Unfettered Letters

Keillor just telling a story

I do not share Stan Masters’ concern that Garrison Keillor may be deceiving his readers (7/12, Letters). When Mr. Keillor told someone that he was “unemployed,” it was obviously a “white lie” just to avoid a communication stopper, not to cheat anyone (7/5, Opinion, “Great swing, but what lies ahead is quite foul”). If Mr. Keillor really was intent on deceiving his readers, he wouldn’t have told us of that incident.

I am going to take a wild guess that Mr. Masters is politically conservative and therefore inclined to find something wrong with Mr. Keillor. If that is true, then I would like to see another letter from Mr. Masters analyzing the honesty of important statements made by members of the Bush administration over the past seven-plus years.

David N. Johnson
Gladstone

Garrison Keillor is a master storyteller and a national treasure. He listens to everything going on around him, stores it in memory, then uses that fertile imagination of his to spin and weave stories to the delight of millions.

As for not identifying himself to strangers, he is then able to share their world, on their level, instead of being treated like a celebrity.

Relax, Stan, and simply enjoy his brilliance.

Judy Sturgess
Independence

Be ‘Loud,’ but be positive

Thank you, Jason Whitlock, for spotlighting young Jordan Coleman and other celebrities encouraging boys to stay in school (7/8, Sports, “Youth is ‘Loud’ voice of wisdom”). Jordan made a documentary, “Say It Loud,” to promote education.

The message was commendable, but I was disappointed by some of the comments. Kobe Bryant encourages boys to “develop a knowledge base”, but then goes on to say “once you acquire that knowledge, there’s nothing they can do with you.” Did I misunderstand, or is a positive message followed by an angry swipe at society?

I was further disappointed by the comments by David Banks, a principal, who stated “There are lots of teachers who ... just don’t seem to think that black boys are as capable of achieving academically as well as other students.” Is this further perpetuating anger, blame and victimhood?

After 12 years of being a teacher, I take this personally. Most teachers and administrators that I knew worked tirelessly to help all of their students succeed.

Yes, let’s encourage students to move beyond stereotypes and low expectations of themselves, but of their teachers, also. I hope that the overall message is a positive one of respect for yourself and others.

Heidi Heilman-Sisson
Lee’s Summit

What else is he lying about?

One’s credibility is a terrible thing to lose. And yet, in his column “Great swing, but what lies ahead is quite foul” (7/5, Opinion), Garrison Keillor admits deceiving the man he quotes in the piece. Rather than tell the man he was a writer, Keillor said he was unemployed so the man wouldn’t “clam up.”

Keillor’s admission leaves me wondering how much of what he writes is fiction masquerading as fact. Is Keillor deceiving his readers, too?

Stan Masters
Kansas City

Swimmer’s race, religion irrelevant

Two articles in The Star’s Sports section referred to a swimmer.

Is the “41- year-old mother of one” referred to in the news article (7/7, “Ageless Torres takes another race in record fashion”) the same person as the “white Jewish mother” referred to in Jason Whitlock’s opinion column (7/6, “Swim story sounds fishy”)? Yes, I am being sarcastic.

The headline on Whitlock’s column with the word “fishy” indicates immediately that there was something suspicious about the ability of this woman to perform this well. If this person had been any other race, color or faith, would Whitlock’s column have so indicated? If it did, it would have been wrong as well.

Yes, I am white, and I am Jewish. But I am sure people of other races and faiths are just as disgusted with Whitlock’s comments as I am.

Bill Kaiser
Overland Park

“White Jewish,” “41-year-old mother of an infant child,” “12 days older than I”, two surgeries, a “late bloomer” (even), wins an Olympics trial because she’s “sucking down asthma medication,” Jason Whitlock says.

Gee, Jason. Why do I doubt your take has anything to do with this beautiful lady Dara Torres being a winner? You might want to try racing Natalie Coughlin. We’ll give you a lap head start and a flotation device.

I’m thinking desire, dedication, talent, persistence, ability and an Olympic swimmer’s body might have something to do with it.

Bill Brewer
Kansas City

But is this cartoon funny?

It’s fitting that Michelle Malkin and comics are the two reasons John Ruhl (7/5, Letters) cites for subscribing to The Star, since they’re both cartoons.

