would like to send a message to Zygi and the Wilfs:
Now is the time to get creative with stadium financing. Instead of paying millions of dollars to lobby the legislature, put that money toward a national fundraising campaign. There are Vikings fans all across the nation who do not want the Vikings to join the Lakers and North Stars as great Minnesota organizations to play elsewhere -- where their names make no sense (no offense to the Wolves or Wild).
We don't have to look far to find a team that has great fan involvement in team ownership (across the Cheddar Curtain). Why can't we in Minnesota do that with regard to a stadium? I will gladly be a partner with Zygi. I have at least $1,000 I would donate toward a new stadium in Minneapolis. How many other fans, across the nation, would be willing to donate as well? Maybe Zygi could pledge to match every dollar donated. That would certainly demonstrate a commitment to getting a stadium built.
Don't keep banging your head on the wall; come up with a new solution, and involve the fans. I know I don't want our beloved Purple to go elsewhere.
CHARLIE NELSON, MINNEAPOLIS
The full truth about Taser death
I agree with the writer of the March 26 editorial "Taser death deserves timely answers." It has been too long since this story made the news. I had thought many had forgotten about this story. I am beginning to think the State Patrol was just hoping this issue would fade away quietly. By keeping it going, and asking the tough questions and demanding answers, we will hopefully someday find out what really happened that night in January. And I hope we get the full truth. If it turns out that the officers erred that night, they should be criminally charged. The more time that passes, the more this is starting to reek of a cover-up by law enforcement.
BRENT SABA, CHISAGO CITY, MINN.
Costs of a borrowed war
We have been fighting on the ground in Iraq for over five years now, and we have lost over 4,000 servicemembers dead, with almost five times as many wounded.
Never before have so few given so much for so many, all while the many are asked to give so little for so much.
While our military is sacrificing, the rest of America has been told to go shopping, our nonmilitary federal government spending has actually increased since 2003, and our income taxes have been lowered. Our Iraq involvement has been paid for completely by borrowing, and most of that from foreign sources.
The Iraq war as we know it will continue until Americans are forced to make a choice between Iraq and interstate highways, or Iraq and immunizations for kids, or between improving Iraq and improving their own neighborhood.
So much from so few, and so little from so many. Until we are forced to make some hard choices, this will be our Iraq war legacy. What will you give?
JOHN ZIMMERMAN, BLOOMINGTON
The why of this president's attack
I take issue with the statement a March 25 letter writer ended with, "Our servicemen and woman risk their lives defending Code Pink's right to express its opinion." Servicemen and woman risk their lives because someone from the Oval Office decides to attack another country. Why we attack is the point that Code Pink and every other organization against the war is trying to remind people in this country.
No Iraqi has attacked or threatened America. Only after we illegally invaded their country have there been Iraqis wanting to kill us.
CAROL A. BIERNAT, ROSEVILLE
