Water World

Ministry of sound: Regarding Kendrick Blackwood’s “Walking on Water” (October 14) : I saw the cover of the Pitch in the foyer of Kmart and said (loudly), “Finally!”

My reaction to every interview with Robert Rogers that I watched last year was that of fear. He is the scariest man I think I have ever seen. Last year, the nice shrink from somewhere said a person could possibly act as Rogers did if in a state of shock. I think he is in a state of something, but I don’t believe shock is the correct terminology.

Why would anyone drive into the water in the first place? How could anyone sit there for over 20 minutes with children in the vehicle, water rising, and NOT even attempt to get anyone out? Why would anyone choose to drown like that when they could have escaped? How could anyone refuse assistance and endanger the lives of the would-be rescuers? How could you not save your babies?

How vainglorious Mr. Rogers is with his milking of his family’s deaths in the guise of religion and “love offerings.” What a great ploy to sell CDs! How sad that no one has demanded a psychological evaluation for “poor” Mr. Rogers.

Your Halloween offerings came early this year. What a frightening man!

Cheryl Lynn

Atchison

Flood plain: Thank you for finally asking the questions I have been asking myself since first hearing of the Rogers family.

The first time I heard Rogers interviewed on the local news, I thought his story seemed … well … strange. He says he was waiting for God to rescue him and his family. Seems to me God tried, in the forms of Ryan Lane and Al Larsen — but they were turned away.

This man is making a living off the senseless death of his family. It’s bothered me all this time because the way he presents it, this tragedy was the best that could have happened to this man.

I wasn’t there, so I cannot say how I would have reacted, but I can say with all certainty that if it came down to saving myself or my child, my child would be given first priority.

I hope this story will cause more questions to be raised about what happened that night in that van.

Keep up the good work!

Juli Aguiniga

Wichita

Water babies: Kendrick Blackwood needs to step out from behind his unfocused innuendo and make some real accusations or else quit harassing Robert Rogers. In my mind, the real questions are: When did Rogers leave his minivan? Did he intend to harm his family? Or was he indifferent to their safety?

If he stayed in the minivan until it was swept away, it would be very difficult indeed to impute malicious intent to Rogers. Does Blackwood think that Rogers’ lack of injuries means he had ample opportunity to rescue his family? I’d love to hear the details. I don’t think lack of injuries can mean anything other than that he was lucky or blessed (take your pick). Or does Mr. Blackwood think that Rogers had a secret deal with aliens to leave the minivan unscathed? Perhaps he thinks Rogers had a wetsuit and scuba gear under his clothes?

On the other hand, if Rogers left the minivan before it was swept away, that would be more sinister. But wouldn’t some of the eyewitnesses have seen him leave the vehicle?

Everyone needs to remember that the Rogerses found themselves in an utterly unforeseen situation, from the deep water on the road to the semi ahead of them breaking down to the barricades washing out. That Robert Rogers has reacted a little differently from what we would expect changes none of the facts of that night.

Sonja Grear

Olathe

Wine Not

Bottle up: Thank you for Allie Johnson’s informative story on the Kansas wine industry ( “Wine Makes Us Wet,” September 30). I will have to get out to try some of the Holyfield wines soon. I am a big fan of the fine wines of mid-Missouri, so it will be wonderful to find some excellent wines even closer to home.

I also want to compliment Johnson on her use of the spelling “Carry” for Carry (Carrie) Nation’s first name. This is not the spelling used in most history books, but it is the spelling that the woman herself preferred. I know this because my 80-year-old mother-in-law is an active member of the WCTU, and one of her associates has pointed out Carry’s preference to me.

I do have one complaint in regard to the story. I think the title of the piece is inappropriate (especially since it appeared as the cover story) for a newspaper that is seen all over town by people of all ages in public libraries, grocery stores and so on. My wife was very offended when she saw it lying on the kitchen table when I brought it home. The double (triple?) entendre is cute but offensive nonetheless, with the depiction of a woman apparently getting her jollies with a phallic wine bottle.

Thanks again for Johnson’s time and effort in researching and writing the story.

Name Withheld Upon Request

Grapes of wrath: Allie Johnson has hit upon a major problem in the state of Kansas, which is the lack of support for local winemakers resulting from repressive Kansas liquor laws. These laws are undoubtedly hurting sales of Somerset Ridge Wine in Paola as well, which wasn’t mentioned by Ms. Johnson.

How repressive are Kansas laws? You can only get 3.2 beer in grocery stores, a Kansas beer such as Free State must go through a major distributor (read Bud or Miller) to be sold in retail stores and liquor stores cannot sell corkscrews, tonic water or limes with their liquor purchase in the state. Ms. Johnson is correct; these laws must be changed.

I encourage Pitch readers to visit the Free the Grapes Web site (http://www.freethegrapes.org/) to allow for direct wine shipping and to write to your representatives.

Kurt Kiebler

Overland Park