Brent Anderson
Fairway

A different Kristol vision

Conservative columnist Bill Kristol expresses a conciliatory, almost respectful attitude toward progressives in his beautiful Independence Day paean to the words Thomas Jefferson penned in the Declaration of Independence and in his letter to Roger Weightman 50 years later (7/4, Opinion, “As Jefferson hoped, declaration still sacred”).

A hopeful sign for the republic or a telltale sign that the apocalypse is nigh?

Rick Hughey
Overland Park

Thanks for keeping flame burning

Our community has reason to be proud. Several weeks ago, The Star’s Mike Hendricks wrote about efforts to keep the eternal flame atop the Liberty Memorial from being extinguished due to budget cuts (5/23, Local, “Carrying a torch for the flame”). After reading that story, our Pioneer Services associates (who offer military banking services) initiated the “Save the Flame” grassroots campaign. The local response was overwhelming, raising almost $60,000 in less than four weeks and ensuring the flame will burn for another year.

Corporate donations helped, but there were hundreds of $5 and $10 donations from area residents and many more from around the country. Everyone involved in this effort worked to honor the sacrifices of those who served this nation, as well as those who serve today.

The eternal flame is a symbol of our eternal gratitude for those who sacrificed so much. Kansas City once again rose to the challenge.

Tom Holcom
President, Pioneer Services
Kansas City

On music: My thoughts exactly …

C.W. Gusewelle was not the one who wrote “Communication is often lost in cacophony of today’s ‘music’” (6/29, Local). It was I. Sir Charles deliberately, and with malice aforethought, stole the words right out of my mouth. I wouldn’t be surprised if this weren’t actionable!

In truth, people like Mr. Gusewelle and Andy Rooney are like brothers to me.

Rodney Thanksgiving
Roeland Park

Country music tells life’s tales

As C.W. Gusewelle so aptly stated in his column (6/29, Opinion, “Communication is often lost in cacophony of today’s ‘music’.”), country music stands out for its wonderful storytelling of life events that people of his and my age can identify with.

My grandparents came to Kansas in the late 1800s from Bath County, Ky., bringing with them the religion and music from those eastern Kentucky hamlets of Appalachia that Gusewelle mentioned.

All my life I have loved listening to country music: Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Marty Robbins and the younger singers Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and Martina McBride. The stories are set to music that can be understood and appreciated, in songs that we never tire of hearing.

Barbara Chiles
Olathe

Defending Malkin and smokers

In response to two letter writers (6/30): Sarah Burns wonders why The Star publishes Michelle Malkin.

Malkin is one of the few reasons to take the paper, (along with “Dilbert,” “Blondie,” “Shoe,” “Non-Sequitur,” “Bizarro,” “Real Life,” “Ziggy” and “Brevity”). Intelligent, intuitive conservatives baffle the left. Malkin outthinks them. We have to put up with “Judge’s Opinion,” so shut up!

And then there is Dan Miller, who despises smokers. Dan, I don’t want to be in your habitat, either.

John Ruhl
Overland Park

What a man wants

I read with interest Kathleen Parker’s column on domestic violence (6/30, Opinion). I believe that most violence is born of frustration, caused by lack of understanding between the sexes.

The most important thing that I ever learned about relationships is that, given a problem, a man wants to do something about it and a woman wants to talk about it. If I had known this fact of life years ago, I probably would not be divorced.

Much violence could be avoided if women would follow the teachings of Dr. Laura Schlessinger in her book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. It shows women how they can have much more control over their lives and happiness.

Men are simple creatures who don’t understand the complex female, but respond well to a beer and some affection.

Bill Moses
Liberty

Why publish Michelle Malkin?

Why is Michelle Malkin’s column still in being published? I understand that a newspaper opinion page has an obligation to present many different points of view, and that readers will not always agree with them, but her columns are not so much presentations of opinions as exercises in reactionary sophistry.

I am comfortable complaining about this because I am reasonably sure that if I, for example, had a syndicated column that was as left-wing as hers is right-wing, she would likely scream bloody blue murder until I was blacklisted by every newspaper and media outlet in America. I suppose it’s only fair that I try to return the favor.

I always make an effort to remain open-minded and objective, but I strongly believe that the first rule of political commentary is respect for one’s opponents, and each column of Ms. Malkin’s demonstrates more and more that she is incapable of observing this (albeit unwritten) rule.

