Letters to the editor

Veg week
Thank you for writing the article “Vegetarians: Animal activists, or not.” As you pointed out, people choose to not eat meat for a variety of positive reasons. Ever since I was a little girl and was presented with a plate of delicious food, I would always stop and think about what exactly I was eating. Personally, I stopped eating meat because I didn’t like the idea that I was eating a roasted-something analogous to my friend’s bottom. Since then, I’ve come to learn more of the awesome health benefits of abstaining from meat, the environmental ramifications of partaking in meat, but more importantly I’ve become aware of the abusive cruelty toward animals in the factory farming industry. This article comes just in time for Veg Week at the U! Meat-eaters or not, I hope everyone takes time this week to examine their role in the food industry and to ruminate on what they’re putting into their bodies and its origin.

Kristine Volovsek
University student

Confusion over Confucius
It was interesting to read in your Sept. 26 editorial on the newly established Confucius Institute at the University of Minnesota. The mission of this joint project between the University and the Hanban in China is to promote the study of Chinese language and culture. The University has a remarkable history of nearly 95 years of collaborative exchanges with China. It has worked with a number of government agencies and institutions on jointly-funded research, workshops and educational and cultural projects. These exchanges have enhanced the research and cultural understanding of thousands of Chinese and Minnesotan scholars, students and faculty.
On a professional note, I know the colleagues at the Confucius Institute and at the University of Minnesota. I have worked closely with them on collaborative projects over the past four years. Although I very rarely write unsolicited letters such as this; in addition, it is important to note that I don't receive any funding from them, have no hidden agenda and there is no ethical gray zone. Therefore I thought I’d share my assessment and observations with you.
The colleagues involved are very capable and deeply care about creating positive educational research and cultural opportunities for Minnesotans. They work hard to thoughtfully build sustainable bridges between our University and state with China. In all my interactions with them, I have noticed the utmost care they use to systematically build paths forward to meet the goals noted above, while being a careful steward of resources with highest integrity. Agreements such as this undergo very careful review by the University’s team of lawyers and the senior administrators to assure integrity and highest legal and academic standards in the agreement. All care is used to enter into sustainable partnerships to make a positive difference in Minnesota and the world.

Massoud Amin
University professor

McCain the Maverick?
How can McCain be a “Maverick” when he wears the Republican brand? What planks of the Republican platform does McCain reject? Does he totally repudiate Bush? Will anything be left of America when Bush leaves office?
McCain puts “country first.” Doesn’t that mean “God second”? Is he not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a pseudo-maverick?
Dr. D.L. Ouren
University lecturer

Listen to the citizens, not the CEOs
Stop playing politics with this country’s economic health. To rush to pass legislation that is a patchwork of policy that does not have enforceable oversight protections against future financial abuses and that does not provide foreclosure protection and assistance for the homeowners most hurt by the subprimes is just plain wrong. I do not understand why CEOs of failed institutions are able to collect huge severance rewards. When the average worker is not performing well on the job, they are simply fired. Take time, listen to the citizens of this “democracy” and write a straightforward bill that has solid protections and gives relief to the people that are most affected.

Jane Powers
Minneapolis resident