In response to "Mass and Quran don't mix" (June 18 Faith and Values):

I'm working my way through the Quran and I'm not confused

The Rev. Pat Earl's effort to have a short reading from the Quran at St. Peter's Catholic Church: Pure statesmanship.

The response from diocese spokesman David Hains: Pure flackmanship.

I'm working my way through the Quran now, David. I think the Church can survive it. But we'll never know, will we? Just don't tap-dance around the reason by saying it would be "kind of odd, almost confusing" for your members to hear it.

Steve Stoeckel

Charlotte

In response to "States, online retailers clash over sales taxes" (June 21):

Tired of watching Amazon.com bully state, local governments

Amazon.com's continual bullying of local and state governments for tax breaks is wrong. Any tax break given them is a monetary advantage over the local seller who has a building and must pay local sales tax. Government should provide a level playing field, yet Amazon uses extortion to seek an advantage from government. This leaves me the choice of supporting their bullying or stop doing business with Amazon in protest of their robber baron tactics.

Lewis Guignard

Crouse

In reference to "CEO pay on the rise" (June 19):

CEO salaries: Income redistribution at its worst

Pay for CEOs of North Carolina's 50 largest publicly held companies increased 30 percent in 2010 while the average weekly earnings of the rest of us increased 1 percent. This is the problem with the economy. Companies overpay executives while their corporate profits are at an all-time high, while the folks who produce get little or nothing. That's what I call income redistribution!

J. Stephen Jones

Charlotte

In response to "Gov. Perdue should veto insult to women" (June 17 Editorial):

Another health care obstacle: "Woman's Right to Know"

Thank you for speaking out on the "Woman's Right to Know Act." Gov. Bev Perdue must veto it. Extremists do not guide us to a healthier future, but rather to one with many obstacles that prevent those with limited incomes from having the same health care choices as those with private insurance or money to pay. The gap widens daily between the haves and have nots.

It is a woman's right to determine her own health care options, NOT the government's. Proactive steps must be taken to guide young people from having children early. Education and pregnancy prevention are the first steps.

Ann Davis

Charlotte

In response to "A chance for baseball to be safe at home" (June 16 Editorial):

Public needs Charlotte Knights

to hit this one out of the park

The writer is senior staff attorney at the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law.

Under a proposed extension to the county's lease agreement with the Charlotte Knights, the Knights would have to meet five milestones and would be prohibited from asking for more money from the county. That is a modest limitation considering the Knights are already getting the use of county land and reimbursement for $8 million in costs for a new stadium. That is, if a new stadium ever gets built.

Original plans projected the Knights would be playing uptown in 2009. The team has struck out on meeting that and other targets. One way or another, every turn at bat comes to an end. The public needs the Knights to hit this one out of the park by finally doing everything they promised when the county agreed to subsidize a new stadium. And the public deserves a county commission that demands performance.

Jeanette Doran

Raleigh

In response to "Regs for reactors watered down" (June 20):

Skip nuclear renaissance; opt for less expensive alternatives

Duke Energy and the nuclear businesses it helped bring here would have us believe Charlotte's prosperity depends on a so-called nuclear renaissance. But what's best for the nuclear industry is not necessarily best for the rest of us. As the cost of new nuclear plants skyrockets in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, solar is plummeting in price. Wind is already cheaper than new nuclear, and North Carolina has the best offshore wind potential on the East Coast. Rather than gambling on nuclear, let's invest in what's inevitable - truly clean, safe energy.

Beth Henry

Charlotte

Seniors and bike riders turning out to be a dangerous mix

A senior friend of mine was seriously injured while walking her dog in the park. She was struck by a bike and has a broken hip. I'm aware of three similar incidents. A simple beep, beep would do. Come on bike riders, get with it. I can't see you behind me, but you see me.

Maybe it's time for an ordinance to help stop this dangerous situation.

Anita Brisbin

Charlotte