Sarah Burns
Lawrence

With surge, Bush got it right

As a commentary by David Brooks in The Star  (6/25, Opinion, “With surge in Iraq, Bush actually got one right”) made things clear, Quote, “Bush is a stubborn man. Well, without that stubbornness, that unwillingness to accept defeat on his watch, he never would have backed the opportunity for the surge.”

Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham insisted strongly for the surge, against the advice of many generals and even Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. This gave our president the confidence to appoint Gen. David Petraeus, who strongly recommended the surge that is bringing such good results.

John McCain had called for more troops from the start. He could now be in a position to bring about an honorable conclusion to a stubborn conflict.

James F. Westhues
Overland Park

Conservatives think, too

Last Sunday Aaron Barnhart was seemingly unable to tamp down his bias against conservatives. He refers to “Bill O’Reilly and his fellow travelers” who would not possibly be caught watching the “Pinko Broadcasting Service” (6/22, A+E, “New perspectives; The series opens with a filmmaker’s look at her family’s involvement in the slave trade”).

As an American conservative, I was insulted. I frequently attend art house movies. I just finished reading a book by Annie Proulx, enjoy several plays a year at the Unicorn Theatre and watch PBS. I daresay I am exposed to a broader array of thought than Mr. Barnhart.

Elite liberals self-righteously prop up diversity in the form of race, gender and sexual identity. However, no thought diversity is allowed. When was the last time Mr. Barnhart read a book by a conservative author?

By the way, if Barnhart actually watched Fox news he would know that differing ideas are encouraged, such as those of NPR’s Juan Williams.

Rebecca Roeber
Lee’s Summit

‘White trash’ stunts aren’t funny

I was trying to think of a way to respond to Hearne Christopher’s column (6/16, FYI) about some of the Power & Light District’s businesses promoting “White trash’d” activities, and then I read Leonard Pitts’ column (6/17, Opinion, “When will the poor speak for themselves?”). I think he summed it up pretty well: The white poor “are one of the few groups remaining one can insult with relative impunity.”

It’s a shame that nobody in the community will speak up against this silly stunt being promoted by the bar owners, people who should know better.

John L. Urton
Kansas City

Where’s the change in KC?

In response to Yael Abouhalkah’s column “The day that changed KC’s balance of power” (6/12, Opinion): What change did the complainers bring about?

The mayor has continued his vision and has maintained his ground. He’s still in charge and is still the leader of this city. City manager Wayne Cauthen’s contract is considered a mistake.

As usual, our local critics do what they do best: criticize. Notice how they don’t act or execute.

Drew Murphy
Kansas City

The word of the day

How extraordinary that we would find the word “preternaturally” in side-by-side columns of such disparate writers as Leonard Pittts and Charles Krauthammer on the same day (6/10, Opinion).

Will wonders never cease?

Anita Duncan
Gladstone

It’s time for Gloria to go

I read Mike Hendricks’ column (6/6, Local, “Dear Gloria: Time to stop talking and start packing”) about the embarrassing situation with Mayor Funkhouser’s wife, Gloria Squitiro.

I agree with Mike’s assessment of the whole mess with Ruth Bates’ lawsuit. The Funk’s handling of his wife’s embarrassing activities in his office makes me question his leadership ability. If he can’t manage his wife’s activities in a way that’s productive for the good of Kansas City, can he run Kansas City? The Bates lawsuit is an embarrassment for Kansas City’s leadership.

I’m amazed at how the mayor has managed to stymie the progress former Mayor Kay Barnes made for Kansas City. We have a revival of downtown business and progress on the light-rail issue, but we can’t get past annoying distractions like the Funk’s volunteer. Ridiculous!

For the good of Kansas City, Ms. Squitiro, please follow Mike’s advice.

Leilani Haywood
Raytown

Column unfair to immigrants

With enemies like Gov. Matt Blunt and U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, who needs a friend like Juanell Garrett, (5/31, Opinion) on the immigration issue? Garrett regurgitates the tripe from the Federation for American Immigration Reform. The Star’s headline “Close the door on illegal immigrants” with the “get lost” cartoon was cute.

Historically, the U.S. raped Mexico of its natural resources years ago, and as recently as NAFTA. The immigrants in the U.S. are mostly the poor Mexican people trying to help their families survive, oblivious to a failed U.S. foreign policy. There is nothing wrong about trying to escape poverty.

The article covered the waterfront on where immigrants are using the taxpayers’ money. Garrett does not mention the harsh exploitation by the employers of these Mexican workers. These employers should be the target of her venom.

