Posted on Sun, Apr. 27, 2008

Uniting American Families Act

Not long ago, a friend of mine went abroad on vacation and met the woman of his dreams. Within a few months, she was in this country on a “fiancée visa.”

I am happy for them, but it hurts me that my Mexican partner — a mature, law-abiding, hardworking adult with whom I have been in a committed relationship for more than 15 years — is still unable to immigrate legally to the United States.

According to the 2000 Census, more than 36,000 couples like us are experiencing similar discrimination. Many Americans are not aware that gay and lesbian U.S. citizens cannot sponsor their foreign-born partners for immigration.

U.S. immigration law is based on the principle of “family unification,” yet gay and lesbian families are not afforded this basic dignity.

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) currently before Congress seeks to rectify this injustice by securing the right of U.S. citizens to sponsor their partners for immigration; it does not redefine marriage, and it would not affect the Defense of Marriage Act.

I hope your readers will urge their senators and representatives to change the current discriminatory immigration policy and pass UAFA.

James Frazier

Lawrence

‘Expelled’ movie review

The Star’s reviewers showed their unwillingness to objectively cover the documentary, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.” Their articles are riddled with fallacies and misstatements, belittling the participants and all the while avoiding the evidence presented.

In one article (4/17, Preview, “Truth isn’t always the point”) The Star’s movie critic gives credence to an obscure Web site’s assumption that the position of “Expelled” can’t be valid because its production company made other films for “faith and family.”

A review (4/18, FYI, “Anti-evolution screed lacks intelligence”) lambastes Ben Stein, “a Nixon administration functionary who reinvented himself,” yet fails to mention that Stein is a Yale-trained lawyer, an economist and a university professor.

These movie critics’ clear siding with evolutionists is very unfortunate. Thinking people will view the documentary and be disturbed at the refusal of media and academics to forthrightly discuss all the evidence and information.

Janet Harmon

Overland Park

After viewing the documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” I found Roger Moore’s movie review contains much that lacks intelligence itself, especially when the author states that the scientist interviewees were possibly chosen for their eccentric appearances.

He is apparently unaware that Richard Dawkins, for example, was surely selected by Ben Stein because Dawkins, regardless of his looks, is a prominent atheistic scientist who is virulently opposed to intelligent design. Stein’s documentary becomes hilarious when Dawkins is filmed admitting to Stein that life on Earth could be the result of intelligent design as long as the designer was a being from outer space who was himself the product of atheistic evolution.

Stein used his skills acquired as a Yale-trained trial lawyer to meticulously build the case — using the testimonies of highly credentialed scientists such as Richard Sternberg, formerly a Smithsonian magazine editor, and Guillermo Gonzalez, an astronomy professor at Iowa State University — that a scientist, no matter his credentials, risks losing his job if he questions Darwinism.

Mr. Moore amusingly stamps these testimonies as from the “under-credentialed” when his own scientific credentials deserve a big question mark.

Eulea Tharp

Blue Springs

Editor’s note: Because the makers of “Expelled” declined to show the film in advance to newspaper reviewers, The Star ran the only review of the film available through its news services — a pan by Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel.

Carl Peterson should go

Attention, Hunt Family: Are any of you paying attention to what’s gone on at Arrowhead these past years?

While steadily raising ticket prices, Carl Peterson has failed to deliver on any of his promises. He’s chased away top-caliber players (remember John Tait?), drafted badly and thumbed his nose at long-suffering fans, who are sick of his arrogance and excuses.

Jared Allen should have been a mainstay of the Chiefs’ rebuilding efforts. Instead, he is taking his considerable talent, character and leadership abilities to Minnesota.

We’ve seen enough head coaches, staff and players pass through Arrowhead to know that the Chiefs’ problems start and end with Peterson.

If we promise to forgive whatever dirt Carl may have on the family that explains his job security, will you take the first and most important step to rebuild the Chiefs by showing King Carl the door?

Carole Damon

Kansas City

So much for Clark Hunt bringing any intelligence to the Chiefs front office. How could he let a proven loser, Carl Peterson, give away a proven winner, Jared Allen?

With Peterson’s draft track record, Trezelle Jenkins comes to mind. The Chiefs literally gave away a young pro bowl player that the Chiefs could have built around if it were not for Peterson’s oversize ego.

I bet the total I.Q. in the Chiefs front office is not as high as Jared’s age — 26.

Michael A. West

Leawood

Leawood coyotes

I read with interest and empathy the dilemma faced by the city of Leawood to control the coyote problems in its southernmost housing developments (4/20, Local, City to discuss coyote remedy”). I am sympathetic to Leawood residents who have lost cherished pets to coyote predation.

In my view, the problem is significant and far-reaching. I suspect that the Kansas City metropolitan area ranks near the top of metro areas nationally in urban sprawl, perhaps just after Atlanta. The true costs of unchecked sprawl are not just the incursion of houses into former wildlife habitat but the extension, maintenance, future replacement and ongoing administrative costs of expensive low-density urban infrastructure, including streets, bridges, interstate highways, utilities, public transportation, public works and police services.

