Ink

Recent Comments

• Reader panel: Plaza building debate

  I can't really claim to be overly concerned about the Plaza either way. I shop there semi-regularly because of the Barnes and Noble, but find the area pretty pretentious. I think the new buliding should have to match the style and architexture of the existing buildings. The area is a tourist attraction and something that KC is known for. I believe they should also put commercial space in the first floor or two. It should be stores, restaurants, or bars. That way, they would at least be contributing something for the regular shoppers and visitors. I'm all for keeping jobs in the city, but do they really need to be on the Plaza? The modern buliding could be put anywhere in the city. Kind of tacky to threaten to take their jobs elsewhere.

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• Reader panel: A mosque near Ground Zero

  I think building a mosque so near ground zero is a mistake. Having said that, it is legal, and I don't think it should be forbidden. Religious freedom must remain an absolute in this country. It is a fundamental freedom. However, I don't understand why Islamic leaders would even want to be there. It seems to me that building a massive tribute to Islam in the immediate area where rednecks from all over the nation are visiting to mourn and perhaps reinforce personal prejudices seems kind of risky. It would just be smarter and more sensitive to put it a bit further away. On the topic of "Ground Zero," haven't the terrorists already "won" if we never get around to building anything in that space. We should already have new buildings there more spectacular than those that were brought down. What are we waiting for? I think America dropped the ball on that. Will there be new buildings there in our lifetime? What's the hold up?

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• Reader panel: Birthright citizenship

  This is really about racism....And why do we keep pretending that we are talking about all illegal immigrants? This is really about scared old rich white people trying to keep Mexicans out of the country. It is grotesque. I recognize that the government has limited funds to support the needy. [Of course, if we weren't so busy trying to force the rest of the world to become Christian, there would be a lot more funds available, but that's another issue.] Even before the 14th amendment, anyone born in this country was considered American. It is pretty ironic that a nation born of immigrants [and more than a few people deported and sent here against their will] is trying to persecute and throw out immigrants. As another reader pointed out, if it weren't so extremely difficult and expensive to become a citizen here, perhaps more people would go about it through the proper channels. I say if someone manages to get into this country to have their baby, the child and the parents should be made legal. It shows determination, desire to create a better life for your family, a willingness to work-even at menial jobs. White people need to get over their fears about becoming a minority....It's going to happen at some point. Sorry Whitey McWhitington....Odds are that someday your descendants are going to be Chinese. Not because of war or hostility. Just compare the numbers. It is a small world, and white people make up a fraction of the human population. Done worry though old-timers....You will already be dead when the people of color become a majority in this country, so just relax. Diversity is what made this country great. If you are obsessed with living in a mostly white environment, go back to whatever part of Europe  your immigrant ancestors came from.

   

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• Reader panel: Your hot issues

  I can't decide between two issues, so I will comment on both. They are literacy and equal rights for gays. They may seem unrelated, but they do impact each other. One of the leading causes of homophobia and intolerance in general, is the lack of understanding and education. Almost without exception, the more educated a person is--the more exposed to knowledge--the less likely they are to be prejudiced; especially towards gays.

  The fact that gay people don't have civil rights identical to straight citizens in what is arguably the most advanced country in the world is an abomination. At some point, the federal government will simply have to force the masses to respect and acknowledge the humanity and equality of gay people as they had to do to make the white majority do the same for black people not so long ago. People won't do it on their own. They cling to fears of the unknown and the different. In time, when true equality has long become normalized, the American people of that future will be horrified by the notion that any red-blooded Americans were once denied their rights by their own neighbors.

  A big factor in this fear of the unknown and diversity is a direct result of widespread illiteracy. When people can't or don't read, they are not exposed to mind expanding ideas, or even new science. Their world remains small and scary. It's not just that parents and schools are failing to teach reading. Our modern culture doesn't value it, so people just don't care about it. In a world full of fast-paced distractions, reading suffers by comparison for many people. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers when was the last time they read a book for pleasure. You will probably recieve a lot of blank looks, especially if talking to a man. Meanwhile, our culture continues to weaken and become more ignorant. That is why even communist countries are beginning to rival us in power and influence. This apathy towards reading and knowledge could someday be our undoing as a nation. Whose going to maintain our advanced technology when like a third of our adults can't read at the appropriate level. Maybe you will appreciate reading a book for fun someday when you have to ask your Chinese employer or master for permission to do it.