Instead of the border fence, the government should fund and focus on the professional processing of applications for citizenship. If the fence is built, I predict that Mexico will take all the Olympic medals in the pole-vault event.

Ascension Hernandez
Shawnee

Black voters, white voters

Leonard Pitts (6/3, Opinion, “Something old and ugly has survived and grown”) attempted to give a legitimate response to a common question: Do different standards apply to black and white voters? He basically said yes, because he sees it as is an apples-to-oranges comparison. As a context person myself, I see the point.

However, any attempt to answer his question — “When will people stop trying to weasel out of what is self-evident?” — will fall on deaf ears unless he can reword his follow-up question from “What will it take to make them face it?” to “What will it take to make us face it?” Until then, I suggest we save our breath.

Pat Simons
Overland Park

Keillor column insults veterans

I’ve often wondered why Garrison Keillor’s op/ed page picture is so fuzzy — as if The Star were half ashamed to carry his commentary. Now I understand.

As a Vietnam veteran, I was astonished to read his column “Motorcycle parade can’t reach the distant shore” (5/31, Opinion). Keillor informs us that he worked himself into a woebegone state because a long stream of military veterans on motorcycles prevented him from crossing a Washington, D.C., street for 20 minutes while he was on his way to an art gallery. “The sheer irritation of the thing,” he writes.

He refers to the bikers, who were heading for the Vietnam Wall on Memorial Day weekend, as “fat men with ponytails on Harleys.”

And, to understand combat and sacrifice, he suggests we read books by authors who never served in the military instead of talking to the “fat men” who ride to the Wall.

Please keep Keillor’s picture fuzzy. In fact, my vote is to fuzz it out completely — along with his column.

Reed Black
Overland Park

Garrison Keillor sees no connection between the Rolling Thunder Ride by “fat men with ponytails on Harleys,” a majority of whom are veterans, and honoring fallen soldiers. Conversely, his patriotic gesture involves hiking around the National Gallery viewing Renoirs and Monets.

Keillor has no apparent military experience but lambastes the event as “grown men playing soldier … without exposing themselves to danger, other than getting drunk and falling off a bike.”

Does he think that none of these bikers have served in Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq? Has he never heard of the Patriot Guard Riders or the hundreds of charitable rides in which motorcyclists participate each year — rides that raise substantial sums of money for worthy causes and families in need?

Taking Keillor’s view, it’s OK to support causes, but only those in which you’re personally involved. Don’t participate if it’s a hobby you enjoy (no more charitable golf events or bake sales), don’t call attention to the cause, and don’t inconvenience anyone going to view a French painting of sailboats or a ballerina in pale blue chiffon.

That would be unpatriotic.

Steve Chandler
Overland Park

Hidden wounds of war

I read Barbara Shelly’s article, “Honor for those whose wounds are hidden” (5/23, Opinion) with special interest. Recently I attended a funeral for the grandson of near and dear friends. He entered the Army after high school graduation in 1998. He served tours in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Two days after his 30th birthday and just months after leaving the Army, he took his own life. His grandparents knew he was deeply depressed.

Because he was a civilian, he became one of the unreported casualties of the current war. He made one visit to the VA for assistance. The outcome of that visit is unknown, other than it didn’t seem to do much good.

Our current administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs really have to address the long-term results of this war. We still have Vietnam vets wandering the streets because of the mental damage that went undiagnosed and untreated.

If stronger actions are not taken now, it will happen again.

Robert G. Nord
Senior Master Sgt., U.S. Air Force, retired
Kansas City

Rachael Ray doughnut ad

I agree with the other writers that it’s ridiculous to compare the black-and-white scarf (with fringe) that Rachael Ray wore around her shoulders to a keffiyeh.

The saddest part is not Michelle Malkin, who chose to see some symbolism that is not there — it’s that Dunkin’ Donuts chose to pull the ad. That’s right, nobody forced this corporation to do anything. Thank goodness they did pull it, though, because otherwise, the next steps might have been a segment on the Food Network: “30-Minute Meals for the Busy Jihad,” or “Ramala for $40 a Day!”

According to fashion experts, black and white (including accessories) are hot this spring. And that’s what Rachael’s scarf was, an accessory, not a statement.

