Panty Waste
Bye bye Birdies: I thought I had just missed the aesthetic appeal of Peregrine Honig’s work — that is, until I read Deb Hipp’s article (“Panty Raider,” April 3).
When I read about the opening of Birdies and the Live Panty Auction, I think I finally got it. What I am seeing is a very talented entrepreneur running a soft-porn peep show. Japanese animation does a lot of the same things but with better illustrations; and I don’t like it, either.
Carla Thomas
Kansas City, Missouri
Cult Classic
Pray anything: Regarding Allie Johnson’s “Heaven Is Hell” (March 27): I am happy to see that a media outlet in Kansas City was finally able to see and report that the United Nation of Islam is a cult. It has been obvious to me for years. However, the media’s one-sided view of the black community and its lack of concern for it prevented most of them from raising questions about the group. Thank goodness for the Pitch.
It was easy for the media to say that UNOI was about cleaning up the community, because they opened up businesses within it. But that’s no different from the hundreds of white businesses (KFC, McDonald’s, BPU, Walgreens, etc.) that operate in the black community. Their motivations are clearly to make money. The United Nation of Islam never addressed any issue that affected the black community. The issues of hate crimes, shooting sprees in Wyandotte County, the Brian Edgar case, Precious Doe, crime, the Osco incident and economic justice were never addressed by the so-called positive black group.
When the group first came to town, the organization did not give a damn about non-Muslim African-American women. The big issue at the time was that the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department thought that a serial killer could have been on the loose killing African-American women. I organized a self-defense program for women and a flier campaign to warn women on the streets. I tried to place some of the fliers within the Your Diner restaurant, and they told me that their Muslim women weren’t getting raped, therefore the fliers were not welcomed.
I hope your article will prompt other media outlets and local authorities to investigate the group. Wyandotte County does not need another God’s Creation Church/Brian Edgar case to happen again. Great article.
Alonzo Washington
Kansas City, Kansas
Heaven’s gate: Allie Johnson’s article was phenomenal informational reading. When I read it, I see the comprehensive cruelty of the community as a whole as well as the inefficiency of our county officials in allowing such a destructive force in the community. Ultimately, it will destroy any viability of the community.
Past community activities of the UNOI were/are mainly of ex-felons, who rob, steal, rape and drug our children — which is ultimately the future of our community. Why do our county leaders continually allow such activities in the county? Says a lot to what is what in the county. It’s similar to the Edgars.
It is a sad day when such ignorance is tolerated/allowed within a county which was and could be much more. The UNOI has only diminished the future of the entire community again today, as it has in the past.
Joyce L. Wright
Kansas City, Kansas
Beach Ball
Oceans of fun: Hi! Thanks SO much for Jen Chen’s great article about the Sandbar! (Night Ranger, March 20). We are so glad she enjoyed her time there and hope she comes back soon!
Thanks again for the great publicity!
Debbi Johanning
Lawrence
Theme Songs
A chorus aligned: As a singing member of the Heartland Men’s Chorus and vice president of the board of directors, I want to personally thank Andrew Miller for his excellent article on our performance (Around Hear, March 27). The leadership of the chorus was sensitive to how the message would “land” on people during this time of war. His article and assessment confirm we are telling the right story.
Again, I appreciate his willingness to tell our message.
Lee Adams
Kansas City, Missouri
In the key of see: Andrew Miller’s article on the Heartland Men’s Chorus really captured the heart of the message embedded in their concert.
I hope it drew attention to the concert and helped increase the audience. But even if it doesn’t, giving your readership a chance to think about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a worthwhile result by itself.
Scott Reynolds
Lawrence
Correction: In our recent Night & Day story on the folks who spend Tuesday evenings smoking and listening to eclectic records at Fidel’s Tobacco (“Smoking in Cuban,” March 27), we said the action later moves to nearby AC’s Garage. However, the establishment formerly known as AC’s is now called the Westport Garage.
