Love Letters/Hate Mail

On the Run

Dear Editor:

Hey.

I'm running in the Leadville 100 this August 16. But this year I've decided to run for a cause. I'm raising money for a charity called Coffee Kids, which helps coffee farming families in need. I put up a web page where people can pledge money per mile that I run at Leadville, and after the race they can donate the total amount that they pledged to Coffee Kids.

Hopefully it will raise some money for this great cause, which is really close to my heart. And make my run more than just a run in the Rocky Mountains.

If you could spread the word, I sure would appreciate it.

The website to make pledges: www.CoffeeIlluminati.com The charity: www.CoffeeKids.org The blog where I'll keep our efforts updated: CoffeeIlluminati.blogspot.com Thanks for your help!

-Brian Franklin, DoubleShot Coffee Company

Sorely Missed

Dear Editor:

It is a VERY SAD day for the Tulsa Public school system. The decision to retire after continual harrassment from the few who think they are the guide for Tulsa and ignored the many positive programs that doctor Z started in Tulsa. We are saddened to see that Tulsa has allowed a small band of lovering big talking people who care nothing about what the needs are for the entire Tulsa Public school system, merely what can they do to destroy a better schol system for ALL of Tulsa. Tulsa now must locate another person to accept a position that is unfortunately overseen not by those who are elected to be the board members but a small outside group who has no right or business sticking their large noses into the operation of TPS. What a sad day is all a person can say. To Doctor Z I applaud your decision to retire. This will send a great message to those who desire not to follow the improved school policy for disipline. To those teachers who were lax it is a sign they can do this again as the ones in charge ignore the ned in the disicipline. I wonder how many principals will retire.

To those who pushed and shoved to see that DR. Z resigned a swift kick is the proper way to show our appreciation. To those who stood by and attempted to work for keeping Doctor Z a big "THANK YOU" is expressed.

-Joe Conner

God and Politics

Dear Editor:

First of all, let me say a brief "Thank You" for providing Tulsa with an unbiased news source that shares all views.

Secondly, I was personally appalled after reading the article entitled "Obama's Gods" written by Dr. Paul Kengor and published in the July 17-23 issue. I found myself seriously worried for the students in his political science classes.

I am an Obama supporter; mostly due to his views and propositions on issues politically, and partially due to an avid fear that McCain could ever take up residence at 1600 Penn. Ave. My problems with the article are the brash generalizations and stereotyping of "liberals" by Dr. Kengor, with no solid base of information to back up his claims. This gentleman seems to think that whenever the words "secular", "religion", or "faith" are mentioned in the politically scene, us "liberals" grab torches and pitchforks and head off into the night. This is just not so, sir.

We "liberals" are just that, liberal minded, and for the most part, extremely accepting of all points of view that aide in the search for progressive political reform and maximum personal freedoms. One of those freedoms, might I add, is that of "religion, speech, and assembly or petition"-The First Amendment. This first freedom assures us (the people) that we have the right to think favorably, or unfavorably, about ANY religion, or religious based initiative, even those proposed and supported by presidents and presidential candidates.

Perhaps he failed to make the connection that "we" (the people) have reacted less about Bush's faith-based imitative and more about his general ignorance and stupidity. The simple fact that there are books published regarding "Bush-isms" and "Stupid Things the President Has Said. . ." should explain enough. If more proof is needed that "we" (the people) are unsatisfied with the current president for reasons other than religious proposals-please refer to the current war status, the needless death rate of American soldiers, and the state of the economy.

My point is, this gentleman assumes that all "liberals" are of the same mindset and will blindly follow Obama with full support simply because he is Obama. Many "liberals" are CHOOSING to support Obama because he is a strong, smart candidate who might be able to fix the current state of abysmal distress this nation is in-due in large part to Dr. Kengor' s "glory child" president and "conservative" administration.

-Meredith Root

Call That Art

Dear Editor:

I agree with the concerned citizen who wrote about the new "art" being re-located to Newblock Park. I know, art of all kinds is important, and often left to an individual's interpretation.

However, the two pieces of art that are to anchor the new sculpture park at Newblock Park have very few fans to be honest. The news I hear from people, so far, is "at least they won't be an eyesore for Riverparks anymore.

As an individual trying to extablish a business in this area, I think it is a shame to move these two pieces to "Historic Newblock Park". It was designated as historic only to be the home of some very, very UGLY controversial sculptures. It is a fact, the area around Newblock is saturated with wonderful, and successful artists. Why would we not try using some of their art to begin and develop the "Sculpture Park".

If you haven't gotten the message yet.....I can't stand those sculptures, and I cannot believe this area that is trying so hard to fight blight, is going to have to look at them daily!

C'mon give those pieces back to the artist! Let's try something new.

-Linda

Pop Music Dilemma

Dear Editor:

Hey there. I'm a 16 year-old Junior attening Edison Highschool, and you know what ticks me off?

I was up around two in the morning playing Champions of Norrath (like the nerd that I am) and I had just kicked this big Zeus looking guys butt when this song came on the radio.

"Look at this mouth, look at these eyes look at these ears look at this hair line" "they match!" "they match the hairline the ears, the mouth, the nose,the eyes the everything."

