LETTERS 05/17/08

Tuskegee Experiment

Regarding the letter by April Ward (5/15): There is no need to embellish the horrible treatment of the patients involved in the Tuskegee Experiment.

While there is no doubt that treatment was denied them, there is also no doubt that when the experiments began, the usual treatments were often toxic and unsuccessful. They were not infected with syphilis for 40 years as Ward and others claim. It is these kinds of bogeyman theories that perpetuate the ill will and black victimology that is so obvious in Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s vitriol.

So, yes, it is very far-fetched to believe the government created the AIDS virus to kill black people or any of the other crazy, kooky, absurd, paranoid delusions the Rev. Wright has preached about.

Barack Obama has clearly stated he doesn’t agree with the Rev. Wright on these subjects, and I, for one, will take him at his word.

I would like to hear less about the Rev. Wright and more about policies, plans and proposals.

Brian K. Kegerreis

Overland Park

After reading the letters (5/14) concerning Archbishop Naumann’s decision to deny Communion to Gov. Sebelius, I am convinced that a crucial distinction is being overlooked.

While the Catholic Church does not endorse candidates, it certainly does advocate for the enactment of specific legislation and policy goals, particularly through the work of state Catholic conferences. It should be of no surprise to anyone that the Kansas Catholic Conference favors abortion restrictions.

The distinction to be made is that while Gov. Sebelius was not denied Communion when she merely advocated for abortion rights in general, she was denied Communion when she vetoed a bill that was an integral part of the Kansas Catholic Conference’s legislative agenda.

One does not have to agree with this agenda to understand how a church leader should feel empowered to advocate for the core positions for which his church stands.

William J. Thomas

Kansas City, Kan.

Refusing to serve only opposing politicians is a political act and violates the Church’s tax-exempt status.

Dennis Maack

Overland Park

Kay Barnes had to go clear to San Francisco to raise money for her campaign. It was not enough that she raised a bunch of money in Missouri’s 5th U.S. Congressional District. She and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been getting together to raise more money out of the state and the district. I hope that while she’s out there raising money for her campaign she doesn’t make statements like Barack Obama did about guns, religion and illegal immigrants.

Most of Missouri’s 6th District is rural. Many residents have weapons for protecting their property, and religion does play a big part in our lives. A bunch of folks here are very upset about illegal immigrants (lawbreakers).

So do we of the 6th District want more liberals in Congress, a Congress that has one of the lowest ratings in years?

Dale Edwards

Blue Springs

I believe that the photo ID laws that are emerging as a topic of debate recently support the right to vote. Illegal aliens have no right to vote in our elections. Proving who you are at the polls is not an inconvenience. As a soldier, I defend the Constitution and the citizens of this country, not those here illegally that destroy our institutions.

The argument that IDs are too expensive for some people to attain is weak and flawed. Identification is required for cashing checks, picking up tickets at a baseball game, gaining entry to government facilities, applying for credit, driving a car, riding on a plane and living our lives.

I sincerely hope that the lack of identification will lessen the numbers of illegal voters at the polls. Illegal aliens do not have the rights that professional citizen soldiers have died to defend.

Jon Beddall

Fort Leavenworth

I would like to echo the wise words of Helen Aufranc (5/12, Letters, “Troop deaths front-page news”). Our country is engaged in a war that we often take little notice of. Oh, we think about it occasionally, reading about it in the back pages.

We have been at war in Iraq longer than we were engaged in war with Korea, World War II, World War I or the Civil War. After five years, our nation suffers from war fatigue.

Our front page leads with news of the economy, politics and superstars because that is what we readers want — anything besides what is going on thousands of miles away in Afghanistan or Iraq in a war that many feel helpless to either understand or to end.

Yes, indeed, let’s put the names of the war dead on the front page. Let’s honor their ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice of their families and the sacrifice our nation is bearing. Maybe names on the front page would lead us away from complacency and toward action.

Sara Sautter

Founder, JuliasVoice.org

Overland Park

Be proud, Blue Springs. Everyone knows your “American Idol” finalist and your great community. We are proud of you, too.

When David Cook wins, I hope he shaves and combs his hair. But what do I know? He ain’t “Ol’ Blue Eyes.”

Bob Brooks

Grain Valley

It continues to amaze and dismay me that so many Democrats are willing to vote for someone who has proved herself to be corrupt, dishonest, untrustworthy and a dedicated and deliberately repeated liar about many things.

Amazing.

