Unfettered Letters

Condom switch lacks common sense

After reading the article “Move to cheap condoms threatens American jobs; The U.S. will switch to Chinese products to distribute in poor countries, putting 300 out of work at an Alabama factory” (3/23. A-1), I was left speechless. Just maybe if the government would have cut out the middle man, the domestic price would be competitive. Now we’ve decided it is OK to add 300 jobs to Alabama’s and the nation’s growing unemployment rolls.

Here’s a thought. Shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development and let the feds feel some of our pain. We can use that budget money to support those 300 soon-to-be-unemployed workers in Eufaula, Ala.

Tom Klingner
Roeland Park

Does FDA protect us?

Amy Brown (12/8, Letters) is right. Why should we pay for the FDA to set up shop in China to make sure they do not water down products with harmful melamine? Manufacturers put melamine in pet food, which killed and sickened many pets. They put melamine in baby formulas, which sickened thousands of babies in China. We have had dangerous toys, candy and pharmaceuticals sent into this country.

The FDA said it was OK for baby formulas being sent to America to have a little melamine. Why? I am not sure we can trust the FDA to ensure our safety.

Tamara Galliher
Prairie Village

Why put FDA office in China?

Why should we, the U.S. taxpayers, fund an FDA Office in China? (11/20, A-14)

If they can’t guarantee the quality of their exports, we should buy from somewhere else — preferably a country that is not run by communists.

Amy Brown
Leawood

Boycotts hurt working people

I agree with Jean M. Kaiser (11/23, Letters) that the forced abortion case in China is barbaric and unbelievable.

Unfortunately, I have to disagree with her stance on boycotting Chinese products. It is natural to want to lash out in protest to this unfair and unethical practice. And there have been plenty of good reasons to avoid certain products from China over the last couple of years.

But who are you hurting when you boycott something? First of all, it would take a whole lot of people to put a dent in China’s manufacturing empire. But say we could hurt their economy. Would the detestable government officials feel the effects? Or would it just affect the overworked and underpaid citizens?

The socioeconomic impact might remove the need for the government-forced abortions, because more people would make that difficult choice based on their own poverty.

I think that with all sovereign nations, as Buddhists might say, change must come from within.

Chris Fischer

Blue Springs

Forced abortion in China

While the world watches, the Chinese government is forcing a woman to abort her baby. This is common. This is barbaric. This is unbelievable.

Let’s all go shopping and buy more products “made in China” to give our children for Christmas.

Where is the outrage?

Jean M. Kaiser
Liberty

Made in China? Buyer beware

Considering the problems with food manufactured in China (9/20, A-11, “Tainted milk crisis grow; Inspectors find liquid milk contaminated with melamine, which can cause kidney stones”), I think that all stores that sell any products made in China should either clearly mark these items or remove them from the shelves.

They have already killed or sickened thousands of our pets. Now it appears that they are poisoning their own children.

Ken Montgomery
Kansas City

Chinese gymnast scandal

It appears that an investigation is finally under way to seek more information on the age status of Olympics performers.

Some suggest that if performers do not meet specs, they should lose medals earned. That is bad thinking. On an individual basis these performers earned their medals and should keep them. However, team coaches and retinue should be penalized.

A very mild judgment would prevent the gymnastic team from performing at the next Olympics and any other international meet for five years. That would send a signal and take the onus away from individual performers who have little choice but to perform.

A stronger signal would be to prevent China from participating in the next Summer Olympics. But as we know, that smacks of politics and will never carry any weight to fruition.

Peter Babalian
Kansas City

The world has realized that many of the rumors about China’s female gymnastic stars were true despite the assurances by the 2008 Olympic hosts. Documents have been discovered indicating that three of the gymnasts are under the 16-year-old age requirement.

I find this to be an unbelievable mistake by the Chinese, especially since they were the hosts for the 2008 Olympic Games. I strongly believe the Chinese should face consequences for their unacceptable mistakes.

Hopefully someone with power can do something about this, despite the fact that the games have officially concluded.

Brice Harrison
Prairie Village

U.S. wastes golden opportunity

As disappointing as it was to see the U.S. collect 15 fewer gold medals than China, American athletes’ performances outside their respective playing surfaces won a far greater portion of my disappointment.

For a three-week window, during which these athletes had the greatest audience listening to their every word, all went silent. American athletes stated that the Olympics were neither the time nor place for politics, referencing the genocide in Darfur.

The Olympics should be the world’s greatest forum. The only thing having no place should be violence. So, whoever started the ruckus in Georgia is really the only one being impolite, but that’s an argument for another day.

The First Amendment allows any one citizen to speak out without having to reflect the opinions of the government, or of all citizens. This is why U.S. athletes missed the golden opportunity to show support for Darfur, having been given the ability to speak out without putting the U.S., as a whole, into any sort of conflict with other nations.

Despite earning 110 medals, the, U.S. failed to succeed in the challenge more important than sport, in which human lives, rather than medals, are at stake.

Michael King
Kansas City

Put on a show of getting along

Congratulations and thanks to China for its ability to produce and stage a magnificent pageant to open the Olympics.

It was the epitome of technology, flawlessly coordinated with thousands of performers.

How ironic that we who occupy this planet cannot produce and stage the simple act of getting along with each other.

Ralph E. Dennis
Olathe

Praise for Olympics coverage

I respectfully disagree with Brian Kegerreis (8/9, Letters) about boycotting the Olympics. While I don’t condone the Chinese government’s actions and we both respect the athletes’ diligence and commitment, the similarity ends there.

I think watching the Olympics on TV is a great opportunity to teach children about other countries’ customs, personalities and convictions. Despite our world’s vast differences, each opinion matters, including those of my own kids, who just might come away with new insight based on what they see and learn. I particularly like the personal interest stories, which allow us to see the human side of each athlete highlighted. Some of it may be fluff, but you can’t buy that kind of education in a textbook.

If you don’t like China’s government, don’t buy their products. But don’t ignore the rest of the world’s involvement. It’s an opportunity for a concise history lesson that you can continue once the TV is turned off.

The human spirit is universal, and the Olympics just might be the only venue to get a world’s worth of perspective in a box, literally and figuratively speaking.

Kathy Kline
Overland Park

The opening ceremony for the Olympics was the most fantastic presentation I have ever seen. It was not only a superb production; it was also an engineering marvel.

The Chinese government deserves the highest accolades

John Gaines
Prairie Village