But just to be safe, all you designers out there better go back to the drawing board, and all you department stores better check your inventories. You never know what garments out there might remind someone of another evil-doer.

Khakis, anyone?

Tammy Clem
Stilwell

Rachael Ray’s scarf

Have we really fallen so far down the rabbit hole that Dunkin’ Donuts has fearfully withdrawn a commercial because Michelle Malkin imagined that Rachael Ray was wearing a keffiyeh, the traditional scarf worn by Middle Easterners? (5/30, Opinion, “Celebrities should know violence is never chic”.) Have we now entered the era of neo-McCarthyism fearmongering and prejudice?

I’m surprised that Malkin failed to notice that the trees in the background of the commercial have pink blossoms — an obvious reference to communism that should result in the blossoms being immediately removed and blacklisted.

I am an ardent supporter of free speech, and I like to read views that are opposed to my own. However, Malkin’s columns have descended to the level of irrational diatribes that do not deserve publication anywhere.

Paul DeRanek
Kansas City

I pray that someday soon we will wake up and see what has happened to us. When one person, who spends most of her time shouting hate from the lunatic fringe, can cause a major American company to pull an ad because the spokesperson wears a scarf that “appeared to be a keffiyeh” (which it was not), then things have gone too far.

The scarf didn’t even look like the Palestinian headgear Michelle Malkin refers to. And yet, Dunkin’ Donuts is forced to pull the ad faster than John McCain can dump a lobbyist.

We have lost touch with the things that really matter and we spend too much time listening to the people who really don’t.

Herb H. White
Plattsburg, Mo.

This neo-McCarthyism over the keffiyeh needs to stop. What’s next, planting car bombs against the Shriners because they wear the red fez and have scimitars in their logo? Our troops wear keffiyehs in Iraq and Afghanistan because they block sun, sand and wind.

Want to get away from a terrorist-acquiescing attitude? I have some suggestions to help relieve our collective American psyche: Drive less, don’t buy Chinese products, take down your rebel flag and give land back to American Indians.

If this keffiyeh debate has roots in our Christian nation supporting a Jewish one, then how about the Judeo-Christian adages of a. let those without sin cast the first stone and b. it’s hard to see the splinter in your brother’s eye when you have a 2-by-4 sticking out of yours.

Nathan Jenkins
Lawrence

Earth to Jonah Goldberg

Jonah Goldberg (5/22, Opinion, “Ritual over reality mars environmental cause”) implies that environmentalists advocate the use of paper bags over plastic bags at grocery stores. Environmentalists as well as conservationists actually promote the use of neither. The preferred method is for shoppers to take their own bags to the store and reuse them — hardly a radical concept.

Mr. Goldberg also implies that environmentalists support corn ethanol. This is not true. Environmentalists and conservationists view corn ethanol as damaging to the environment and anti-conservation as it requires a great deal of water, energy and pesticides to produce and refine for little or no energy gain over oil. What these groups promote is conservation and renewable energy such as wind and solar, while some support the use of nuclear energy.

Mr. Goldberg notes the link between economic conservatism and environmental conservation. Thankfully, many who favor economic conservatism are applying these same fundamental concepts toward the conservation of our environment.

John Dubois
Prairie Village

When Jonah Goldberg wrote that environmentalism was based on Judeo-Christian beliefs, I was sure he was getting ready to praise it. Guess not.

I have never come across a columnist whose head was screwed on so badly since James J. Kilpatrick retired.

Robert B. O’Rourke
Leavenworth

Educating prisoners

As an educator and taxpayer, I was pleased and gratified to read Steve Penn’s excellent article about the successful education program at Lansing prison (5/22, Local, “Society owes a debt to prison’s staff”).

I hope he will do a follow-up on programs to help the prisoners find good-paying jobs once they are released. From all reports employers refuse to hire them — or even consider them, regardless of their offense or how well qualified they might be — once they check the box on their application form that says they have been in prison.

Jeanette B. Welch
Warrensburg, Mo.

System condones cheating

Frank Wenzel (5/21, Letters) thinks Jason Whitlock condoned cheating in his column (5/18, Sports, “Bad guy is NCAA, not KU’S Arthur”). I disagree.

I do agree that Darrell Arthur is not the bad guy. If this teacher wanted to really help Mr. Arthur, he would have come forward at the time, not at this late date. At that point he could have helped the young man and possibly avoided this whole situation. He chose not to do that but to wait and then leak it to the media after KU had won the championship.

