Letter Rip

Gone postal: After reading the letters in the August 8 issue, I was semioutraged enough by the complainers that I felt the need to add my opinion.

I think the Pitch is a refreshing, insightful and amusing newspaper, and the fact that it's free adds to its charm.

So a writer played a tasteless joke on its readers, who haven't played a tasteless joke in their lives. I am sure her joke did no harm to the zoo. People need to learn to take a joke. To you lost readers, I say, "Your loss."

To the man and his bears, I think it's great that you want to raise awareness for some event that will benefit kids, but frankly, the bears need to go. The bears are scary-looking and tacky. I am sure people can come up with a better creative way to bring a positive message to the youth.

I would eat at 40 Sardines. I don't think having their child answer phones and help out is at all distasteful or child labor. I seriously doubt the kid will run around like a mad person, bothering the patrons and giving them a bad dining experience.

Lastly, I have to comment on the opinion that doctors should be cold and impersonal to their patients. What a crock. If that's the case, why don't we just replace doctors with robots? That will make going to the doctor a lot easier for both parties. The threat of old men feeling us up won't be there, and doctors won't have to put up with the fear of women patients claiming they got felt up.
Name Withheld Upon Request

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Pride Ride
They're here; they're queer: In response to C.J. Janovy's "Gay Games" (July 25), let me share some facts about Kansas City Pride Democratic Club. KC Pride was founded two months ago with the goal of supporting and developing qualified candidates who support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. With a focus on basic human and civil rights for all, as well as party unity and coalition-building, KC Pride has quickly developed into one of the largest political clubs in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The formation of KC Pride was based on a desire to develop a grassroots, membership-driven organization that would truly reflect the diversity of our area. Our recent Meet the Candidates and Get Out the Vote Rally, which drew over 300 guests, demonstrated that the voters of our community agreed. We saw an inclusive event that reflected the coalition of LGBT and straight ally, labor and business, neighborhood and civic leaders, political novices and campaign veterans. Equally important was the ethnic and gender diversity that occurred. We will build on this foundation to continue developing an organization where diversity and inclusiveness are more than just words.

As November approaches, the election of U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan has become the No. 1 priority for KC Pride members. KC Pride will hold its next membership meeting on Wednesday, August 21, at 7 p.m. at the Broadway Baptist Church, 3931 Washington. Anyone seeking to become involved in the political process is encouraged to attend.
Roger A. Gooden, President
KC Pride Democratic Club
Kansas City, Missouri Ho Down
Ho improvement: As if being on the school board and then resigning amidst self-induced controversy weren't enough, Michelle Hensley is the "superhero" gone bad who should have died in a battle against her nemesis a long time ago. Saying that she's trying to be a good role model for her nephew while threatening bodily harm and encouraging ignorance and stereotypes was the only irony I could even crack a smile at in this article.

If she were so concerned about getting these women out of her neighborhood, and hopefully off of the streets for good, why doesn't she get her name in the newspaper for actively pushing for a red-light district instead of daydreaming about what these women do for a living and what kind of character they have? What about working with community agencies to have STD/HIV-testing on the streets or trying to have some beds set aside in a drug-treatment center specifically for prostitutes? Is publicly addressing sexual and physical abuse too much to ask? And I guess we're supposed to ignore the johns that keep this vicious cycle going -- Mrs. Hensley certainly makes no mention of them.

Michelle Hensley is picking up where she left off -- kickin' up dust when there is no storm and bringing attention to herself and not to her cause. I'd pay good money to have her spend one night getting to know these women and see what they go through in an up-close and personal manner. Until then, Veronica's Voice and any other agency that provides outreach and nonjudgmental support for women has my endorsement, time and money.
L. Diane Spight
Kansas City, Missouri

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Lap Dogs
Busted!: I'm glad the police in KC have the time to go out and bust these dancers for doing their job (Casey Logan's "Booby Trap," July 25). God forbid they accidentally (or purposely, for that matter) rub their pubic area against the pubic area of a patron. The senior officers who ordered this sting don't get out to dance clubs much, huh?