Readers react to clothing challenges, SeaWorld and Donald Trump
Clothing challenges
As a 5-foot female, I find it quite difficult to find clothes that accommodate my stature. Clothes should be marketed toward all audiences, short as well as tall.
Being short has its downfalls, but finding clothing is one of the worst. I consistently have the problem of my pant legs being too long, causing me to have to roll them up. Now, I wouldn’t mind if this happened a few times, but this happens every morning as I try to get ready.
It could be argued that it is easier to make clothing for someone of average height. Clothing companies may find it cheaper to mass produce one size of clothing, but there is a simple solution to that problem.
Clothing companies should work to balance a wide variety of clothes while managing their budgets. If this compromise happened, a wider audience of females would be satisfied with their clothing.
Tess Burroughs
Blue Springs
Abuse of orcas
Orcas should not be held in captivity by SeaWorld (11-11, A13, “Orca shows to end by 2017”). It is unethical to use these stunning creatures for entertainment because, like humans, orcas mate for life and deserve to live with their pods in their natural habitat.
Families across America buy passes to SeaWorld with no idea of what actually happens behind closed doors. Orcas are mammals that swim in the ocean with their pods until they die. When orcas are in captivity, they are separated from each other and stuck in small tanks that are equivalent to a bathtub.
The unnatural habitat of SeaWorld causes early death. The average life expectancy of the whales is 30 to 50. In captivity, the average trickles down to 13 years. Not only is the life expectancy shorter, but many whales have died in captivity, plus there have been miscarriages.
Many scientists argue that orca captivity is an effective use for research on these mammals, but there are many non-lethal techniques that are used around the world for whale research.
Orca confinement is a cruel punishment for creatures that do no harm. The human race should stand up against this immoral organization and help save the orcas.
Gracyn Montgomery
Lee’s Summit
Gerson column
Michael Gerson’s Nov. 27 column, “Republicans are still in denial over Trump,” clearly supports my concerns that the bellicose, hateful and inaccurate statements being made by the leading contenders in the Republican Party are indeed frightening.
We continue to hear the media repeat ad nauseam that the public is “angry,” but it seems to me a true leader helps people deal with anger or frustration in positive ways.
Instead, we hear these leading candidates spewing hate and xenophobia, seeking to stir anger and fear at every turn. And sadly, the other candidates, fearing to be seen as “soft” or “not conservative enough,” are tripping over themselves to mimic these hate messages.
Expel Mexican immigrants. Round up Muslims. Refuse to admit Syrian refugees. Gerson cites many more examples.
Suffice it to say these messages appeal to our worst instincts, while what we need is a leader to call on us to be the best we can be and stand for the principles that have made our country great. Probably the loudest and the ugliest candidates will fade before next November.
But I believe we should all be upset at their efforts to turn us into mean-spirited images of themselves.
Judy Sherry
Kansas City
Climate change
I expected the full left-wing monty Nov. 28 when I saw the editorial, “Attacking climate change boosts health of Americans and businesses.” I did not expect an excerpt from White House talking points.
The left continues the use of the term “denier” to equate those who don’t drink the climate Kool-Aid with Holocaust deniers. That practice is easier than debating the subject in an open forum, which the left, for the most part, refuses to do.
Science is never settled.
Sea levels have been rising about a foot per century since the end of the Little Ice Age. Ice in Antarctica has been growing.
Solar and wind power are very expensive and now provide less than 5 percent of our energy.
As for new jobs from clean energy, I have one word for you, Solyndra.
Place an opposing piece on your op-ed page.
James C. Clarke
Kansas City
This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to clothing challenges, SeaWorld and Donald Trump."