We must learn to mind our own business. Making the world over into the image of middle-class American democracy, mainly for oil profits, just doesn't make sense anymore in view of the casualties on both sides.

-- Richard Kovac, Stevens Point

Need public art, or a new ambulance?

A few weeks ago my wife, a nurse and American Red Cross volunteer, was teaching a class at the Monroe Street Fire Station, demonstrating a new CPR technique called continuous chest compressions.

During a break she asked a paramedic if the ambulance was out on a call. The answer was that they lost their ambulance some time ago due to budget cuts. As anyone familiar with cardiac arrest and other life-threatening incidents knows, a minute's difference here or there in the arrival of the paramedics can mean the difference between life and death.

I segue to Sunday's guest column by Kevin Lynch, which says that Madison has a $230,000 fund that is about to be devoted to a work of art on State Street. Since we already have the world-renowned football sculpture "Nail's Tales" (also known as the pole with warts) just around the corner from the Monroe Street Fire Station, could we request that the City Council reconsider its priorities?

Shouldn't health and public safety trump all other concerns? The $230,000 would provide a nice down payment for a Monroe Street Fire Station ambulance.

-- Dr. Ed Desautels, Madison

Men: Keep abortion views to yourselves

Why do so many men write to this forum denouncing abortion and quoting Scripture? Men don't get pregnant, nor do they give birth.

We all do not believe in your Scripture. We all don't live according to a Christian, biblical doctrine. Women are quite able to decide what is best for them. We all can decide for ourselves what is moral and right.

My view on abortion is pro-choice, not your-choice.

-- Judi Hornung, Rio

Nelson excelled as interim director

As a member of the Madison Water Utility Board, thank you for your perceptive editorial on the future of the water utility. It identified the key challenges facing the utility and the community in the safe and reliable delivery of quality drinking water. The board is confident in the leadership of Tom Heikkinen as the new utility director.

There was, however, one major omission in the editorial -- the absence of recognition of the outstanding leadership of interim utility director, Larry Nelson.

Often interim directors just keep the ship afloat until the hire of the new leader. Not so with Nelson. During his tenure, the utility has developed and implemented new protocols to assure quality drinking water during mechanical disruptions, developed and implemented community involvement plans, improved employee morale, worked on major infrastructure financing challenges and led efforts to develop a water conservation plan.

Nelson's 11-month tenure has been superb. I have had the privilege of working with many fine public managers over the years, but none has been finer than Larry Nelson. He, along with the quality employees of the utility, have served the community well.

-- George Meyer, Madison

Coveted high water is unfortunate reality

As unwilling members of the Rock-Koshkonong Lake District, my husband and I have watched the recent flooding with horror. Perhaps it is time for RKLD members to call for the district to abandon the costly and unwarranted legal pursuit of raising water levels.

After years of litigation, RKLD has lost in court with every futile attempt. I wonder how much worse the flooding might have been had RKLD prevailed with higher water levels.

Recently we have watched the river threaten businesses, homes and the quality of life for thousands of people. This years's Rock River and Lake Koshkonong tourist season is effectively nonexistent.

The district wanted higher water levels. Well, they got them. Be careful what you wish for.

-- Diana Markson, Edgerton

Co-op must proceed in businesslike way

Regarding the July 11 article about the Willy Street Co-op's consideration of a second location, I wonder if the co-op board and management have learned anything from this devastating experience.

It's devastating because, despite co-op general manager Anya Firszt's satisfaction with the "healthy" bank balance, she failed to mention recent employee layoffs and that existing employees willingly gave up profit-sharing -- dollars that are now in the co-op's bank and not theirs.

To Firszt, the board and fellow members:

* Perform due diligence, a concept and practice we have not heard mentioned in the co-op's haze of "second store" wanderlust.

* A performance bond issued by a bank, insurance company or other financial institution guarantees the fulfillment of a particular contract. Organizations use them so they don't have to negotiate the return of that which is rightfully theirs or, more properly, their members'.

Willy Street Co-Op members voted to allow the board to negotiate in private and to provide limited disclosure. Members ask that the parties proceed on this issue in a less cavalier and more business-like manner.

-- RDell Johnson, Poynette

Sun Prairie police deserve praise

An unusual event revealed the good things law enforcement does in Sun Prairie.

My wife and sister-in-law were working in the garden abutting a green space, a tangled strip of overgrowth where no one ever goes, when they uncovered a bone. Not just any bone, but one that looked like a human rib bone. Fearing the worst, we called the police.

Two officers came quickly, and we shared our concerns. It's one thing to watch a TV murder mystery program, but it's quite another to actually hold a bone.

One of the officers had hunted the land before it was developed for homes. He informed us that numerous cow bones had been unearthed during construction there, and some looked very human.

The officers stayed a while to chat, and I guess to reassure us and do some community service. We appreciated the time it took from their day.

As a lifetime biker, my relationship with the law has not always been good. Those types of stories get bandied about, but we should also hear about the positive work officers do that never gets reported.

-- Chico Buller, Sun Prairie