I am thankful for the quick response for Amber Alerts by social and mainstream media. However, I am noticing in various outlets an absence of ethical journalism in terms of how minors are treated after they are found. I would think that it would be protocol to immediately take down pictures and name references to victims to protect them after it is no longer necessary for people to know the identities. We should do our utmost as a society to protect minors from further abuse.
Thomas Olsen, Chanhassen
EBOLA
Sensationalism, or a genuine risk in U.S.?
Fear-mongering is not responsible reporting. The Ebola incident in Texas presents no risk to the public. Does the Star Tribune staff not do its homework before printing such misleading headlines ("Texas kids under watch for Ebola, fear spreads," Oct. 2)? Also, it was despicable to post a picture from Africa under the headline about Texas.
Judy Ogren, Maiden Rock, Wis.
• • •
Despite the reassurances of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the containment of the first case of Ebola in the United States, our country is at great risk for an epidemic. The patient diagnosed recently in Dallas shows that infected people can easily enter our country while not showing symptoms, then develop symptoms and infect others. This makes Ebola the most serious health threat to the U.S. in many years. What if the patient hadn't gone to the emergency room a second time?
Since any number of people can make the errors made by the Dallas emergency-room personnel, the U.S. must act to quarantine Liberia. This could simply consist of preventing airlines from flying from Liberia to the United States. Alternatively, people flying from Liberia could be placed in isolation for a time period greater than the longest-known incubation period for Ebola. We cannot afford to trust the capabilities of our health care system to treat these patients, much less trust our abilities to track who the patient contacted while symptomatic but undiagnosed.
Dr. Eric L. Bressler, Minnetonka
BICYCLING INCIDENT
Don't reach your conclusions too soon
I was particularly disappointed in the conclusions of the author of an Oct. 2 letter regarding a bicyclist-motorist altercation in Mendota Heights ("Assault case defines value of bike vs. life"). I am a resident of Mendota Heights, a bicyclist and a friend of the gentleman cited in the case. I am certain that the truth will come out in the court proceedings, but let me assure the letter writer of a few things. First, Mendota Heights is as safe or safer than any other location in the metro area for bicyclists. The city has installed numerous bike trails and has designated bike lanes on many local streets. Second, the challenge for the whole community is cohabiting with bicyclists. The issue is that at different times, there are bicyclists who want to be treated as bicyclists but there are also those who want to be treated as pedestrians. Specifically, the law says bicyclists deserve a lane. I agree. There are those bicyclists who feel that there is no need for them to obey other traffic rules such as stop signs, stop lights or lane integrity. This is unacceptable and will lead to more bicyclists being seriously injured or killed.
Last, my sense is that the article reporting on this incident ("Driver charged with dragging biker," Oct. 1) was skewed toward the bicyclist's view. The truth will come out, and I'm confident that there will be enough blame to go around. The motorist involved is a reasonable guy and wouldn't have gotten involved unless he was certain he had been wronged. Stay tuned.
David Paton, Mendota Heights
ISLAM AND THE U.S.
Violence perpetuated and perpetrated
Enough! Please don't condone young people joining the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant to fight and kill people because you don't approve of the call made by a referee in a football game ("USA's favorite game: Insulting Islam," Oct. 2). These are two such independent and unrelated activities. No wonder people are worried about Islam if people like the author, Ahmed Tharwat, rationalize Muslim anger and participation in ISIL due to a player being penalized for bowing down and praying in the end zone.
I don't really want to see any public display of prayer at any athletic event. As far as the game of football, it is what it is. It's loved and followed by many Americans, and it's a big business. But you don't have to watch it. It's your choice, and yours only. It's called living in America.
Betsy Nigon, Edina
• • •
Heavens, a 15-yard penalty for praising Allah in the end zone! What, I ask, is the penalty for praising Christ in the Caliphate? Somewhat more severe than 15 yards, I presume.
Bruce Hughes, Brooklyn Park
• • •
Jonathan Zimmerman closed his Oct. 2 commentary "Beheading has a multicultural past" with a reminder: "The savagery … isn't just in ISIL, or in some other enemy that you fear and despise. It's in you too."
Yes, I know what's in me.
An old friend, the late Marv Davidov, assured me long ago, when I expressed concern about my troubling nightmares, "It's normal to have violent fantasies. We just don't act on them."
Now I'm forced, as an American, to be complicit in the invisible (to us) assassinations of human beings in Pakistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen via weaponized drone attacks. I continue to shout, "No!" I make phone calls and write letters and e-mail. I keep peaceful vigil Wednesdays on the Lake Street-Marshall Avenue Bridge.
Because I know what's in me, I struggle every day to be a woman against military madness.
Lucia Wilkes Smith, Minneapolis
RELIGION AND POLICY
Description of group's practices was polite
The Oct. 2 editorial ("Transgender kids have rights, too") identified the Minnesota Family Council as a "Christian-based advocacy group that tries to promote biblical principles in public policy matters." It would be more accurate but still neutral to indicate that the group promotes its interpretation of biblical principles. Theologians and others have a wide range of interpretations and applications of the Bible. My perspective, for example, asserts that the council promotes a misinterpretation of the Bible.