What Jason Whitlock is saying is that these kids are being shuttled through school and sometimes not being held accountable for their grades. This is not the kids’ fault; it is the fault of the system. A system that requires winning at any cost, even at the cost of the kids’ education so that the schools and the NCAA can profit from their talents.

These kids are being taught that this type of behavior is OK not by Mr. Whitlock but by coaches and other adults who should know better.

Mark Rasmussen
Olathe

Violent video games

Jonathan Last tries to rationalize away the corrupt “entertainment” of the “Grand Theft Auto IV” video game (5/19, Opinion, “It’s just one more form of entertainment”). To use the excuse of the second law of thermodynamics to justify our culture spiraling downward is ignorant.

We are not the universe. We are humans who have a choice to say yes or no to corrupt forms of entertainment. When we choose to say yes to the sick enjoyment of virtual killings of innocent bystanders and the theft of other people’s property in the video games out today, we are choosing to aid in the descent of our culture.

When we say no to these forms of entertainment and choose healthy forms of entertainment that do not warp our mind, we are defying the negative influences in our culture and saying yes to a positive and healthy culture for us and our children to live and thrive in.

Christina Brown
Shawnee

Did anyone else question Jonathan Last’s assertion that culture “tends inexorably toward lesser levels of sophistication?” We’re not living like cavemen anymore, dragging women around by their hair. And what of the Germanic and barbarian tribes? They became civilized. Or is Mr. Last only considering history he has personally witnessed? Doesn’t his devolution rationale fly in the face of evolution?

And did I miss the logic by which Mr. Last concludes that the increased affordability of transistors per integrated circuit leads inevitably to software designers programming in the option of executing prostitutes to recover gamers’ money?

Doug Burford
Mission

‘Full-blooded’ Americans

Kathleen Parker’s recent column (5/19, Opinion, “Candidates must get nation’s creation story”) reveals her thinly veiled contempt for people of other races and cultures, who have their own character-building struggles.

Her reference to “full-blooded Americans” reminds me of the bigoted noises my own forebears used to make concerning Jews, Catholics and anyone of a different color. They, too, used to bemoan the fate of our precious heritage.

I remember when a certain country club refused to admit Henry Bloch years ago because of his heritage. I guess Kathleen would say Henry just didn’t “get” what America is all about. After all, just building a Fortune 500 company from the ground up doesn’t make you one of “us.”

Maybe jingoistic pride and ignorance of other cultures is a greater danger than new immigrants who aren’t “full-blooded.” Maybe it isn’t them but we who don’t “get” what America is all about. Maybe their influx will teach us the humility we as a nation so badly need.

Jeff Tamblyn
Merriam

Kathleen Parker is way off the mark in her suggestion that “full-blooded Americans” (which apparently excludes Barack Obama because of his Kenyan father and recent immigrants without a long history here) are better than other Americans in telling our collective narrative and expressing our national values.

To the contrary, the best citizens we have in this country are often foreign born. They are the ones who believe in hard work and opportunity. They are the ones who take to heart the promise of this country, and they appreciate it more because they know what it’s like not to have it.

Those who think they are somehow better Americans than recent immigrants simply because of the accident of the geography of their birth still have a lot to learn about this country.

Roger McCrummen
Prairie Village

Kathleen Parker looks down her snooty nose and seemingly implies that American soldiers fighting in Iraq or in the last couple of wars are not “full-blooded Americans” if they were of Hispanic, African or any other minority descendants. These minorities may have fought and died for America but apparently were not patriots.

The “patriot divide” is based on who “gets” America and who doesn’t. Interpretation: Only white, Christian, conservative Republicans “get” America. White Christian liberals may have the heritage but not the “core values” of a “full-blooded American.”

If you agree with Kathleen Parker, you probably are an elitist bigot.

Robert Whittlinger
Overland Park

U.S. aid for cyclone victims

C.W. Gusewelle’s article (5/18, Local, “A storm, then a crime against humanity”) comments that the reason tragedies such as those in Myanmar and Sudan are unfolding is because the U.S. military is stretched so thin and is unable to respond.

Is not the reason our military is stretched thin because we went into another country with a military force to topple a dictator who was committing atrocities against a great part of his country? Where people were not treated equally, especially women, and thousands were executed. Oh yes, it was Iraq. And yet he continues to criticize the administration that effected this action and the war itself.

