Letters from the week of January 15

The Pitch Best of 2008: October 2

I’m always excited to read your Best Of Kansas City issue, but I was disappointed in what I read this year. It wasn’t that I disagreed with the choices made; I was astonished at The Pitch‘s continuing ignorance about who it is congratulating in certain circumstances. The award for Best Costumes in the Arts and Entertainment section went to The Cure at Troy … but that’s it? Who was the designer? Who did the work to make those costumes so great? Who is the artist? I went back to the review in your archives and wasn’t surprised to find that no opinion of the costumes was really shared. Nothing about them being well-done, nothing to applaud the strong choices that would lead them to be considered best costumes of the year, and finally no mention whatsoever of whose work it was. Luckily, I went and saw the production and can tell you that Kate Mincer (a recent UMKC graduate, now working in New York City) was the costume designer. I’m always amazed at how the work of designers is often overlooked by reviews in The Pitch, but to have a Best Of blurb that doesn’t even acknowledge the artist behind the accomplishment just seems like you guys are missing something.

Jason Coale, Kansas City, Missouri

Letters: “Joshua lawson responds,” December 25

During a holiday visit to Kansas City, I was greatly amused when reading Joshua Lawson’s response to a response to his letter. Lawson took issue with a reader who took issue with Lawson calling President-elect Obama a socialist.

Lawson boasted about the ample time he claims to spend reading about American history, politics, biology, economics and other topics. Apparently, there were a few pages missing from his history books. Lawson claimed that “not even FDR, facing a looming depression, could get everything accomplished that he wanted to” and that “the mistakes FDR made … prolonged the Great Depression.” The Depression was not “looming” when FDR took office. It started in 1929 and hit its nadir during the Republican Hoover administration. FDR took office in 1933 and instituted public-works projects that put Americans back to work and helped end the Depression.

Like most right-wing conservatives, Lawson doesn’t let facts get in the way of his ideology.

Gary Glowacki, Hilliard, Ohio

Feature: “A Miscreant’s Christmas,” December 25

Loved Justin Kendall’s article about blogger Mark Smith, the “Midtown Miscreant.” Smith is one heck of a talented writer. You should hire him!

Dianne Lavenburg, De Soto

COVER: KC’s Year in Review, January 1

The first cover image for 2009 was so good.

Mr. Racially Insensitive — to say the least — has been exposed. Mayor Funkhouser has alienated the vast majority of the Hispanic community, the black community, the City Council and, last but not least, voters like me.

The cover says all that and more. He is exposed to the point of hanging on to his wife, his only real source of support.

And he still doesn’t get it.

Jim Stephenson, Kansas City, Missouri

Correction: Clint Sears took the photograph accompanying last week’s Stage column.

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