Count Down

War and preach:Regarding C.J. Janovy's "Count This" (Kansas City Strip, February 6): Thanks. It really made me feel good to know that there are actually more naïve, peace-at-any-cost individuals in Kansas City than the Star originally reported.

I respect the freedom any American has to dissent and, like any thinking person, abhor the idea of war. War should only be a last resort when all other avenues to a peaceful solution have failed and when the alternative could be worse. Remember Hitler. Iraq's unwillingness to disarm after twelve years of negotiations and inspections and its past use and continuing development of chemical and biological weapons make it too urgent and dangerous a threat to our own well-being to ignore.

That was the conclusion the Clinton administration came to five years ago when they called for regime change by force after the first round of inspections failed. Since then, we have learned Iraq is sympathetic to and supportive of terrorist organizations, including al Queda, which was responsible for 9/11. Unfortunately, President Bush is being criticized by the anti-war movement for having the resolve to counter a threat to our national security which was first recognized by the Clinton administration but never dealt with effectively. If anything, the threat has become even greater over the past five years given the events of 9/11.
Jerry Magliano
Lenexa

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Building Crock
St. Loogie's: I read Ben Paynter's "Growing Pains" (February 6). St. Luke's and the developers: Pooie on you.

It's like they go from one neighborhood to another. Helping the neighborhood in its preservation. Want to commit in working with the neighborhood. Want to help revitalize the neighborhood. Want to complement the existing properties. Want to put residential in character. (What the hell does that mean?) This is what the developers always say while in the process of tearing down houses to build more new apartment buildings.
Good luck, Plaza/Westport Neighborhood Association.
Howard Carson
Kansas City, Missouri

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Voice of Reason
Declaration of independence: I just finished reading Deb Hipp's "Independence Days" (January 30). I enjoyed it very much. I would like to know if there is any way that I could get in touch with Kristy and Samantha. I would very much like to see if they need some volunteers or help with Veronica's Voice.

I, too, work in the adult entertainment business. I was never involved with drugs. I did what I needed to do to keep a roof over my head and my two children after my divorce. I have since gotten married and no longer am involved in that. However, I would like to offer my time if needed.
Name Withheld Upon Request

Editor's note:Readers can contact Veronica's Voice at 816-728-0004 or 913-940-0505.

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Chalk Mark
We are family: Regarding Joe Miller's "La Familia" (January 23): As a recent graduate of Alta Vista Charter School, I would like to say that Alta Vista was possibly one of the best schools I have gone to. The teachers there care about their students and want them to succeed.

I believe that at a smaller school, you get a better education for the simple fact the teachers are able to focus on you and help you with your problems. Alta Vista isn't a normal high school where you can just leave and not have anyone know that you're gone -- they actually care if you graduate. The teachers I had there would work with me until I got how to do whatever it was that I was having problems with. If it weren't for Alta Vista, I don't know if I would have graduated on time.

The people at that school believe in their students and want them to achieve their dreams. They helped me with mine, and for that I want to thank them. They let their students know that they can go to college and become whatever it is that they want. That is what is unique about that school -- they care; they want their students to go to college and help them with it; and most of all, they teach the students. Where else would you find a school like Alta Vista where you get one-on-one teaching? I know I didn't find it in the Kansas City, Missouri, School District. I found it at Alta Vista.
Patricia Moreno
Kansas City, Missouri

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Park and Ride
Riding in cars with boys: Regarding Bruce Rushton's "Head Cases" (January 2): Heterosexuals have been having sex in cars almost since they were invented. They also have their own cruising grounds. They are called "lovers' lanes." I never see cover stories relating to this or hear of arrests of lewd conduct.

And on another note, it is not just closeted gay men who have problems with their sexuality who cruise in public places. You will find that many of them are very out and open gay men. Why do we do it? Quite simply, because it's fun and exciting. If straight men had the opportunity to find anonymous sex with women in public parks, the city would be paralyzed with a traffic jam.
Colin Brownlee
Vancouver, British Columbia

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Garter Snakes
Pyro maniac: In the prairie blandness of Kansas City's entertainment scene, it's foreboding to realize the Pitch's ever-expanding objective is to feed into its morose decay. Each week seems to thicken the tripe that has become newfound and staple-setting in this lost city. The overexaggerated cover story on the Burly-Q show and the subsequent drooling display of affection two weeks later (for the Pyro travesty) was biased and jejune news reporting (Gina Kaufmann's "Pasties on Parade!" December 26).