Readers Write: 'Running of the bulldogs,' parks and open space, charter schools, Walker sculpture controversy,

Most dogs like to run, an activity that releases feel-good cannabinoids in their brains, which are rewarding. But dogs with flat faces like pugs and especially American, English and increasingly popular French bulldogs often have difficulty breathing even at rest, which most owners see as normal for the breed. They also have various spinal and limb abnormalities that make it challenging for them to run any distance, yet owners see this as spirited when these dogs try to keep up with them while jogging or engaging in events like the "Running of the Bulldogs" in Shakopee's Canterbury Park, featured in the Star Tribune on May 30. Some are likely to overheat in hot weather and collapse from heat stroke, which can be fatal. Future events at this park include short-legged corgi, "wiener" and other short-legged and long-backed dog breed races. These breeds were not bred to race and deriving pleasure from seeing these physically challenged animals running any distance is no justification for holding such events regardless of the contention that the dogs enjoy them.

As a member of the British and American Veterinary Medical Associations, I am encouraged that the physical abnormalities afflicting these and other breeds are now being more closely addressed, along with ways to improve the dogs' quality of life and well-being.

We do need to offer our thanks to early city planners for providing tasteful and accessible parks and open spaces that currently rank Minneapolis as No. 1 in the country in a recent survey. But we also need to express our concern to current city planners about impacts that their focus on increasing population density will have on access to these important quality-of-life resources. Amid new building sites that are stretching to the heavens, we must provide for additional spaces so that those heavens can continue to be seen.

Plans for high-rises often call for a crowding to the sidewalks, with only a slender row of trees. No real open space is incorporated beyond pool decks and balconies up high. Older designs, like Lourdes Square in northeast Minneapolis, provide for a strip of lawn and deeper barriers from busy streets.

We should also be concerned about stresses that such concentrations of population will place on existing parks and public spaces. In the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, we are fortunate to have been provided Chute Park more than a century ago. Yet, this approximately half-block oasis is being stretched to support picnickers, workers and residents' pets in the midst of significantly heavier traffic and increasing density. Within a radius of only three blocks from Chute Park, we will soon see the impact of five planned residential towers that will total more than 120 floors of condos and apartments. While these structures provide wonderful amenities, residents will still want to venture down to the streets to walk on real grass, to find shade and exercise their pets.

We need to demand that city planners and designers place the same emphasis on providing and maintaining parks and spaces as they do density. Otherwise, Minneapolis will not continue at the top of future surveys, and our dogs will be fighting for spaces along with the rest of us.

The following is in response to the May 30 letter titled "OK, I can support vouchers, but … ."

In the letter, the author used the terms "private school" and "charter school" synonymously, as if they are the same entity. The author stated that they "do not have to take all students" and they "likely do not have behavior problems." This is only half true, at least in the state of Minnesota. Yes, private schools can pick and choose their students, are not required to meet the same graduation standards as public schools in the state, and with vouchers, do likely take money away from the public school system. Charter schools are public schools in the state of Minnesota. Charter schools are not able to pick and choose their students, and are subject to the same graduation requirements as "traditional" public schools. Charter schools can establish an overall focus for the school, can establish a maximum number of students at the school and an application process for entry. Charter schools must thereby accept all students who meet the application process in the order they came into the process. This is strictly overseen by the Department of Education and by our authorizer.

What charter schools do provide is alternative educational approaches from the large districts and large schools that dominate much of public education. I am the board chair of a small charter school on the East Side of St. Paul. Our students largely come from poverty, and many are disillusioned with school when they arrive. Through a supportive but challenging environment, we are able to get most of the students who stay with us for some time to graduate and to have a plan for the future. One of our previous sponsors was the St. Paul school board. We are not in competition with the public schools, but we can provide alternatives for students who are not successful in the traditional school system. Hopefully, this will clarify the distinction between private schools and charter schools in the state of Minnesota.

The writer is board chair of Face-To-Face-Academy.

A June 2 letter writer criticized the June 1 front-page photo that appears to show Walker executive director Olga Viso's presumed condescension toward a Native American elder. Really?

What would happen if we were to presume positive intent? What if Ms. Viso had actually been raised to use good manners, especially toward her elders? What if "Scaffold" artist Sam Durant was actually quite sympathetic toward the victims of our country's history of violence toward people of color? What if the black teenager I pass on the sidewalk hopes to do well in school but is scared to grow up? What if the stressed-out welfare mother in the grocery store prays nightly to get out of her neighborhood and out of her dependent situation? What if the middle-class white man in the Toyota is extremely concerned about the economic and racial divisions in our society?

Our rush to judgment is preventing us from truly seeing one another in our common humanity. We cannot move forward as a nation if we insist on seeing the worst in each other. Anything built on fear cannot last.

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Viso has learned a cold, hard truth about America today. If you offend sensibilities of the majority, you are praised as an artist. If you offend a minority, you are labeled a racist.

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Although I don't for a moment believe that this was the artist's intention, the ceremonial burning of the "Scaffold" sculpture by members of the most affected community can be seen as completing the artwork. Its creation raised issues (boy, did it raise issues!) and led to much-needed public discourse. One hopes that this event is not forgotten, since it has at this moment raised the consciousness of the artist, his sponsors at the Walker and the public at large. Seldom does a "permanent" work of art have as much impact on a community as this short-lived one.