Kids ‘N Play

Madam, I’m Adam: I’m writing to comment on the letter from Marsha Hamilton in the August 5 issue of the Pitch. She rhetorically asks, “Where did all the people come from? It sure didn’t happen between two men or two women.”

True. But if you examine her question and approach a bit, you’ll ask some questions of your own. Like, “Where did all the people come from?” My understanding is that there was only Adam and Eve. Where did the rest of us come from? Had to be some strange goings-on for Adam and Eve, one man and one woman, to be able to make all of the offspring of whom we are descendents.

Just something I’ve always wondered about and that people like Ms. Hamilton are never quite able to answer. At least not without having to backpedal and hem and haw around until they try to change the subject.

Lane Sekavec

DeSoto

Flank Attack

State of misery: Regarding Tony Ortega’s Kansas City Strip (August 12) : The slab of prime strikes again. My only fear is due to the acerbic tenor of the comments by the porterhouse, proponents of Constitutional Amendment 2 may wrongly infer the tube-steak tenderloin’s support.

Once I got my bearings straight, my read revealed how asinine the meatloaf believes is this folly. Tsk, tsk. Missouri voters will toss another mil or two into the latrine before a court acts to right this injustice. I find it shameful that I once called Missouri my home.

Dave Davis

Overland Park

Cross section: I am a young conservative who converted from a Johnson County immigrant to a Jackson County native. I feel right at home in Missouri. However, as much as I respect all of the cultures that are represented in my area (Westport), I don’t understand why so many people view the gay marriage ban with blinders on. What Mr. Ortega, in all his wisdom, fails to realize is that marriage is a religious institution. As we all know, very few religions condone homosexuality. There is a large pool of Republicans who are not opposed to civil unions. We have simply opened our eyes and seen what this issue is really all about.

I don’t appreciate being typecast by a man who hasn’t investigated this issue any further than a drunken stumble down the block listening to editorials from musicians. Please stick to writing about things you understand and relate to, like egos and beer.

David Montgomery

Kansas City, Missouri

Meat the press: Tony Ortega’s recent Kansas City Strip about Johnny Dare’s new bar (August 5) was probably one of the best examples of the whiny brand of journalism that keeps people like him employed.

OK, Johnny Dare decides he wants to invest his hard-earned disposable income into a bar. How does being Kansas City’s No. 1 morning personality at Kansas City’s only metal-based radio station make him responsible for making Westport’s bar scene more “politically correct”? And for that matter, what the hell has Ortega done to make Westport better? Does he long for the days of having to wade through thousands of underage posers who literally made getting in and out of Westport a several-hour undertaking? Did he enjoy a long line of hoopties blaring different songs at the same time and having any women in your group become the target for “Hey, bitch!” or worse? Did he enjoy seeing the strain on the faces of the men and women of the KCPD who suddenly were given the odious task of babysitting thousands of street walkers who never so much as bought a Coke and were more often than not slinging it?

Johnny Dare has done a whole hell of a lot more for Kansas City and its charities than you have, Tony. It’s time you get off the guy’s back, shut the hell up and pay for your beer. Or did you order the whine?

Scott Spillman

Kansas City, Missouri

Report Card

Hallmark hall of shame: I read Andrew Miller’s article on Derrick Barnes, as many, many other African-American Hallmarkers have (“ Black Listed ,” August 19). It’s a very sad commentary on our company. I always notice when there’s been a new black man hired, because you can probably count our black male population on your fingers and a few toes.

We’re told we are intimidating because we are not like white people. That type of fear is irrational and set in a desire that things remain the same. Most people do not like change, even if it’s in their best interest to do so.

One ex-coworker (a young African-American male) was told not to hang around his friends at lunchtime because it sent the wrong message. Hmmm … what message could that be? Are young white males told whom to associate with? Of course not. This young man is no longer employed by Hallmark. It is a revolving door for them. Sisters have it a little better. But bottom line, there are issues of race that are difficult to deal with. On their part and on ours.

Solution? How about treating people as you’d want to be treated?

Name Withheld Upon Request

View Finder

Quick draw: Finally! It’s about time Kansas City learned that real, mad genius truly does thrive in our own backyard, and MK12 is the living proof (Ben Paynter’s “ View Masters ,” August 12). I’m only disappointed that it took a local news source so long to step up and sing their praises. I do have to admit that it’s no surprise that the Pitch wound up being the one to do the singing, but this is beside the point.