LETTERS 05/11/08

Best part of being a mom

The most difficult aspect about being a mom is being a mom. A child brings smiles, laughter and sticky fingers wrapped in a hug. You cry when they are hurting and explode in excitement for their accomplishments. You let the string extend beyond your reach, secretly wishing it wouldn’t extend at all.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no secret book holding the key to parenting that only moms can decipher. Moms learn by the modeling of others and by experiencing life along the way. We plan for their future, just hoping that it doesn’t come too soon.

So cherish these moments as we celebrate yet another Mother’s Day, as they go ever so quickly. And hope that someday our children will understand that the most difficult aspect of being a mom is being a mom, but it is the best experience you take together.

Charlotte Melson

Raytown

With gas prices surging to dizzying new heights, we all want solutions.

Everything I can find on high gas prices says the greatest single cause is still a lack of refinery capacity, causing enough of a shortage of gas to drive up prices. We have less refinery capacity today than we did in the ’70s, as they were not replaced as they went offline due to age.

Also from what I read, the gas companies have no incentive to build more refineries, as they have discovered that the profit is much higher when the free market drives up gas prices because of their lack.

Sounds like we need to give them an incentive to build more, or perhaps the government could build a few — whatever it takes to solve the problem and lower gas prices.

The other issue: Why are we paying more than $120 per barrel of crude oil when we have the technology to make synthetic gasoline from our abundant coal shale? According to radio program and CNN show host Glenn Beck’s sources, the per-barrel cost to make synthetic gas is half that.

Chad Kincham

Pleasant Valley

Sens. Clinton and Obama propose a “windfall” or “excessive” profits tax against those evil oil companies. Any profit above some arbitrary number someone sets, they want “to take those profits,” in the words of Sen. Clinton.

Think long and hard about that. Do you really want someone, especially someone in Washington, to set some artificial level of how successful a certain business is allowed to be and to penalize it for succeeding beyond that level? Today it’s the oil companies. A few years ago it was Microsoft. What is it tomorrow, or next year? Maybe it’s the business that you are in.

The fact is that almost anything that Washington does, from the “gas tax holiday” to “windfall profits taxes” and every mandate in between will result in nothing but higher prices at the pump. We must increase the supply or drop the demand (preferably both) in order to lower the prices.

James Helton

Independence

I believe our country, even with its millions of voters, should allow each voter’s vote to count for the specific person being voted for. I do not trust the concept of delegate votes.

America’s people are losing all of their freedoms. I want my freedom to vote specifically for my favorite candidate to count.

Diana Hughes

Overland Park

I read with great interest LaVerne Fieseler’s trouble with Medicare (5/7, Letters). As a pharmacist, I would question the physician’s price of Procrit: $1,280 per week. This drug can be purchased, by a wholesaler, for less than $600 per week. So why such a large markup for a life-sustaining drug?

While Medicare may not reimburse a truly fair amount, physicians have too long overcharged for medications they administer in their office.

Eric McKinnon

Shawnee

Something wonderful has been happening in Kansas City. I am speaking of the truly amazing ascendance of the Kansas City Symphony under the direction of Michael Stern.

KC, if you have not heard your symphony perform under Stern’s direction, you are simply missing out on hearing — and seeing — what is quickly becoming a world-class institution. The quality, dedication and depth of talent of the musicians in this group are breathtaking, as are their recent performances under Mr. Stern.

Do yourself a big favor. Get yourself a ticket to one of the symphony’s upcoming performances of Verdi’s magnificent Manzoni Requiem, May 16-18, and you will be astounded by what we have going on right here in old KC. You will be introduced to anther kind of world-class athleticism and awe-inspiring talent.

We are extremely blessed to have this group in our town, and we should support them to the fullest.

Jeff Gerner

Kansas City

It’s really great that the Noland Road bridge project was completed before the projected date (4/10, Local, “Span set to reopen — early!”). My concern is the amount of time it is taking to complete the bridge at Blue Parkway and Elmwood Ave. This is ridiculous, especially considering the same company has been contracted to do both bridges.

To leave the Plaza area and drive eastbound, just to have to get into a single-file line (through intersections with traffic signals that are not very well coordinated) during rush hour is cruel and unusual punishment.

Why, oh, why must we continue to suffer? How much longer will it take?

Michael Foster

Kansas City

As a student at St. Teresa’s Academy, I am familiar with school uniforms and enjoy wearing mine every day. Reading about the plan by the Hickman Mills school board to test uniforms in middle schools (4/21, Local. “Hickman Mills to try on uniforms”), I wished the board had extended this opportunity to the high school level as well.

