Foolish and wasteful

I saw something truly disgusting recently. I went to the QuikTrip at 23rd Street and Noland Road after working all day, before going to a meeting, also for my job.

I went to get a snack to save money — the money I work hard for. I wanted to get something and then fix something when I got home. A woman ahead of me in line had on a nice dress, sandals and jewelry.

She had a new tattoo. From the outfit and tattoo, this woman wasn’t struggling financially.

She purchased a bag of pork rinds and a fountain drink. She paid with a card.

The cashier asked whether it was debit or credit. She laughed, so I looked at the card.

I realized it was a food stamp card. The clerk ran the card, and then the woman took her junk food and left.

I was appalled. Then mad. How did this happen?

Why are we allowing people to spend our money this way?

We’re a flock of sheep. We’re being led around, getting fleeced.

If I’m working all week and people like that woman won’t, I don’t want to buy her food — junk or not.

Shireen McLaughlin

Raytown

Retraining polar bears

Although rearing polar bears in captivity for potential re-introduction to the wild may seem a great idea, I have great doubts.

The rearing and re-introduction of California condors was one of the most behaviorally complex such projects to date. And it did work out, happily.

But condors learn minimally from their mothers, whereas bears undergo an extensive learning curve. Training captive-born polar bears to navigate a territory, den successfully and hunt seals would be a daunting undertaking for biologists.

Feeding the baby condors while wearing “condor suits” was one thing. I pity the biologist selected to wear a seal suit and emerge from an artificial blowhole.

George Pisani

Lawrence

Go bug Bedford, Clay

Another letter from Clay Chastain (6-12, Letters). He once again states he has this great visionary plan, which the city is squelching.

Please stop, Clay. You have not lived in Kansas City for many years.

You state you’re a community activist, which is untrue. You’re an outside agitator, and your opinions and plans for Kansas City are not wanted.

We keep getting variations on the same plan: unworkable, unusable and unaffordable.

I recommend that you devise a transit plan for your current home of Bedford, Va., population 6,222. I’m sure that town could afford a couple of vans to transport the masses, and you’ll have finally accomplished your goal.

Scott Sims

Kansas city

Marriage thin as paper

On gay marriage, a piece of paper never proved the dominant factor in any sacred and lasting union.

Jake Bell

Kansas City

Proud black Marines

Thank you for your story regarding the Montford Point Marines (6-11, A1, “Heroism recalled”).

This group of men wanted to serve their country in the U.S. Marine Corps. Although training for these African-American soldiers was separate from the white Marines, they were allowed to fight as one unit.

Before 1942, African-Americans were not allowed to join the U.S. Marines. This group served with honor and distinction in many battles in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean conflict.

Like many other World War II veterans, many of these Marines’ stories were not discussed. They should be recognized because they changed the makeup of the U.S. Marine Corps forever.

I will be in Washington, D.C., on June 27 to honor the Montford Point Marines and my father, Wilbur K. Lewis, a Montford Point Marine.

Ron Lewis

Kansas City

‘Zippy’ brings smiles

I read two of the cartoons currently published by The Star. One is “Doonesbury,” the other is “Zippy the Pinhead.” The Star has very wisely put them next to each other as they appeal to a certain demographic that perhaps does not read the other comics in the section.

For the June 12 letter writer who would like to end his life if ever he should appreciate “Zippy,” I’m glad The Star publishes a wide array of cartoons to satisfy the many divergent levels of taste. But please, let me have my “Zippy,” for he is always sure to give me a smile.

John Rensenhouse

Kansas City

GOP as John Birchers

This GOP reminds me of the John Birch Society when I was growing up. Everything new is old again.

Ed Stine

Prairie Village

Biblical confusion

Many people who disagree with gay marriage use the argument that it is “what the Bible says.” The problem is, the Bible states numerous other laws that people ignore.

Leviticus states that only seafood having fins or scales should be eaten. Also, that the eating of rabbits and pigs is prohibited.

And, among many other laws, are prohibitions against eating meat that contains blood, trimming the edges of your beard and having a tattoo. If people abide by some laws and ignore others, they play the fallacious game of biblical cafeteria ethics.

Regarding relationships, Abraham, Jacob and Solomon had concubines. A virgin who is raped must marry her rapist (Deuteronomy).

Interfaith marriages are prohibited, and a bride who could not prove her virginity was stoned to death (Genesis). Men had numerous wives; Jacob had two, and Solomon had 700 wives.

The Israelites could take the virgins of the people they vanquished as the spoils of war, and the virgins must submit sexually to their new owners (Numbers, Deuteronomy).

When dealing with gay marriage, please leave the Bible out of the argument. If not, inconsistencies surface.

Clifford J. Kroski

Kansas City

Be humane to animals

I once shared an apartment in Columbia with a student who told me about her “dog lab,” where each student operated on a dog (6-11, A1, “MU vet school is ending live-dog surgeries, euthanasia”). I asked her whether it was alive, and she replied, “Well, it was when I started.”

I was horrified. Ever since, I’ve belonged to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and PETA, organizations dedicated to eliminating research and testing on animals.

Switching to pigs is not the answer. Although pigs are not considered household pets, they are intelligent, sensitive creatures. I once read that a pig has the intelligence of a 3-year-old child. Think about that the next time you eat bacon.

Jan Cohen

Kansas City

End home deduction

Kansas City real estate agents, in a recent advertising section, argued that “anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream.”

Of course, one of the responsibilities of owning something is paying for it.

A tax deduction, on the other hand, forces other taxpayers to subsidize the activity (in this case, buying a house). Not only that, but those who have the most money to spend on their houses get the largest tax deductions/subsidies.

It’s irrational and costs the Treasury huge sums of money. Perhaps a deduction for loans sufficient to get a roof over someone’s head (say, up to $75,000 of house purchase) makes social sense.

But beyond that, it’s just welfare for folks who don’t need it. That deduction needs to be phased out.

David Johnson

Gladstone

All-Star confusion

With thousands of out-of-towners ready to descend on our fair city for the All-Star Game, this would be a fine time to fix our street signs. It is very frustrating to try to direct visitors to the Plaza or from the Plaza to Kansas City International Airport when road names change every two blocks.

Do you tell them to turn east on 47th Street from Southwest Trafficway? No. You can’t turn east on 47th Street because it is a one-way westbound street.

Tell your visitors to turn left on Roanoke Parkway, which becomes 47th Street, but you can’t even see a street sign when you are headed south on Southwest Trafficway. Then, at Main Street, the name changes from 47th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.

And Main Street is also Brookside Boulevard. How confusing is that? It’s driving me crazy.

If the city insists on several names for the same street, the least city officials can do is provide all the names for all of the streets on the light poles.

Ginzy Schaefer

Kansas City

Kudos to Scout troop

I would like to commend Boy Scout Troop 162 for all of its hard work and dedication displaying our flag. This troop did the display at 95th Street and Interstate 435.

The scouts also helped with the Flags 4 Freedom display in Merriam over the Fourth of July and did the display at Interstate 35 and Johnson Drive on Veterans Day. What a great job.

Thank you so much.

LaVera Howard

Merriam