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• Reader panel: The tea party and racism

  I think the Tea Party Movement is generally vulgar. It is about rich white people clinging to their concept of post-revolutionary war America and fighting to keep from sharing their fortunes with the common masses. Sadly, this demographic is very skilled at manipulating blue-collar folks by playing to their fears. Some people are most threatened by diversity. Those kinds of extremists are going to latch onto Tea Parties as they do with any outlet that seems to tolerate or condone hate. If the Tea Party leaders are smart, they will continue to expunge all of the radicals that are too simple-minded to keep their evil hidden inside. I believe in freedom of speech, but when any group allows such douchebags to become a part of their collective voice, they risk the alienation of the larger society that is struggling towards the high road......Join us in the modern era fellow caucasions. It's a bright new day....In summation: God don't like ugly!

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• Reader panel: 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

  Though I read constantly, I haven't read a lot of books that fall into the "Classics" category aside from those for children, such as Black Beauty, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Charlotte's Web. So without question, my favorite classic book is Dune by Frank Herbert. It is the consummate example of a classic science fiction/fantasy novel. I have loved every book in the huge series, including those written by his son Brian and Kevin Anderson. This wonderful fictional universe has been a major influence on the novels I write, and Herbert's series has been turned into a number of enjoyable movies. Sometimes called an epic space opera, the insightful commentary of these books on religion, politics, and human nature should not be under-estimated. The effect of this story on modern literature has been a gift to all readers. Dune's creation shaped the imagination of the culture-makers of our society.

   

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• Reader panel: Do you text while driving?

  There is absolutely no logical reason for anyone to text while driving. The ban should apply to all ages. I don't see how anyone proposing legislation ever got away with suggesting it was safe for adults to text wihile driving. If anything, young people have better and faster texting skills. The fact is clear that what ever distracts a driver's attention is not acceptable. Anyone voting against a total ban should be held financially and ethically responsible for any accident or deaths that occur as a result of letting this selfish practice continue. When did fear of Oprah's wrath stop being enough to control the American people? Has she ever steered us wrong?

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• Reader panel: U.S. in Afghanistan

  We [America] need to leave the Middle East. It is ludicrous to suggest that we shouldn't set a date for pull-out because that would push our enemies to "wait us out." THEY LIVE THERE! They will be there when we leave whether it's in 6 months or 600 years. We are bleeding money we don't have to spare, and innocent lives are being lost and ruined on both sides. Perhaps we could leave an elite squad of spies or assassins to eliminate specific threats, but this mission in the Middle East has become the longest war in U. S. history. No matter how many of these people we kill, they will never become a Christian democracy. They gave us a sucker punch on 9/11 and we gave them a major ass-whoopin' in return. Time for everyone to grow up and go home. It's bad enough that our huge population of young veterans are going to be dealing with the psychological ramificatons of all this for the rest of their lives. At this point, I have to wonder if our government is really just keeping the troops out of this country because there is no work of all of them to come home to......

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• Reader Panel: Cell phone monitoring

  Perhaps it would be fair if the employees were warned in advance that if they exceeded their alotted minutes, the employer would have to review the content of the messeges to determine which excess minutes were for work and which were personal---That being the only way to determine who should pay for them. The employee could also have the option of paying for all the minutes they were over without the employer reviewing the content.  Having said that, I think this is kind of a slippery slope. Even though these devices are company-owned, I think people have the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy. The next thing you know, employers will be putting cameras in bathrooms. I don't know if that is legal, but it is certainly unethical. Generally, it is a good idea to treat people with trust, respect, and dignity until they give you a reason not to. Giving employees these basic benefits usually leads to more loyalty to the bossman.

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• Reader Panel: Future of the Big 12

  I really couldn't care less what any sports team does. I didn't not attend any of the schools involved, so I am not interested. Having said that, I do care that Kansas City makes money when it hosts these popular games. Because of the financial impact on our city, I hope the relevant teams don't leave the Big 12. Frankly, it still baffles me that so much money is generated by adults playing children's games. Do people really have nothing more important to do with their time?

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