Posted on Mon, Apr. 28, 2008

Preventing child abuse

Laura Scott told the story of how Liz Murray overcame amazing obstacles in her young life as a neglected child who saw firsthand the repercussions of parental drug abuse (4/21, Opinion, “Children suffer when parents are addicted”).

April is national Child Abuse Prevention Month, and there is so much each one of us can do, not just during April but throughout the year to prevent abuse, neglect, and family violence.

As a treatment and prevention agency for young victims of abuse in the Kansas City area, The Children’s Place encourages all adults to help stop the epidemic of violence in the lives of young children.

Liz Murray may have lived in the Bronx, but the horrifying circumstances she described translate to our own Kansas City community.

Liz had a supportive educator in her life who cared about her and encouraged her. I hope each one of us will refuse to turn a blind eye to child abuse and strive to be the kind of families, friends, teachers and neighbors Laura Scott encourages us to be when it comes to making sure children who have suffered abuse, neglect or trauma in their lives get the help they need.

Debby Howland

Advocacy coordinator, The Children’s Place

Jefferson City

Why is Hillary ‘scary’?

Maureen Dowd (4/24, Opinion, “Obama’s dilemma: how to get rid of gonzo woman”) asks (of Obama) “...is he simply scared of Hillary because she’s scary?”

While I believe that to a degree Ms. Dowd is being tongue-in-cheek, I also believe this depiction is not too far from truth for some voters.

My question to those voters would simply be: Why is she so scary? Because she’s supremely confident? Because she’s a “strong woman?” Because she’s ambitious and persistent? Because she’s champing at the bit to get in there and fix it?

By the way, the last time I checked the gender-o-meter, ambition and persistence in a man would be considered strengths of character, not “scary.” If these characteristics scare some people, then I say, “Scare on, Hillary.”

What scares me more is a candidate who dazzles us with feel-good rhetoric in a campaign that bets on our overall propensity to behave as lemmings.

Amy Bush

Spring Hill

Regarding garbage

While out walking recently, I noticed my neighbors’ garbage cans overflowing with recyclables: newspapers, milk jugs and soda cans.

Where do people think these things go? Does the trash fairy wave her magic wand and poof, the smelly trash is gone? Or maybe people don’t understand that these materials go to a landfill where they disintegrate over thousands of years.

Even as a busy mother, I find time to recycle, take reusable bags shopping and turn off my tap while I brush my teeth.

I take my mug to Starbucks instead of using their paper cups. I’ve joined a community-supported agriculture group, and I buy local and organic foods. I use environmentally friendly hand soap, detergent, and cleansers.

We have a Brita water pitcher, so we don’t use water bottles. We drink Shatto milk, which is local, and its cows are not given hormones. It comes in glass bottles, so the milk tastes better and we’re not creating waste because I take empty bottles back to the store.

I am going to buy a compost bin for our kitchen refuse such as apple cores, banana peels and coffee grounds.

I think of new uses for old things.

Erin Margolin

Mission Hills

It saddens me that we need prisoners or adopt-a-highway programs to take care of a problem that we as a society have failed to solve ourselves. (4/21, A-1, “Less help from inmates means that trash lingers on roadways.”)

Nearly every day I witness somebody tossing trash or flicking cigarette butts out the windows of their cars. Why make the world your trash can when you can hold on to it for a short while longer and find an appropriate place to dispose of it?

Just because you may not get caught doesn’t mean you should do it. I do hope law enforcement gets tougher and issues stronger fines or sentences the litterbugs to clean up the roads themselves. This is truly an embarrassment.

Kellis Miller

Blue Springs

Skeptics of global warming

Meteorologist Mike Thompson is correct in his defense of global warning skeptics (4/21, FYI, Hearne Christopher column). A personal examination of a 100-year period of weather in Kansas City showed a continuous series of short-term warming and cooling periods. Studies from China covered more than a thousand years and confirmed this. No cycles have been discovered that would help in forecasting climate changes.

Thompson is also correct in that tactics such as those used by Hitler depend on personal abuse instead of scientific proof.

Harry A. Gordon

Retired meteorologist,

National Weather Service

Kansas City

Sex-trafficking case

Johnson County is in the process of trying a Chinese national accused of enticing and coercing women to travel to her business to perform sexual services for men for money. (4/25, Local, “Guilty plea in sex-trafficking case”).

She has admitted to the charges. She could face up to 20 years in prison. But by agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors, the estimate is she will face a whole eight months.

What a nice legal system we have. Don’t get stopped for a traffic ticket.

Frank Thompson

De Soto

Old frugal ways no longer work

In years past when people expressed concern about a possible recession or depression, I always said I could deal with it. I still remembered how to cook beans. But in the current economic situation, my old skills don’t help much.

I know how to make bread, but the price of flour is now beyond my reach. Making the family clothing is possible, but the cost of the supplies surpasses my budget. Macaroni used to be a poor person’s staple, but it changed its name to pasta and the price tripled. The same thing happened to cornmeal mush when it became polenta and the price zoomed.

