To the unfortunate driving incidents that have led to the removal of American flags at two Waseca cemeteries.

To the best of anyone’s knowledge, people aren’t knocking down flagpoles on purpose — apparently, some of us are just a bit challenged as drivers.

But hundreds of the flags, dedicated to the memory of veterans, have flown over the cemeteries between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July for the last four years, came down this year due to the expense generated by repeated collisions with cars.

Yes, we know, it’s not as if anybody’s playing demolition derby with these flagpoles, but 34 have been reported hit. And until reports of the situation reached the general public, only two people had called to offer to pay. Now a phone number (507-835-4033) has been advertised for anyone else feeling slightly guilty. That’s a phone number that ought to ring a few more times this week.

Iraq hand-off
To seeing the beginning of the end of the American involvement in Iraq. This week, American troops began handing over cities to Iraqi control as president Obama’s deadline for combat troop removal is just 14 months off.

No matter how mistaken the Iraq war was, or how mishandled and expensive it may have been, America has an obligation to help the Iraqis in the coming year to have a stable, relatively safe and relatively democratic government.

Iraqi troops continue to need more training and support and infrastructure across the country is still in need of rebuilding and improvement.

While the United States can and should help Iraq as it transitions to self rule and self protection, there are many things only Iraq can do for itself. The Iraqi government needs to start by finding a way to share oil revenues and power to help ensure a more stable and prosperous country.

Official sport meaningless designation
To the naming of an official state sport in Minnesota. Hockey was chosen. There’s no arguing that hockey is popular here, but so is football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, etc. The point is that picking one activity over another as being the official anything just makes the naming a popularity contest of little substance.

Two state senators put the proposal together to name hockey as the state’s official sport after a group of fifth-graders pitched the idea a couple of years ago during a visit to the Capitol. There’s no mention of whether the students also pitched the idea of pepperoni pizza and pop as the official school lunch.

Sports play an important role in many Minnesotans’ lives. Holding one sport above the others as being “official” doesn’t have a lot of value.

Gustavus can be proud of grad rate
To Gustavus Adolphus College for being ranked in the top 10 in the country for graduation rates.

The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research showed Gustavus and St. Olaf as the only three schools in Minnesota that ranked in the top 10 nationally.

A full 86 percent of Gustavus students graduate within six years of their enrollment, giving the school a 9th ranking. Carleton College in Northfield, also ranked in the top 10 in its the institute’s “most competitive.” A full 93 percent of Carleton students graduate.

Editorial Board