Quite frankly, Mr. Gusewelle, I find your comments, as I do most of the left-leaning liberals in this great country, quite hypocritical. I think it might be best if you stick to writing about your cabin in the Ozarks. I enjoy those.

Or write a letter to your friends in France and ask them where they are. They should have plenty of troops to send, because they sure aren’t in Iraq.

David Whitaker
Overland Park

I agree that the tragedy caused by the cyclone in Myanmar has been compounded by the military junta’s complete indifference to the suffering of its own citizens and outright theft, but C.W. Gusewelle loses me about two-thirds of the way through his article.

Gusewelle writes that the U.S. should have organized an international force to deliver aid to the victims of Myanmar “by whatever coercive means necessary,” presumably to include going to war against Myanmar’s military dictatorship to effect regime change so the victims of the cyclone could receive aid. Then Gusewelle goes on to blame our military commitment in Iraq as the reason we are unable to use our military in places such as Myanmar and Sudan.

I guess some wars are more politically correct, and some citizens are more entitled to democratic governments, than others. Are the only military actions Gusewelle and others like him will support are ones that pass some sort of liberal litmus test?

Stephen M. Smith
Kansas City, Kan.

So, let me get this straight: The Burmese people are ruled by thugs who will not let in aid and should be prosecuted, and terrorists continue to operate in Pakistan and Afghanistan, all because the U.S. has chosen to fight terrorists in Iraq? And the U.S .should “deliver aid by whatever coercive means necessary”?

Mr. Gusewelle, you cannot deliver aid coercively. That is an oxymoron. Stick to stories about dogs and cats. You do those well.

Gwen Royle
Parkville

Mr. Stinky Feet’s daughter

I am writing in appreciation for the talent of columnist Joe Posnanski, telling a story about Jim Cosgrove, aka Mr. Stinky Feet (5/18, Sports, “A song to stick with all of us”). Jim’s 8-week-old daughter, Willa, was injured last summer in Wichita by a foul ball that fractured her skull when the family attended a minor league baseball game.

E-mails and phone calls flew around our parish community, generating many prayers for Willa. Recently, my grandson Nathan was baptized, and Jim stopped by the pew to admire him and congratulate the family. I looked across the aisle and saw Willa with her mother, smiling and happy, and remembered how frightened for her we all were last summer.

Joe captured beautifully the goodness of Jim and the joy his music brings to so many people. Kansas City is fortunate to have Mr. Stinky Feet and Joe Posnanski to tell his story.

Karen Stigers
Kansas City, Kan.

Cosby’s message of responsibility

As a longtime critic of Lewis Diuguid’s pessimistic sociopolitical positions, I must applaud his open-mindedness in reconsidering Bill Cosby’s viewpoint on personal responsibility (5/14, Opinion, “Cosby’s message gains strength in context”).

Bill Cosby has been unjustly maligned for having the audacity to expect everyone to take control of their destiny through responsible decision-making and personal achievement.

I do take exception to Mr. Diuguid’s stereotypical notion that conservatives believe racism and discrimination don’t exist. While there has been marked improvement in our lifetime, discrimination not only exits but knows no bounds in negatively affecting virtually everyone in society, which lends more validity to Mr. Cosby’s reality check relative to the importance of personal responsibility.

Cosby has had the audacity all along to state what has always been known and true: that respect is earned and not given, and therefore is the only realistic path toward defeating discrimination. While the village (government) must continue to eliminate obstructions and obstacles to individual opportunity, we must realize that it cannot effectively legislate equality.

Congratulations, Mr. Diuguid, I think you are finally getting it!

Joe Whiston
Gladstone

Whitlock should be ashamed

Jason Whitlock condones cheating (5/18, Sports, “Bad guy is NCAA, not KU’S Arthur”). He should be ashamed of himself for saying, “No. Darrell Arthur isn’t the bad guy. Neither are the people who may have protected his NBA future.”

So Whitlock condones winning at any cost — including changing grades. So he feels it’s all the fault of the “current system.” What about personal accountability? By writing “O.J. Mayo may have accepted money from an agent. Why not?” he not only disregards the rules but encourages others to make poor ethical choices.

I suspect Whitlock is a racist. He writes of “kids who look nothing like Darrel Arthur.” I assume he means white kids.

