I wish that all of the people there could have been sent to jail and forced to be a bitch just so they could see and feel how horrible it is to be degraded to nothing. This is not pack mentality, this is not kids just lashing out, this is not confusion and anger over sexuality -- all those put together wouldn't have amounted to the violence that was shown to that poor girl. This is just plain sickness that is infesting my generation. I hope that all of those involved will get what is coming to them one day. And I hope Nicole will heal and become a beautiful person.
Amanda Howerton
Independence
As a father of two, I can't conceive of one of my children doing something like this, so I feel such compassion for the parents of those involved. As a Christian, I know I should feel the same compassion for the defendants. Lord, forgive me, but I don't! Reap what you sow. I know that if my daughter had been the one tortured, then the best thing for everybody involved would be to lock me up! If my daughter had been one of the attackers, then she would have to pay for it. Go directly to jail, do not pass "Go," do not collect $200.
Everyone there should share the same sentence. Any one of them could have done something to put a stop to it, but instead they all took part in the brutality. As for the pack mentality theory, I say BULLSHIT! You're either a lowlife capable of such atrocities or you're not! If what goes around comes around ... damn!
Name Withheld Upon Request
Lee's Summit
I do not think that probation is punishment enough for the heinous crime they committed. The "pack mentality," or being frightened to help the girl, is not a justification for the act. Jessica Brake left the house but never called the police about her "friend," who could have been beaten to death that evening. To sit and watch the torture of another human is as evil as the person inflicting the torture.
Carrie Norton
Kansas City, Kansas
In some cultures, weak men love to see others fight. Chickens and dogs are sicced on each other to battle to the death while the idiots cheer, laugh and bet. So too do weak men love to see women fight, holding themselves as "the prize." Girls, one reason humans have advanced is because we build together, as a team. No boy who pits one girl against another is worth even your spit.
Each one of these girls was created to do something great. I hope a pastor or teacher or community worker talks to each about joining the sisterhood or, better yet, about joining "Team Humanity."
As a side effect, each girl will herself be sought out by evolved, morally strong men -- the very men who become great boyfriends/husbands/fathers. Or morally strong women -- the very women who make great life partners.
Connie Lamka
Kansas City, Missouri
Until urban-core residents get the respect that they deserve, liquor stores like Tony Ragusa's will be the only places they can shop for necessities. I think the neighborhood association should start picketing outside the above-mentioned stores.
Bridgette Henry
Kansas City, Missouri
He then went on to state that most, if not all, gay white men have "an Aryan concept of beauty" because the men we would consider potential partners are generally Caucasians. And he says that the "civil rights movement has failed to register with [us] in the most basic way." Excuse me? How does he know these things? He probably does not personally know "most, if not all, gay white men" in greater Kansas City. To insinuate that any part of the civil rights movement happened to ensure that I would date people outside my race, religion or otherwise is idiotic.
It really was irresponsible of this writer to call us Aryans. I took offense to this remark due to the fact that Nazis killed over six million of my Jewish brothers and sisters, not to mention gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
With respect to the March 15 issue, I applaud the letters of Randall Griffey and Scott Zielsdorf in response to Deb Hipp's Tootsie's story ("Body Snatchers," February 22). Too often gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals are judged simply by our sex lives. It is often forgotten that we have jobs, house payments and other bills and hobbies. In addition, some of us have families. Really, our sex lives are minimal in terms of the amount of time we spend dealing with the rest of our lives.
It is only through education and tolerance that others will ever realize we are largely a monogamous people simply asking to be allowed the same rights that heterosexual people are given.
Ted Bryant
Independence