Charles Burright

Lenexa

Look folks, here are the facts. This country is not nearly in as bad a shape as the bleeding heart liberals want you to think it is. George W. Bush has protected us from terrorists. The economy is not in that bad shape considering that America sold itself out long before Bush was in office. Much of this sell-off was on Bill Clinton’s watch.

The Iraq war is justifiable, and we should seriously consider bombing Iran.

If you want hell to rain upon this country, elect a Democrat and fill the House and Senate with Democrats. The problem is the vast majority of liberals don’t know what they want, don’t know what the candidates can give them and don’t know the issues.

Careful what you wish for; you might get it.

Greg J. Graeff

Raytown

Harry Truman was smeared with the Pendergast brush throughout his political career. The Star called Truman’s election to the Senate a “triumph of machine politics,” while others simply called him “the senator from Pendergast.”

Reporters asked Truman why he continued to maintain a close relationship with the Kansas City crime boss, even in his waning days. “Tom Pendergast has always been my friend,” responded Truman, “and I don’t desert a sinking ship.”

When Pendergast died, Vice President Truman flew to Kansas City in a military plane to pay his last respects. The press went wild and savagely critiqued this lack of propriety, but Truman was unperturbed. He would become a very good president, untouched by the sordid behavior of his old friend.

There is nothing new under the sun. Only the names change.

Voltaire, an 18th-century philosopher, offered this prayer; “May God defend me from my friends. I can defend myself from my enemies.”

Kenneth Lee

Raytown

As commencement season winds down, it is time to recognize those weary but happy warriors of the classroom: our teachers. A round of applause, accompanied by a substantial pay raise, would be in order.

The late Kurt Vonnegut offers the best observation I’ve read about this honorable profession in his last collection, Armageddon in Retrospect: “The very best thing you can be in life is a teacher, provided that you are crazy in love with what you teach, and that your classes consist of eighteen students or fewer. Classes of eighteen students or fewer are a family, and feel and act like one.”

Patrons, school boards, and administrators should take special note of that last assertion.

Robert F. Willson Jr.

Emeritus professor of English, UMKC

Leawood

Frances Keating (5/12, Voices) was right that drivers would need to slow down to take advantage of synchronized lights. One of the main advantages of synchronized lights is there is no longer a reward for speeding and running red lights.

It is time for us to look at traffic controls as an opportunity to save a huge amount of gas, which benefits us all.

We can no longer afford to have lights where left turns are made only on a special light. How much gas and time are wasted sitting at a light where you’ve just missed the left turn signal when there is no oncoming traffic?

Late at night, lights should be set to blink so that the main road doesn’t stop traffic unnecessarily.

It is time that Americans realize that conservation of gas is not only an economic issue but a national security issue as well. Sane traffic signals could save millions of gallons of gas, time and — in the long run — lives.

Bill Stoker

Overland Park

I want to thank the staff and volunteers at Kansas City Hospice House for their care and support of our family while my father, Dr. Ottis Grounds, was in his last days with us. They had actually provided care for my father in his home for some time prior to this last week when he was in their facility.

The staff is the most caring, supportive, and giving that we have encountered in the medical field. The primary nurses were truly angels. Their names were Beth and Robin, and they meant more to our family than they would ever know. Janet, who is the chaplain, was, of course, a great spiritual support and comfort.

The hospice is supported by a group of dedicated and sincere volunteers whose mission is to provide support and kindness to families that they never have met. Now I have experienced the grace of God.

Rory C. Grounds

Lee’s Summit

The inner core of Kansas City’s metro area is our New Orleans. Our place of devastation, our pus-filled wound that needs healing.

I am not talking about the citizens who inhabit these areas. I am speaking of the place, the area where little assistance has been offered. Maybe it’s because we believe it to be a waste of time and money to rehabilitate these areas. Well, you are wrong. A rebuilt home would be kept, a rebuilt neighborhood would be fortified, a rebuilt life would be treasured, a rebuilt dream would be invaluable to all.

We praise programs like “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” without realizing that we, too, can work this magic in people’s lives with the simple act of giving, believing, trusting and wanting to do it.

Construction company owners, would you take on one house a year in the devastated areas of Kansas City to rebuild a home? Plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators, would you do the same? Stores, companies, citizens, people, Americans, you, me? A diverse community of strangers could work together to make things better. Would that not be God’s dream come true?

Let’s not stop at the inner city, but begin there.

Laurie Todd

Olathe