Jason Whitlock is not a columnist who generates intelligent conversation within the local sports community. He’s a harmful and negative influence and should be ashamed of himself.

Frank Wenzel
Leavenworth

KKFI programming changes

I was disappointed to read Steve Penn’s column about KKFI (5/15, Local, “Change at KKFI-FM is a sad refrain”), I love the blues and enjoy the jazz programming more than what I hear on other area stations.

KKFI has been increasing the amount of time it devotes to alternative news programs because there is a crying need for news and information not provided by the mainstream media. That is why the program “KC Media WatchDog” is one of its most popular shows. KKFI listeners obviously appreciate these programs and have said so with their donations.

As Mr. Penn mentioned in his column, KKFI’s mission statement says, “...educate our audience ... provide a channel for ... issues...that have been overlooked, suppressed and under-represented by other media.” That is exactly what the station is doing with its increased focus on alternative news programming.

If The Star, and other local news media, would do more to bring us the under-reported news that KKFI’s listeners are looking for, perhaps KKFI could devote more airtime to music.

Bill Langsdorf
Kansas City

Guns don’t create trouble

Jason Whitlock’s commentary (5/4, Sports, “Athletes and guns a bad mix”) focused on a football player who scuffled with, shot and wounded a man outside a business owned by the football player.

Mr. Whitlock does not convict the athlete, a generosity joined by the police and prosecutors, but he certainly blames the athlete for whatever transpired. The athlete carried a gun. According to Mr. Whitlock, guns emit some unexplained voodoo influence that causes humans to seek out unsafe areas and pick fights.

As an attorney, I have represented gun owners in matters great and small for 25 years. I do not know any who have gone to dangerous areas simply because they have a gun.

I do have clients who have been attacked on their own doorsteps and forced to defend themselves from a stray psycho or rabid ex-spouse. Mr. Whitlock’s suggestion that they “escalated” the attack or “jeopardized” their safety, much less that they “pick fights” is as wrong as it is insulting.

Kevin L. Jamison
Gladstone

Bush and immigration

Trying to educate people like Mary Sanchez is an exercise in futility because they refuse to acknowledge fact (4/29, Opinion, “Bush wasted an opportunity on immigration”). The facts are that America is a nation of laws, and illegal immigrants break its laws.

For her to invoke the Pope’s visit in concluding that this country is “cruel” and “sinful” contradicts her position and raises the issue of true culpability for the problem. The Roman Catholic Church dominates religion in Latin America, where it condemns effective family planning, resulting in unsupportable population growth, poverty and a flood of unlawful immigrants across our border. It is these realities that are cruel and sinful.

In true liberal fashion, Sanchez faults our country for its imperfect system of immigration enforcement instead of the people violating it. That is, the system is to blame for the lawbreaking, not the lawbreakers themselves.

Crosby P. Engel
Weatherby Lake

Whitlock in Playboy

Jason Whitlock: I agree with and enjoy reading so many of your articles, but please tell me why you would agree to write for a magazine like Playboy (5/2, Sports, “Playboy headline misleads readers”), when it so obviously objectifies women?

Angela Cox
Lee’s Summit

Kudos for Carter

Michelle Malkin’s commentary on Jimmy Carter (4/25, Opinion) has to be the most mean-spirited and narrow-minded column she has ever written.

Former President Carter and the Carter Center have done more to foster world peace and brotherhood than the saber-rattling far right ever dreamed of doing.

The policy of our State Department, confronting our adversaries with a peace sign in one hand and a saber in the other, is just not working. President Bush and Condoleezza Rice need to begin greeting the world with an open heart and mind and forgo their supper egos and hidden agendas. They need to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths and put politics aside if they are truly seeking peace.

Bill Mace
Overland Park

Men’s gift registries

Reading Mike Hendricks’ column (4/28, Local) about men’s wedding gift registries brought back memories of our wedding in 1950. My Bride’s Book records that “a stag party for Bob was held at the home of Max Erath, where they watched television, played cards and gave Bob such things as a plane, tack hammer and tacks, mouse traps and other useful house tools. Refreshments of Dagwood sandwiches were served.”

Times were simpler then, but even then the men were not totally forgotten. My husband tells me that even after almost 58 years of marriage, some of those tools are still in use on his workbench.

Mary Louise Beltz
Lenexa

Gun-free zone signs

E. Thomas McClanahan reports that a major concern of the Kansas Board of Regents is