Letters to the Editor

>Cartoon riots

Let's talk about these riot-causing cartoons I've been hearing so much about. Here's my take. A Danish paper printed some cartoons which were offensive to the entire Islamic religion. The prime minister of Denmark won't apologize, claiming that the press has freedom of speech. In response, Muslims have taken to the streets with some violent protests and I'll assume some peaceful protests we haven't heard about because the media likes violence so much. So who's right?

To the publishers of the cartoon: Shame on you. Freedom of speech comes with a certain responsibility for respecting different beliefs.

To the Danish prime minister: Swallow your pride and apologize, you idiot. Freedom of speech is fine, but you need to realize that what these cartoons did to Muslims is tantamount to taking a dump on a crucifix.

To the violent protesters: Seriously, I don't care if you're Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Voodoo, Bokononist, Pagan, Atheist, whatever; inevitably, people are at some point going to disrespect your beliefs. Deal with it. By taking to violent protests, you reinforce the stereotype that you're angry about in the first place. A picture drawn in poor taste doesn't merit hanging those responsible and the destruction of embassies and

missions. Do you really think that the people you're venting your anger at had anything to do with the cartoons?

To peaceful protesters: Why can't everyone just be more like you?

Chris Roed

University senior

Is it worth it?

The University Avenue Corridor has a long way to go before it will get support from the small businesses that line the proposed track.

The price tag should be the first warning bell; the second should be the empty promise that it will reduce congestion. Just because the federal government offers 400 million "flexible" dollars for transit doesn't mean we need to spend it on rail; it could be used for pedestrian, bike or transit needs, including roads.

Almost 1,300 Minnesota pedestrians are injured or killed by motor vehicles with most occurring in the urban areas. The Hiawatha line already has had two fatal accidents with a much lower rate of pedestrians and vehicle traffic than the University area. Congestion, too, along the Hiawatha line has increased, and wait times at the lights cost companies as our employees and deliveries sit at intersections waiting for the train to pass.

Businesses know many of our staff and customers don't live along a transit line and don't plan to. We know 3.4 percent of the Minnesota population uses mass transit as car pooling rates continue to fall. We know 92 percent choose to use personal vehicles and more than 80 percent drive alone; this plan does not allow for enough park-and-ride options.

Mass transit: sounds good and looks cool. It is too expensive, disruptive to the businesses, does not reduce congestion and does not satisfy the needs of the consumer. Let's hope the business community in Stadium Village actually gets a say in this project at some point in time.

Sue Jeffers

gubernatorial candidate and owner of Stub & Herb's

Save Oak Street Cinema

I join the growing number of people in Minneapolis concerned about the future of Oak Street Cinema. Oak Street Cinema is a wonderful asset to our community. It offers cultural opportunities residents of Minneapolis and the surrounding area cannot find anywhere else. We go to Oak Street to see independent and foreign films that we can't see in for-profit theaters. We go there to see old favorites on the big screen, surrounded by fellow movie lovers. Oak Street is an extremely valuable landmark on the Minneapolis cultural landscape.

Oak Street is in trouble, and it's time for the community to do what we can to ensure its survival.I will do what I can to help in my position as council member for the 2nd Ward. The Ward has had the privilege of being Oak Street Cinema's home the past 11 years, and I believe our community will be best served by its continued success. I will work with city staff and other elected officials to see what resources are available.

Mayor R.T. Rybak has proposed a series of monthly political films and discussions. As part of that, Mayor Rybak, Rep. Keith Ellison and I have each volunteered to co-host a screening at Oak Street of a political film followed by an audience discussion. I will continue to work with Oak Street and the mayor's office to turn this idea into a reality. Of course, this is only a small gesture.

We will need to do more to help make it a stable and sustainable community asset.The best ideas and solutions will likely come from the Oak Street board, staff members and the larger community. Let's make sure we support one another's ideas and initiatives for helping Oak Street survive and continue to contribute to the cultural health of our community. To learn more about the problems facing Oak Street and some ideas to turn it around, visit www.savetheoakstreet.com. To find out more about Minnesota Film Arts, visit www.mnfilmarts.org. And possibly the best contribution you could make right now is to go to more films you can't catch anywhere else at the Oak Street Cinema, 309 Oak St. S.E., in Stadium Village.

Cam Gordon,

Minneapolis City Council, Ward 2 representative