Letters

Helter Shelter
Soup's not on:I was appalled at the Longfellow Neighborhood Association's attempts to disparage Brother Louis Rodemann's yeoman social outreach efforts at Holy Family House (Deb Hipp's "No Room for the Innkeeper," December 21). The idea of screening arriving dinner guests is incompatible with Christian-based assistance and, indeed, with civilized humanity.

Closing down the volunteer work at Holy Family House will not eliminate the problems endemic to the Longfellow neighborhood; they'll only worsen them. I propose that the well-educated neighborhood yuppies put their brilliantly gifted professional minds together and come up with a solution that embraces God's disadvantaged members.
Sam Santoro Jr.
Kansas City, Missouri

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Mr. Rodemann's neighborhood:As a Christian and a student at Bishop Miege Catholic High School in Kansas, I have had many experiences with the Holy Family House. There have been many opportunities to work at the soup kitchen and to get to know the guests who rely on the evening meal. Many families, veterans, working poor, and homeless people who are NOT directly responsible for their relegated place in society either come to the house to eat their supper or receive their meal to go. I can assure the readers of Pitch Weekly, and the members of the Longfellow Neighborhood Association, that the Catholic Worker House provides only necessities for the homeless men, women, and children who rely on its services.

When reading "No Room for the Innkeeper," I was offended because of the manner in which the homeless people and the Worker House were continually referred to. I can understand perfectly well that some of the neighbors around the poorer areas of downtown might dislike the homeless. To these people, the homeless are a blight and a needless bunch of people who need to leave the area. However, because the guests who rely on Holy Family House's services are homeless, are transient, and are in need of special attention, these folks DESERVE to have a meal just like you or me.

The residents of this part of town MUST realize that the house has been in the area for 25 years and is continuing, despite the critics, to provide adequate meals, clothes, and toiletries (and bus passes) to the poor in the area. I cannot understand how ANY Christian would be cavalier enough to assert that a food kitchen is a bad thing or that helping the poor reflects negatively on a neighborhood.

Without the Holy Family House, there would still be homeless people, only the problem would be dramatically exacerbated. Things are NOT coming to a head, and there is not a dire need to take any decisive action. I admire Brother Louis for his 18 years of service to the poor and indigent families of the Kansas City area.
Danny McGuire
Kansas City, Missouri

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It takes a village:Deb Hipp's article is a great story for those of us who want to write Christmas letters to the Grinch. We now know we can write to him in care of the Longfellow "neighborhood's" Parris Twillman and Jim Collins.

The Holy Family House and Brother Louis Rodemann are among our best citizens in terms of reminding us about the quality of life and our relationships to our fellow citizens. I'm immediately sending my widow's mite to them and suggest others practice Christmas by doing the same.
Margie Eucalyptus
Kansas City, Missouri

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Soldier of Misfortune Don't ask, don't kill:I would like to applaud Joe Miller for his fair and accurate coverage of the tragedies surrounding Private Barry Winchell's short life and brutal death ("No Fortunate Son," December 14). Miller's abilities to shed light on the homophobia in the case without sensationalizing it make the story exemplary.

It appears that the cards were stacked against Barry Winchell's good intentions of being a soldier. Wally Kutteles' reminder that Barry had to be able to bear the kind of discipline necessary to convey respect and build cohesion, had no caveat that he was to be called "faggot" or have the brute authority of a baseball bat be lowered on his head.

The military policy of forced lies, otherwise known as "Don't ask, don't tell," is beyond moral reprehension. The death of Barry Winchell attests to that. The person from whose brilliant military mind this compromise came forth in the early days of Clinton's presidency is getting ready to step to the third position of power in this nation's executive branch. Let us be safe in speculating that Colin Powell will not touch this policy.

Solid and accurate journalism has brought this story to us. In that way, the grave injustice built into "Don't ask, don't tell" -- the same kind of injustice that haunts Pat and Wally Kutteles -- will not be forgotten by people of good will. We need only remind our lawmakers that we know, and that we're not going to forget.
Bill Belzer, GLAAD
Kansas City, Missouri

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A Proper Taco
Hot oil treatment:In response to a December 7 letter from Gabriel Fonseca (of Aurora, Illinois) about how a fried taco is not a real taco: Alveria Street, the original "main" street of the Hispanic population in Los Angeles, has produced fried tacos for over 100 years.