Johnny Come Lately

Dare to care: After reading Tony Ortega's KC Strip (" Johnny on the Spot," August 5), I went to Westport the next night to check out Johnny Dare's bar for myself. And yes, Mr. Ortega was right -- there are very few young blacks in Westport. But I beg to differ on why.

The young black males and females who went to Westport simply to "be seen" without spending any money, who started fights and generally behaved disrespectfully toward other patrons in the area, is the reason they became so unwelcome there.

I hate to let this little secret out in the open, but other black people get nervous, too, when large groups of young black people are aimlessly hanging out, especially if they've been drinking.

Is it possible that the young black people are just as responsible for not having a safe place to party in Westport as racism is? I have an idea -- if you want a business to stay open and offer you a nice weekend chill spot, act like you got some damn sense and some home training. You don't want police around? Don't act a fool in public. I have yet to see the same level of problems at Lucky's, The Groove, Side Pockets or even Orlando's. Or better yet, support black-owned businesses when they try to offer alternatives to the Westport area.

I didn't particularly care for Mr. Dare's bar, but I like race-baiting even less. Stop cryin' wolf and start being more responsible for your actions and the people you associate with.

And for the record, I am a black female, and I just turned 23.

Vida Diane
Kansas City, Missouri

Slippery nipple: Let me see if I understand this: The sanctity of marriage is Britney Spears, J. Lo and people who get married and divorced two, three, four, five times! And it's OK to have a business in the heart of Westport with naked women on the front of the building? Wasn't it just January that everyone had their underwear in an uproar because Janet Jackson showed some boob? Johnny Dare's silhouettes show more than what Janet showed -- they show the nipple! That is OK? Bring your family and visitors to Westport and let them see this classy display!

Regarding having waitresses dress up like Catholic schoolgirls: So they want them to look like they are 15 and 16 to these grown rednecks who go to this so-called establishment? What is the difference between that and pedophilia?

What a great message these people are sending to the public! Who will protect these waitresses who dress in these short skirts and tied-up shirts and show all their T&A from the drunken rednecks? Especially the guys who don't take no for an answer, so they wait outside for them to get off work and maybe even follow them home. I am sure Johnny Dare has thought through this? Not!

Just wait. I am sure some illegal action will be going on inside, because that kind of atmosphere promotes it! And the city just lets this happen because it's for the straight people, and that is what God would want!

This is just another reason not to go to Westport!

Bob Brausey
Kansas City, Missouri

Remote Controlled
Kill your television: Thanks for Nadia Pflaum's story regarding free tickets to see previews for television shows (" Viewer Discretion Advised," July 15). My father got ahold of these tickets and was excited about going, but I remembered reading this article about it. Even though he was a bit down about it being basically a sham, it saved my family a lot of time and trouble from going just to see a bunch of commercials.

Keep up the great reporting, and again, thanks for the heads up.

Tyga McHenry
Lenexa

Feds Up
Agent provocateur: I read Nadia Pflaum's article about those guys and their visit from the feds (" The Anarchists' Datebook," August 5). I, too, was visited at one time by four FBI agents. I run a small nonprofit, and I am very outspoken about police and prosecutorial misconduct. The FBI did not like that.

The four agents came to me because they said they wanted to see what type of threat I was. This after I sought legal action against a corrupt prosecutor in Yuma County, Arizona.

I think there is more going on and being done about people like myself and those at the Crossroads Infoshop than the average American thinks. I find it funny how much of the "War on Terrorism" turned on Americans, as opposed to the threat of our open borders and the thousands who enter our country weekly. Who is the real threat? People need to know that we, as Americans, are in the real danger, and that danger comes from our own government.

The FBI told me to close my organization. I never have. The agent told me that if I don't stop my outspokenness against corrupt government that they would "have to do something about it." Nice little threat to toss at me, I thought. I wonder if you keep uncovering this story as a whole, how many others might come forward with a story about these feds and their harassment and threats. Pflaum's story was an eye-opener to the reality that we are no longer a free people with freedom of speech and expression. Watch what you type -- they may come to you.