Unfettered Letters

Zoo’s ‘Buddha’ statues

David Engle of Overland Park complains about the “Buddha” statues in the Kansas City Zoo — an amenity he does not support with any tax dollars, by the way (1/14, Local).

As a fellow Johnson County resident, I have a deal for him. If, on Election Day, they move all of the Christian religious symbols out of all the churches that are polling places in Johnson County, I will personally lift and carry both “Buddha” statues out of the zoo myself.

I won’t hold my breath.

John Martellaro
Lenexa

David Engle’s negative reaction to two “Buddha” statues at the Kansas City Zoo is due to lack of knowledge about Buddhism.http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/979947.html

Buddhists do not worship Buddha. He is not a god. Buddhists do not believe in a Creator God. Siddhartha Gautama, aka the Buddha, didn’t rise to heaven. He died like the mortal man he was. His teachings, or philosophy, remain in various forms.

He said. “Accept my words only when you have examined them for yourselves, not simply because of the reverence you have for me.” This is as far from Christianity, Islam and Judaism as you could get.

The statues at the zoo are cultural in nature and are not venerated like a nativity scene, the Torah, the rock at Mecca or a crucifix.

Richard Adams
Kansas City

Editor’s note: Rime Buddhist Center director Lama Chuck Stanford says the zoo’s statues are of Ho Tai, a patron saint of children.

The zoo rules

The zoo is not just for kids anymore. My grandson Tommy had attended Zoo Camp this summer and wanted me to see for myself what he had seen. So off we went.

I was astonished. It’s an amazing place to experience an African safari while getting your daily exercise. The walking path through Africa is lined with lush trees, wild flowers and foliage, with incredible views of wild animals at every turn.

African elephants were flapping their ears within 15 feet of our path. Five female lions slept beneath a shade tree. Chimpanzees frolicking in the trees and giraffes loping through an open field are but a few of the sights you’ll see. Beautiful birds, hippos, wild African dogs, hyenas, rhinos and gorillas are all part of the adventure.

Fencing of weathered posts and restrooms disguised as thatched huts add to the primitive atmosphere. Even the old Swope Park Lagoon has been incorporated. The grounds were immaculate and beautifully kept.

It had been years since I visited the zoo and I was thrilled with my experience. Kudos to Kansas City. The zookeepers rule.

D’Ann Dreiling
Belton

So long, Jimmie the chimp

Just as we watched our own family grow, we also watched Jimmie the chimpanzee and his family grow during our many visits to the Kansas City Zoo (8/28, Local, “Zoo loses a familiar face in death of chimp”). We always trekked to “Africa” to visit him.

During college, our daughter served a summer internship at the chimp exhibit, and she is now a veterinarian. I know Jimmie helped fire her love of primates.

Even as he aged, he loved to watch us humans as much as we loved to watch him.

Our family and all of Kansas City will miss and remember you, Jimmie.

Jim and Gail Cianciolo
Independence

Great family day at KC Zoo

I took my wife and three children to the zoo last Sunday and was pleasantly surprised by the great customer service we experienced upon entering and throughout the course of our visit. The young lady in the concession stand even made it a point to thank us when we left the patio area.

The grounds were well maintained and clean. The animal exhibits were displayed well. All in all, it was a fun family day. If you are looking for a great place to take the family, you may be pleasantly surprised as well. Thanks.

Frank J. Licausi
Kansas City

Let zoo’s progress continue

I want to take this opportunity to give great thanks and praise for the outstanding progress Kansas City Zoo director Randy Wisthoff has made. It’s such a great improvement in such a short time. The improvements will help enrich our community, just as the St. Louis and Omaha zoos have drawn visitors to those communities. With the recent improvements, I can see that Mr. Wisthoff’s vision and planning for the zoo are excellent.

I have been telling everyone I know they should see the zoo if they haven’t been lately. You can’t beat the price of a family season pass, either. I know that once you see the landscaping changes and interact with the animals, you’ll want to return soon.

I feel that Kansas City Mayor Funkhouser has no vision for the city’s economic future at this time of fuel rising prices. How about if we cut the mayor’s other funds and wages and put the money toward improving our zoo?

Deborah Acosta
Shawnee

Share the wealth, Jo Co

It amazes me to see the letters and comments from people from Leawood and Overland Park criticizing the mayor for cutting funding to the zoo.

Even though I don’t agree with the decision, I get angry when people outside Kansas City criticize. Reason: It is my tax dollars that pay for the zoo, the stadiums, the WWI memorial, the Sprint center — not theirs.

