Letters

Ignorance Is Bliss
The joy of rednecks:The irony of Mr. Gary Davis' letterregarding "the Pitch... stereotyp[ing] people" (April 5) was thickly pungent but rather humorous. I question the brilliance of the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance in electing such a flagrant bigot.

Mr. Davis derides the Pitch for its characterization of the WMSA and then goes on to describe a redneck as "someone who is an ignorant, racist, sexist, homophobic hillbilly." He flayed open his own ignorance. Rednecks are hardworking citizens who toil in the soil and in various vocations, not only to make ends meet but also to advance personally, professionally and financially.

The term dates back to the 1830s, and although it has sometimes been used to specifically describe members of the Southern working class, it also includes farmers, ranchers and other outdoor workers on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. Does Mr. Davis think rednecks' necks redden by sitting on their duff stereotyping groups of hardworking Americans?

I am proud to have grown up a redneck, learning moral values and work ethic on the farm. It has helped me through eight years of postsecondary schooling and to presently pursue my second postgraduate degree. I will never stray from nor denounce my roots, nor will I malign another for standing by his or hers. But prejudice is unacceptable.
Walter Wm. Dalitsch III, M.D.
Overland Park

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Paper View
Rag time:Regarding C.J. Janovy's article "Paper Money" (March 22): I don't feel one bit sorry for The Kansas City Star or its staff (or KC Rag, as I call it). I don't buy it because it sucks. Its editorial board seems to support every tax increase ever proposed by the federal, state or local government. These people make it clear that you are a selfish lout for not paying enough taxes or doing your socialistic duty for the environment or supporting the latest "public-private" partnership to redevelop Kansas City. God forbid anyone be allowed to own a firearm. But the same goes for every other major city newspaper.

I'm not a political party man, but the KC Rag editorial board always says, "Democrats are saviors to humanity; Republicans are scum." As for Libertarians, who are they? It aggravated me last year that the paper did not have anything in the Sunday paper before election day about any candidate or issue. That was my only motivation for buying the paper that Sunday.

The newspapers are out of touch with working-class people and individuals like Gary Davis, who was featured in the same issue as Janovy's column (Joe Miller's "Front of the Bus"). That is probably why readership is less than expected.

My two cents. Interesting article.
Don Marek
Kansas City, Missouri

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Radio Flyer
Sports knight:After finally removing the spiked leather collar of editorial restraint from Greg Hall's "Off the Couch" column, Kansas City can once again relish the knowledge that its local sports media is not above critical review.

As it stood, commercial success was the only criterion used to rate the quality of sports talk radio. The hosts of these shows became as stale and bland as unflavored gelatin on tofu. Don Fortune suffered from it for years (though his refusal to prepare for his shows didn't help), and Kevin Kietzman's Between the Lines and WHB 810, while once branded the unruly upstarts with an attitude, have become exactly what Hall claims: a daylong conflagration of infomercials ranging from diet drinks that work while you sleep to inane, inexplicable beer commercials so long and pointless, you find yourself swearing off alcohol in protest!

We, the sports talk junkies of the region, are once again empowered to climb to the figurative precipice of our neighborhood cathedral to shout the oft-squelched refrain "We're mad as hell! And we're not going to take this anymore!"

Mr. Hall gives voice to the unwashed masses who REALLY power these shows. Thanks, Pitch, for allowing him rein to open the faucet. You won't regret it.
Brian Kubicki
Kansas City, Missouri

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Slipped a Mickey
A spoonful of sugar: If "Cindy Rella" is not happy, why is she still at Disney Catalog (Casey Logan's "Cast System," March 29)?

There will be complaints at any workplace. I can't think of too many about Disney Catalog. The company is active in the community with the volunteers program, helping at Ronald McDonald house and participating in the AIDS Walk and March of Dimes Walk.

You have to be a kid at heart to work for Disney. We DO celebrate the characters' birthdays; they are the reason we are able to pay our bills. We celebrate cast members' birthdays with balloons, we have contests every month, and there are awards for good calls and attendance. Lunch and dinner are often provided to us. We have a very casual dress code and a comfortable work environment. Many lifelong friends are made at Disney Catalog.

I prefer my days to be full of laughter, friends and enjoyment. Knowing that I helped a terminally ill guest really enjoy a contact with Disney or tracked down a hard-to-find item for someone who just "had to have it" makes me feel good. You need empathy to talk to people on the phone all day who expect the "Disney" attitude. They think we are at the park and can look out the window to wave at Mickey Mouse. Disney has a worldwide reputation as a company that makes dreams comes true. I try to do that for the guests I talk to.
Tami L. Most
Gardner, KansasCrusade for Christ
Bar none:As an MNU alumni, I was defensive at first, then just annoyed by Casey Logan's article ("Where Would Jesus Dance?" March 29).