Paper Chase

If Ms. Johnson has ethical issues with the zoo, or zoos in general, she should write about that instead. It would be a more persuasive form of argument that the average reader would understand.
Susan McDoogle
Kansas City, Missouri

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People for the ethical treatment of Wourms: I am appalled and outraged by Allie Johnson's "fake" story about Mark Wourms and the KC Zoological Park's dying animals. It was sick, not at all funny and unprofessional.

I hope the zoo director sues her for slander, dead geese or no dead geese. I was fully prepared to write all the local news stations, CNN and CNBC about her findings, only to find she was "just kidding." Even sicker than the possible animal abuse is her flippant attitude on the issue.

You have lost me and several of my friends as readers. You were on a slippery slope with us anyway, given the declining quality of your paper over the past several months. Thanks for finally putting us out of our misery.
Tammy Lowery
Kansas City, Missouri

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Beasts of Burden
The bear market: I am not certain why C.J. Janovy is so upset about the March of the Teddy Bears. I am not a writer nor a past English major, so I do not understand why she was upset with the editorial in the Star's July 1 issue about the bears. Lighten up. I usually enjoy reading the Pitch when it hits the unappealing-to-the-eye red-and-yellow stands every Wednesday, but the July 4 and July 11 Kansas City Strip section really put me off. "Who wrote this crap?" is a more apt question for both of these editorials.

A nonprofit group that I help direct is using the bears to generate publicity for an event that we are holding in the fall. Some of our activities will involve local scout groups, home-schoolers and other children's groups. We hope that this has a positive influence on these young people, unlike the hatefulness that Janovy and Mark Kind spewed forth in the last two Kansas City Strip editorials.

I am certain that Kind succeeded in trying to be hurtful to Christians by asserting that the picture that he wrote about was homoerotic, but he also slapped every person of Mideastern origin in the face by asserting that anyone who wears garments similar to the person in the picture is another Osama bin Laden. As for Janovy's hatred of the bears, it baffles me. I see them as a means to do something positive for young and old. That's not a bad thing.
Scott Couch
Kansas City, Missouri

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The bad news bears: Once again, thanks to the city for proving that its backwards provincialism is only surpassed by its bad taste. This bear project is truly the worst kind of sentimental garbage parading as art that I have ever seen. The cow project was bad enough, but unfortunately we can always count on administrators to take a bad idea and make it worse.

These stupid sappy attempts to cater to the masses will undoubtedly go on forever. Give the public a little more credit, won't you?
David S. Smith
Independence

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Doctor's Orders
Prescription for change: With regard to Deb Hipp's article "No Contest" (August 1), it appears that Dr. Louis Culp allowed himself the unforgivable luxury of stopping his emotional clock in the era of the Rat Pack.

Yes, there was a time when patients would allow a doctor to exhibit warmth and humor in an effort to put them at ease. Today, however, more people are asserting themselves when it comes to protecting their "personal space." They prefer a doctor to divorce himself completely from any emotion or levity, and maintain as professional a manner as possible throughout an entire procedure. If Dr. Culp could not accept this as a cold, hard fact of life, then it should come as no surprise to anyone that he refused to accept the notion that he had any problem to be addressed, according to the courts.

Certainly it's a shame that he may very well die in jail. But he won't be alone. (Ask any lifer!) Further, perhaps he should have listened to his wife when she suggested he should retire. If he couldn't make an effort to adjust his attitude, then he might not have been so exposed to trouble if he had gone into some other type of activity after taking down his shingle.
Kim S. Schinkel
Kansas City, Missouri

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Home health care: I enjoyed Deb Hipp's article about Dr. Culp. He was our family doctor for many years; we were one of the early Hispanic families to see him.

He was one of the best doctors that I have been to, and it is unfortunate to see him in this situation. I think in these times, with everyone suing for just about anything, these women victimized my doctor. I have seen him for 29 years; he told jokes, yes, but that's it. I have three sisters and my mother, and he never tried anything with them.
Robert Marquez
Kansas City, Kansas

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The Scarlet Letter
Seeing red: Regarding Steve Walker's "Red Flag" (July 25): You narrow-minded, indolent fool! How in hell could you write such a terrible review for the amazing Scarlet Pimpernel?! I am astounded by your lack of tact and professionalism in the review.