The sweaters, polo shirts and skirts that my peers and I wear create a certain consciousness of our surroundings in the classroom and throughout the school. My uniform is specifically what I wear as a student, in school, in classes and in meetings. They are not the clothes I would wear if watching TV with friends or working out at the gym. Uniforms help to emphasize a school environment.

Besides the benefits of convenience and cost, uniforms are a good idea for students. I hope that more schools begin to incorporate them into all levels of education.

Kellyn Smith

Kansas City

I read your paper every day for a variety of reasons, and while I greatly value your news coverage, local columnists and syndicated opinions, I must say the “Pearls Before Swine” comic strip is becoming my favorite part of each day’s read.

I found The Star’s feature story on the strip’s cartoonist, Stephan Pastis, (4/14, FYI, “Life can be a croc”) very entertaining. Pastis’ humor is often the much-needed twist to an otherwise drab and dreary news day, and your quality product is enhanced by the presence of “Pearls.” I hope other readers agree.

Jeannie Brandstetter

Jefferson City

Jason Whitlock’s commentary (5/4, Sports, “Athletes and guns a bad mix”) focused on a football player who scuffled with, shot and wounded a man outside a business owned by the football player.

Mr. Whitlock does not convict the athlete, a generosity joined by the police and prosecutors, but he certainly blames the athlete for whatever transpired. The athlete carried a gun. According to Mr. Whitlock, guns emit some unexplained voodoo influence that causes humans to seek out unsafe areas and pick fights.

As an attorney, I have represented gun owners in matters great and small for 25 years. I do not know any who have gone to dangerous areas simply because they have a gun.

I do have clients who have been attacked on their own doorsteps and forced to defend themselves from a stray psycho or rabid ex-spouse. Mr. Whitlock’s suggestion that they “escalated” the attack or “jeopardized” their safety, much less that they “pick fights” is as wrong as it is insulting.

Kevin L. Jamison

Gladstone

The current decision of the Louisiana legislature to allow for the execution of those convicted of child rape (5/7, Opinion, “Pro-con: Should the death penalty be expanded to include persons who rape children?”) could set a precedent that could be problematic as states such as Missouri consider similar measures.

What would be the treatment afforded to those convicted of incest? Is the crime any less damaging if the perpetrator is one’s own parent? If not, could this then lead to children offering testimony against their own parents, with the possible result being the state-sanctioned execution of their parents?

I have no answers, only questions — but questions well worth consideration.

Jeremy Deeken

Kansas City

It was good to read that MoDOT has “turned that corner” regarding green alternatives (5/3, Letters). Steve Porter pointed out the native grasses that have been planted in various medians and along road corridors. While I applaud this effort, I am deeply disappointed that MoDOT did not turn the green corner before building the bus transit station at Red Bridge and 71 Highway.

There is nothing green about it. The entire parking area and the medians installed on Red Bridge are simply more endless pavement.

Buffalo grass or native flowers would have been a welcome sight and certainly would have cut down on the amount of runoff to already overloaded catch basins. Even a tree or two would have been nice. They would be good for the environment and appreciated by those who leave their cars all day under the blistering sun.

There are also many other green solutions for parking areas, and it’s time MoDOT and this city started implementing them.

Teresa Edens

Kansas City

As a smoker, it is a personal choice to do damage to my body. However, we as smokers live among nonsmokers, who choose to not harm their bodies in this way.

Out of respect toward nonsmokers, the Earth and those too young or dumb (such as pets), here are some considerations to be a smart smoker:

•Do not smoke around kids, whether it be on a sidewalk, in a group or if kids are in the car. They have no voice to say, “Hey put out that cigarette!”

•Throw cigarette butts in the trash. We rant and rave about littering, yet it’s OK to throw a cigarette outside? No. Flick the cherry off the cigarette and put the remaining filter back in the box it came from or in a trash can.

•When around friends, it doesn’t hurt to ask, “Do you mind if I smoke?” especially around mealtime.

This is the least we can do, even if they take away our right to smoke in restaurants. We can be better.

Zoraida Zavala

Kansas City

The only services I get in south Kansas City is once a year when I get my property tax bill and my earnings tax form.

Snow removal is terrible.

The only time I see a police officer is on the local news or when I go to the South Patrol station to fill out a police report.

There is no regular bus service. My 12-mile trip for downtown jury duty took about an hour and a half.

Public meetings for input on the budget, buses and light rail seldom occur south of I-435.

If you live south of I-435, you are second class in Kansas City.

Jorge Aveadore

Kansas City