Now I’m reading how funeral costs have increased. So, at the age of 82, I can’t afford to live and I can’t afford to die. Is there an alternative?

Imogene Lusher

Independence

Blame gas prices on Congress

I too am upset over the high price of gasoline. The blame truly rests with every member of Congress in the last 35 years. That is how long ago it was obvious something like this was going to occur, and there’s still no comprehensive energy program.

Congress is a joke. Occasionally members of Congress revise the mileage standard and tell us they are working on it, but no real progress has been made in solving the energy crisis. Both political parties have controlled Congress over the last 35 years, so both parties are responsible for this mess.

Fortunately I believe we have the technical capability to solve the problem. Unfortunately it may take a few years to do it, given our late start.

The next major shortage will be of potable water worldwide. That will take more effort to solve, as there will never be a substitute for water.

Dennis Tabel

Overland Park

Syria’s nuclear reactor

A nuclear reactor in Syria? Built with the help of the North Koreans? (4/25, A-1, “U.S. asserts N. Korean link to Syrian reactor.”)

Problem is that our government has lied to us so many times over the past eight years — WMDs, the economy, Social Security, “free trade,” privacy, security — that it makes it hard to believe anything it says now.

The more that someone cries wolf, the harder it is to get people to listen.

Donald Skinner

Leawood

Missouri abortion bill

Thank you for your editorial “New intrusions on a right for women” (4/23, Opinion) criticizing the recent passage of HB 1831 by the Missouri House.

The proponents of this legislation continue to profess their desire to “protect” women. But the truth of the matter is the bill would criminalize abortions for some women and force doctors to certify patients as incompetent to consent to their own medical care.

If HB1831 passes, a woman who has survived rape or domestic violence and is seeking an abortion would be considered “coerced,” and her doctor must certify that she is incompetent to consent. If the doctor fails to do so, he could be charged with a felony.

The bill’s sponsor is operating under the assumption that a woman could not possibly come to the conclusion that terminating her pregnancy is the best option for herself and her family. He would rather make the decision for her, forcing her to be declared incompetent and threatening her doctor with jail time.

The decision to terminate a pregnancy is never to be taken lightly. We can only hope that our Senate will stand up to the cynical forces behind this legislation.

Vanessa Crawford

Political and Field Director,

NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri

St. Louis

My condolences to the Missouri House members who approved House bills 1831 and 1472. This bit of legislation continues to erode a woman’s choice of safe and well-informed health-care services.

Restricting and coercing women into personal medical decision-making is not what elected politicians should spend time and taxpayers’ money on.

We need our medical information coming from the American Medical Association, personal physicians or nationally respected health-care professionals, not an ill-conceived plan by state legislators bent on forcing their personal moral agendas on all Missourians.

Prevention of unintended pregnancies and sex-education programs in schools are far more beneficial and cost-effective than the current agenda of additional restrictions on women’s health-care choices.

Aryn Roth

Kansas City

Thanks to hospice volunteers

During National Hospice Volunteer week, April 28-May 3, I want to commend all of the Hospice Care of the Midwest volunteers who mean so much to our patients and families. They are extraordinary people who do ordinary things to changes lives. These special people are essential members of our team, and many know firsthand what it is like to lose a loved one.

Hospice Care of the Midwest volunteers become friends or companions to patients, giving caregivers and family members relief from the daily responsibilities of providing care. They help in many ways: reading to the patient, writing a letter, watching a movie, running errands, helping staff in the hospice office and much more. These volunteers give their time and their unique skills to make a difference for those at the end of life in our communities.

What a privilege it is to know these caring and committed volunteers. They are another reason our community is a special place to live. We are always looking for good people to serve as volunteers.

Sarah Berghaus

Volunteer coordinator,

Hospice Care of the Midwest

Kansas City

Sexism at Brigade?

I am a season ticketholder for the Kansas City Brigade. As I have attended games this season I have noticed that close to half the attendees are female. Conversely, all the fans chosen to participate in time-out events such as the Brigade’s version of “Deal or No Deal” are men. Even the fans chosen to receive a touchdown ball are male — from little boys to adults.

I realize that some of the “challenges” the Brigade offers, such as the field goal attempts and football throw, may provide more entertainment if the fans are men, but there are also opportunities to include women and girls.

How do I explain to my daughter that she will never receive a touchdown football because of her gender?

Susan Trompeter

Overland Park

Rebate checks

President Bush thinks my rebate check is going to allow me to cope with rising gasoline and food prices and aid a slumping economy.

For once, I agree with him. But what am I going to do when June rolls around?

Bill Grossnickle

Kansas City

Rock chalk Jayhawk talk

This is to respond to Joe Coughlin (4/20, Letters), who wrote, “I gotta say this” about KU basketball players who he believes “stumbled and fumbled with the English language” at their post-game press conference.

The last time I checked, “gotta” was not in the dictionary. I suggest to Mr. Coughlin that if it is acceptable for him to use colloquial jargon, the Jayhawks should have the same right.

Peggy Hague

Kansas City

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