Letters | June 25, 2009

In September, I was hit by a pickup truck while riding my bicycle to work, suffering a broken jaw, clavicle and shoulder as well as head trauma. I continue to ride my bicycle today, and I will ride until the day an aggravated motorist runs me down again.

The more you complain, honk and yell at me while I’m on my bike saving gas, burning calories and living a happy and healthy life, the happier I feel about slowing you down on the road.

Why are there 20 cyclists riding together and slowing you down? Because there is strength in numbers against angry motorists.

Vanessa Beer

Kansas City

Flip-flopping on Iraq?

A Star editorial posted online July 21, 2008, was titled “Get out of Iraq sooner rather than later.” Compare that with a Star editorial from last week titled “Evolving Iraqi military needs long-term U.S. troop support” (6/20, Opinion).

Huh? What happened over the last 11 months to change The Star’s mind from “let’s not dally on the way out” to recommending that 30,000 American military personnel remain there for the indefinite future?

Regardless of the wisdom (or lack thereof, in my opinion) for this huge flip-flop, last week’s series of editorials should have stated which precise aspects of The Star’s former position are no longer compelling to the editorial board.

Without such an explanation, readers shouldn’t take either editorial seriously.

Mark Peavy

Kansas City

David Cook a class act

David Cook is a class act. I attended his performance at the Red, White & Boom concert. David emerged in a shirt and tie, which showed his professionalism and respect for the thousands who paid top dollar to attend the concert.

Unlike some of the other bands that night, his language contained no expletives or other offensive words.

His performance was an exciting, hard-driving rock and roll show that the fans thoroughly enjoyed.

What makes him so special is his humility and the value he places on family. In every interview I’ve seen, he thanks his family, friends, even teachers for their love and support. At the end he even jumped into the crowd after thanking the fans for giving him a job!

As a classroom teacher, I would love to have a roomful of students like David Cook.

Peggy Couch

Prairie Village

Fed up with GOP

Kansas’ right-wing “representatives” in Congress are out of power. So, it seems worth pointing out that Republican groveling before corporate money results in direct betrayals of many constituents in Kansas. Particularly their bellicose interference in U.S. stances toward the Iranian election protests and their knee-jerk opposition to improvements in health care do not represent the interests or views of many.

Clearly, President Obama is a cooler and more thoughtful actor than his predecessor. This already shows signs of improving America’s standing and its diplomatic options. Republicans need to back off and demonstrate some of their vaunted respect for the executive branch.

My own insurance company refused to release funds from a “savings account” they had sold me for checkups. Corporate interests know that a public insurance option would end their gravy train. The only criterion where America leads in health care is what we pay, both per capita and as a total dollar amount.

The corporate lapdogs of the Republican Party have proven unworthy to be a voice in these matters.

Chris Hamill

Baldwin City, Kan.

Thanks, Albert

On Saturday as we, three women, were coming home from church in the rain, my car stalled and stopped in the middle of K-32 in Kansas City, Kan. Thankfully someone, whom we know only as Albert, stopped to help get my car out of the traffic and off to a side street, after others went around us.

This Good Samaritan would not take anything for his help. It made us believers that there are still good people left in this world.

Thank you Albert, and God bless.

Dorothy Baker

Kansas City, Kan.

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