I wince when I fill my car with $3.60 gasoline, but I think there’s hope. The silver lining in that cloud may be better than we think in terms of our built environment. As the true cost of gasoline moves to a parity with that paid by European nations, I suspect that egregious urban sprawl may ultimately be stopped or dramatically controlled, even in the Kansas City area.

Gas prices of $7 or $8 a gallon may just hold some great benefits for the future of American cities.

Chuck Stewart

Westwood

Vicki Bishop of Leawood (4/23, Letters) writes that she is an “animal lover,” but has not seen her cat, Soccer, in five months. She blames the coyote population.

A true “animal lover” would not let a pet run loose. City ordinances against allowing pets to run free are widely ignored in the case of cats.

My five cats were all strays, rescued from various pitiful conditions, and while one of them, Mascara, loves to roll around on the front porch when she has a chance to dash out when I open the door, she knows that the food, toys, litter boxes, and safe places to play and sleep are indoors.

A little eight-pound cat is no match for the many dangers of the outdoor life: cars, dogs, cruel humans or coyotes. Responsible pet owners keep their pets indoors.

Elaine Hines

Kansas City, Kan.

The wolf, being kin to the coyote, is a totem for Cub Scouting: It is a merit badge. Many dens are named Coyote Den. Boy Scout campouts are frequented by the yipping and squealing of countryside coyotes, where they hunt and live. They are singing to the night sky, the stars and the moon.

Coyotes were here first; it’s coyote territory. Should the same thing happen to them as the Native Americans and their bison?

If outlying property owners want to protect their territory, then let them plant the traps in their own yards. These exploding traps have a recoiling mechanism that draws the coyote in closer, gradually allowing no room for struggle, only strangulation. No one would want to see that happen to a kid or pet.

The ugly part of “coyote ugly” is the people who want to destroy them for their own convenience.

Hutch Moshier

Tonganoxie

Feeling unwelcome in KC

I feel the Sprint Center and Power & Light District don’t welcome out-of-town spectators.

My husband and I live in Topeka and had to rush right after work to make it to the recent Bon Jovi concert, which began at 7:30 p.m. It was a scramble finding an exit off of I-70 that would lead us to the Sprint Center. No apparent signs directed us there. At 6:47, we found the Sprint Center but had trouble parking. There were numerous empty spots for valet parking, but where were the valet attendants?

By 7:25, we were standing in a long, congested line. Thirty minutes later, we had made it inside but missed the opening act.

After the show we hoped to have dinner, but none of the Power & Light District restaurants were serving food. We were back in Topeka at 12:39 a.m., heating up leftovers.

Shanna M. Dunn-Vigare

Topeka

Kittens dumped in trash

This is for the lowlife who threw five little kittens in two trash bins in Lenexa on April 22.

By not keeping them together, only two were rescued by some Sprint employees. The other three were found a day later. One got a home, but two were hauled off by Animal Control. Just so you know, one of those two did not look in very good shape. My heart was broken at seeing that little body crumbled and hardly moving.

There are plenty of shelters you could have taken them to. You are an irresponsible pet owner and a cold-blooded murderer.

D. Jeanine Wilson

Raymore

Missouri abortion bill

Missouri Right to Life applauds the Missouri House for voting to expand the informed consent laws on abortion. HB 1831, sponsored by Rep. Bob Onder, requires that a mother be offered an ultrasound, be informed about her child’s ability to feel pain and be protected from coercion.

It’s difficult to understand how anyone could oppose legislation that allows a pregnant woman to see her baby’s heartbeat or to learn about her unborn child’s development. And certainly no one supports the outrage of coerced abortions.

Missouri citizens would be well served if the Missouri Senate, who will now take up this bill, supports informed choices and protection for women by passing this legislation.

Pam Fichter

President, Missouri Right to Life

St. Louis

Defending the right to be a clod

As a season-ticket holder for several years, I was very saddened on the evening of April 23 to see the great atmosphere of the New Theatre in Overland Park invaded by one of those people who feel that modern-day etiquette makes it proper for a man to wear a ball cap while dining.

However, one of the reasons I gave 20 years of my life in the service of my country was to help preserve the rights of individuals to do as they please, as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others. Certainly, failure of a person to adhere to recommended and accepted dress code is in no way an infringement of my rights. It only hurts my eyes and sensibilities, and I can always look in a different direction.

The right to be a clod, although not stated specifically in our Bill of Rights, is included and available to everyone.

Roy Guy

Leavenworth

McCain would be more of same

A recent New York Times poll indicated that 81 percent of Americans believe our nation is headed on the wrong track.

A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll indicated that 70 percent of Americans disapprove of President Bush’s handling of the nation’s economy, and his overall favorability rating remains near an all-time low, 33 percent. Souring views of the war in Iraq were the primary drag on Bush’s ratings.

A review of John McCain’s Web site indicates that on many critical issues facing this nation, John McCain shares Bush’s positions. I suggest that if this country truly demands changes at the top level of government, John McCain is not the answer.

Thomas F. O’Connor

Fairway

---