It is my tax dollars that are paying for the things that I cannot afford to take my grandchildren to see.

If it were not for the low cost of the zoo membership we would not be going there, and it is looking like that will be joining the ranks of the stadium and Sprint Center as unaffordable.

If you in Kansas are so interested, then why don’t you petition your city councils to help create a regional fund to support things like the zoo? Quit making me pay for your entertainment.

Linda Durbin
Kansas City

Animals need room to roam

I can’t believe Allan Anderson’s (4/1, Letters) solution to help our beautiful zoo is to reduce the spacious habitats the zoo provides for its wild animals, sell some of the land and create a “smaller, denser zoo.”

Although there is a little extra walking from one beautiful habitat to another, I love the idea that the animals have space to roam. It’s not the mall — it’s a zoo.

People need to stop thinking about what is convenient for themselves and maybe take a little interest in the real reason many zoos exist: to educate us about the animals that are threatened or endangered in the world around us.

I couldn’t love our zoo more. If it’s too much exercise, then don’t bring your lazy bottoms there. If it’s too hot, go to the gym. Just stop whining.

Natalie Gates
Overland Park

Support KC with tax rebate

I would like to invite everyone in the Kansas City area to consider donating all or part of the tax rebates that the government is giving away to support the zoo and Liberty Memorial.

Think of it. Our leaders in D.C. want to stimulate the economy by giving away money. It’s happening when our states and cities are forced to cut jobs and services to make ends meet.

There’s a howl when the mayor wants to reduce or cut funding for “nonessential” subsidies. Instead of whining that the city needs to keep the zoo and the memorial viable, let’s support them ourselves.

I pledge to give my rebate to the zoo and Liberty Memorial and to make annual contributions. Who’ll join me?

Rick Dierks
Overland Park

KC Zoo too big

The zoo has the same problem as the city of Kansas City does: too few inhabitants per square mile. I frequently visit the zoo, but it seems it is more for the exercise than to see the animals.

The zoo is much too big for the number of creatures it has, just like Kansas City is too big for the number of people we support.

A great model for a zoo is the one in Wichita. It is smaller, but it seems like it has more animals, because you don’t have to walk as far.

My solution? Sell half of the land and use the money to create a smaller, denser zoo. I bet that would increase attendance and reduce the amount of financial support needed.

Allan Anderson
Kansas City, North

Saving the zoo

Kansas City Zoo director Randy Wisthoff’s budget remedies (3/22, A-1, “Impending cuts to KC’s zoo get attention all over town”) were all cuts or eliminations. May I suggest a more proactive approach?

Make “Adopt a Resident” signs for cages, listing the “board and room” costs. Allow families, schools and churches to donate funds to support their favorite animal or family.

Hold a charity auction. Solicit donated goods from Kansas City businesses for a “Save the Zoo” auction. Contact sports organizations for “lunch with a pro,” for example. Enlist local celebrities.

Hire a professional fundraiser to contact charitable organizations and foundations for grants and donations.

Launch a membership campaign for the Friends of the Zoo, with a contest for the person signing up the most new members.

Hold volunteer work days, allowing volunteers to work alongside employees at tasks such as groundskeeping, cleaning cages and painting.

Place collection jars for donations throughout the city with vivid labels and zoo pictures. Volunteers could distribute, collect, count and submit donations weekly.

Erect a large thermometer at the zoo’s entrance showing the goal and funds raised weekly.

Rather than denying picnic lunches, why not get creative?

Jim Summers
Leawood

The Kansas City Zoo is unquestionably a regional attraction. The Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau, for one, lists the zoo — along with other Kansas City, Mo., attractions – as a reason to visit.

I would support a metrowide cultural tax for the zoo, Union Station, Liberty Memorial, etc. I have seen what Denver, Indianapolis and others have done to revitalize their city centers with metrowide support. We need to keep up.

If you oppose that, please consider doing your part voluntarily by joining Friends of the Zoo.

As noted in The Star (3/22, A-1), the numbers of zoo friends in St. Louis (37,000) and Omaha (60,000) dwarf Kansas City’s (16,000). A family Friends of the Zoo membership is just $65 a year. If we could double the number of “Friends,” that would more than cover the city’s proposed budget cut.

Whether publicly, privately or both, we must support the continuation of the attractions that make Kansas City major league.

Teresa Hellman
Prairie Village