Punch Cards

 Strung along: I am disappointed that C.J. Janovy never asked my point of view about comments that Dan Tarwater was allowed to make about me without a rebuttal (Janovy, June 15). This is not fair reporting. However, I understand Janovy had to write something for Stan Henry, and the subject matter of myself would contribute well to her article.

I would hope in the future that Janovy looks at the dismal record of the Jackson County Legislature and the acts that they have done (because they can), and recognize that Jackson County will only change when people ask the tough questions like this: Did the prosecutor find you guilty in the May 16, 2005, closed meeting for violation of Sunshine Law? Did you use public funds on credit for a malicious prosecution counter in the suit, Stringfield vs. Spino? Did you vote to give yourselves a pension for part-time work? Is there an investigation by the attorney general against any legislator for conflict of interest and misuse of county funds? Did you allow a developer to take dirt from our parks and look the other way? Did you try to vote for drug court contracts to associates who were your friends or neighbors? Did you retaliate and cut a legislator's budget? Did you turn your head and look the other way on many other issues? And finally, have you read the policies, procedures and state laws, and do you abide by them? Etc., etc., etc.

Good luck, Mr. Henry, and I hope you can make a difference. I had no support.

Robert Stringfield
Kansas City, Missouri

Motley Crew
Valley girls and boys: Kudos to Justin Kendall on an excellent article outlining the continued attacks on our schools by the Christian Right ("Meet the Parent," June 15). I think Gregg Motley should understand that (1) there is no such thing as a "porn addict"; (2) this diagnosis doesn't exist; (3) he is evidently attempting to describe an "obsessive-compulsive disorder," which can manifest itself in many ways (stealing, gambling, binging, etc.). So if Mr. Motley didn't have a problem with "porn," he would have a problem with something else. Should we ban Betty Crocker in case Mr. Motley feels the compulsion to indulge?

The books in question include titles by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. When Mr. Motley shares his worldly wisdom that "most of it is bad literature," I just have to laugh.

It's also interesting that his organization, the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, wants "ALL people to live under the Lordship of Christ." Thank you, Mr. Motley, but you don't speak for me and neither does Janet Harmon. You are attempting to violate the First and Fourth Amendments of our Constitution. This is a democracy, and we have freedom of speech and freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.

This is nothing more than an attempt by the Christian Right to impose their views on everyone through censorship and the banning of books — and yes, it is banning when you try to tell the school district what books YOU think other people's children should read. This kind of censorship needs to be fought every time it rears its ugly head.

Jeff Witt
Prairie Village

High Road
Stoned cold: Jacqueline Patterson should go to jail for life (Eric Barton's "High Above the Law," June 8). God wants her to suffer. Don't you know it is more patriotic to go blind from glaucoma, starve to death of cancer or AIDS chemo-induced nausea, suffer muscle spasms and drive drunk killing 55,000 people per year than to smoke a harmless herb? It isn't politically correct!

I'm ashamed of the country's lock step with the asshole American government.

Michael Burkhart
San Diego

Pot, kettle, black: It should shame every American that our government uses our tax dollars to provide a handful of Americans with marijuana every month while at the same time perpetuating the criminalization of others for possessing the same plant.

It should shame every American that our government considers a patented synthetic THC pill to be a legally prescribed medicine while at the same time perpetuating the criminalization of the only plant on earth that naturally contains THC.

It should shame every American that our government would rather let people suffer and die while more studies are done to produce more patentable forms of marijuana-based medicines than allow patients to use the natural plant they can grow right now.

It should shame every American that our elected leaders are so cold, callous and unabashed at the war they perpetuate against we the people because of a plant our forefathers praised.

Brian Parrett
Austin, Texas

Libre Rising
What the flick?: Regarding Robert Wilonsky's review of Nacho Libre ("Tortilla Flat," June 15): Maybe I'm just depressed and I needed a good laugh. Or, maybe, I just watched a really funny movie and enjoyed myself. I am so over critics tearing apart movies just to show that they can put a few sentences together. Sure, it was a little stupid — it is a movie, stupid!!!!

I saw Nacho Libre and thought it was wonderful. I haven't laughed out loud at a movie so many times since I don't know when. I would give it a solid four.