Mail

Isn't it ironic ... don't you think?
Your cover story on the trends following the sale of Sun Publications to a national newspaper giant is a bit ironic, isn't it ("Total Eclipse of the Sun," April 20-26)? I can't help but wonder if that's why you ran it, or whether it was an effort to flex your editorial muscle with the suits over at New Times. Or both. I'll never believe it was accidental.

The story makes excellent points about the struggles that can ensue when a strong local publication falls into the hands of money-grubbing corporate types who don't give a rat's ass about the market the publication circulates in. Hmmmm.

In any case, good work. -- William Peck

Kansas City, Mo.

Pro-ROTC and here's what I say
This letter is in response to the students' petitioning against Shawnee Mission North's ROTC program ("Opponents of ROTC Up in Arms About Military Presence in Schools," April 13-19). I'd like to start off by stating how sick I am of politically correct, whining assholes. Their lives are so full of misunderstanding and anguish, they make the lives of others more difficult.

I am also a junior at Shawnee Mission North. This act on the ROTC program is completely stupid and not very well thought out. The points Emiliano Huet-Vaughn makes are nothing more than opinions, with little or no facts concerning safety.

Huet-Vaughn claims that his concern is not about all of the kids in the program, just the ones that might not respect the teaching of responsibility. If that is so, should we get rid of shop classes? There are people I wouldn't trust with a rotary saw. The idea is just absurd.

He mentioned that the ROTC has many faults: discrimination, censorship, antidemocratic message, the child-soldier issue, etc. First of all, discrimination against what? In no way is anybody deprived of any position or activity due to race, nationality, religion, or creed. Then there is censorship. What the hell is he talking about? Let's ban television for not allowing swear words or nudity! An antidemocratic message? Again, an opinion on personal politics. And the child-soldier issue. This issue is in reference to using children in combat. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure that the ROTC cadets aren't being shipped overseas to fight the enemy with nuclear warheads.

Huet-Vaughn claims that, due to school regulations, if he were to enter the school with a water gun, he would be immediately suspended. Bullshit! I've seen water guns in the school, and no one got suspended. The guns got taken away because they disturbed the learning environment. He also said that guns are for killing, whereas pencils are for writing, excluding the popular #2 pencils for a weapon. Yeah, well, knives are for cutting. Cutting is a threat for all people. Let's ban plastic knives at school

I have seen this guy protesting for peace in the Middle East -- this isn't his first act of aggression. This also means that this issue isn't necessarily that bad. All it means is that the only way for Huet-Vaughn to deal with his disagreements is to seek and destroy. Seek the source of disagreement and destroy the program involved. A popular formula used by all p.c. advocates.

My advice for Emiliano Huet-Vaughn and his followers: Suck it up! You don't like something -- deal with it. I hate my math courses, but you don't see me finding a national issue to exploit about it. If an ROTC cadet has a shooting spree at school tomorrow, it's not because he was trained to kill. It's far beyond that. Maybe he/she is crazy, or disturbed, or whatever, but don't you even THINK the school is at fault. We blame the media, music, school, parents. Whatever happened to the crazy people? Aren't people just plain crazy any more? NO! They are ALWAYS "victims of society." Screw that! The only victims of society are the people who listen to the thoughtless rage of people like Emiliano Huet-Vaughn. -- Tyson Fisher

Roeland Park, Kan.

I took the NJROTC (Naval Junior ROTC) class while I attended SMN more than 10 years ago. After high school, I joined the Navy for two years but never realized the importance of the program until after I joined the Army. I was a Light Infantry Ranger for about nine years. I owe my success in the military to my instructors and the teachings of NJROTC. I learned the phonetic alphabet, military time, chain of command, wear and care of the military uniform, and drill and ceremony. By learning these things before I entered basic training, I had a step up on the other recruits in my company.

In 1995, I was selected by the Department of the Army to be a drill sergeant. I found that the privates that had been through some sort of JROTC program knew what to expect from basic training. These recruits on average scored higher on tests and had higher morale and better discipline.

A few other points I would like to make are not as nice as the previous paragraphs.