"you know damn well this yo baby! you know this yo baby!" "10 month old baby, dante...you are not the father"

Dat baby dont look like me x4

YEAH!

shawtty putt

yall know who this song for

this baby dont look nothin like me

talk to em shawtty putt

Lets go!

that baby ain't mine

im sorry

"you are not the father"

bitch you heard maury

i ain't buyin no carseat

an i ain't finna take care of no freak

not me not me

you ain't gettin no trust up outta my check

but i will pay for that DNA test

i ain't buyin no huggies, don't dress him like me that ain't my lil buddy

dem ain't my lips and them ain't my eyes you can keep them big pitchas and the wallet size

that baby got a big nose girl look at mine you can play blind but girl you needa stop tryin

you can stop cryin girl you can stop cryin

you done pick the wrong one baby this time it aint my problem shawty

i cant smell ya

take him by my momma house girl she'll tell ya

Dat baby dont look like me x9

"shes a stankin slut, she needa keep her knees closed, that baby look nothin like me that baby cock eyed and i got squinty eyes,we look different from head to toe"

"you think this baby looks like any of ya'll"

"now children, what do you say when you meet a nice man"

"are you my daddy?"

naw naw naw that baby look just like the reggae sean paul

and between me and you on the low low all the curly hair that baby look like polo

Im tryna tell ya i ain't that baby pappy he way to crunk you betta try lil scrappy

Now i might be high but the more i look at him, shawty look like T.i.

I can't lie we was doin our thing, but thats a nappy head baby you betta try tpain

Naw mayne i can't claim him im light skined that baby black like akon

When i beat we didnt go meat to meat, you betta call petey pablo didnt he say your name on freak a leak?

Shit try gucci man bitch he might be but that baby dont look like me

Dat baby dont look like me x8

This is, quite obviously, a sign of the times.

It isn't bad enough that we already have deadbeat dads and craptastic womanizing males running around impregnating women and then denying it, but now, Captain of all Idiots, Lil Whats his dumb a**, has written a song that pretty much glamourizes it.

With a beat you can dance to and a catchy chorus stuck on repeat, people are doomed to become addicted to this atrocity and slowly but surely become brainwashed by it.

It has been proven countless times, and people can deny it however many times they want, it doesn't make it any less true, the music, television, and media in general, affects the way humans think and interact with each other. Is this the norm in today's society?

Is it REALLY okay to talk and act like a complete punk?

As other songs have said, is it REALLY okay to treat women as sex objects and categorize men as chauvinist pigs? Is it okay to teach children and teenagers to behave promiscuously, and to stick themselves in categories?

Females! You aren't worth anything more than a sex object! Shake your ass and let me put dollar bills in your G-string and smack you around a bit! You're a slut and you should be proud!

Men! That baby isnt yours! F*** the world, you own everything! You're the boss! You're straight up gangster!

These are the subliminal messages being sent to our subconscious every time we hear a song like this. Ever noticed how certain music makes you smile? Makes you cry? Makes you mad? Makes you want to dance?

Music affects us, sometimes in ways that are detrimental to our fragile nature. Humans are more susceptible (SP, totally massacred that word.) to change of thought than they believe.

How do I know this? Take a look at how much the world has changed over the yers; disregarding the advances we've made in technology. What was the world like back then? And how did they behave? What's the world like now? And how do we behave?

Even the song Independent, while I myself enjoy it, says basically "Here's a chick I can mooch off of! She has a job and all this rad stuff, so I don't have to do anything for her! Fuck being a gentlemen, she can take care of herself AND me!"

Now, before anyone gets on me saying I'm just a rap hater, I'm not. There's some rock music that is of the same caliber as this Baby aint mine song. Even techno and electro for example- One of my favorite groups, Millionaires (and Brokencyde!), is complete trash. Theres no other way to put it, it is what it is.

And while everyone will shrug and insist it's just a song and it's all in good fun, you can't fall into a fit of denial. While some people aren't affected (mainly because they do not let these things affect them) others are. And the vast majority of society is being affected by these changes.

For Gods sake, they are making thongs and salons especially for children!

But, my dear reader, do you know what is even worse than that?

People are buying them. Everyone frowns upon pedophilia, but we are practically encouraging it by buying our little girls thongs, stringy bikinis, short skirts and vinyl boots.

The Hannah Montana clothes, I love Miley Cyrus, and truth be told she is probably the best romodel out there- But I wouldn't want my 6 or 7 year old in a hoochie coochie sequined tank top and pleather skirt!

Kids these days are slowly, actually, RAPIDLY degresing, and no matter which way you look at it the facts are clear.

But even if numerous people have and do come to the same conclusion I have, it doesn't matter. Because as long as people are buying these clothes for these kids, paying for these trashtastic CDs, and paying money for objects that contribute to the downfall of humanity as we know it, the companies will continue to sell it. All we can do now is cross our fingers and hope for the best, because truthfully, we have screwed ourselves over big time.

Our blissfull ignorance is EPIC.

By continuing to contribute to societies perpetual downhill spiral, we are dooming the generations ahead of ours, and our generation, to a life full of things that shouldn't and don't have to be.

Everything builds on top of itself, it has to start somewhere, and eventually, has to come to an end. We can either end it or it can end us, ultamatley, it is our choice.

Guess which option we are currently pursuing?

I would write much, much more, but mother dearest wants to leave and I have no intention of getting yelled "HURRY UP AND FINISH WRITING!!!" any longer.

Toodles for the time being, or at least, until something else grinds my gears.

-Crystal "Chrissy" Phillips

PS: Can't the people writing this songs at least use slang that is grammatically correct? Or have they never heard of an apostrophe? Gettin' should have one at the end of it, ig'nant Farquads.

PSS: What I think is interesting is the people making the music fail to realize what they're doing, and half of them, are way decent people who would never act the way they seem to in their songs. They do it to make money- Thats the way the business goes. But; never the less, people still interprite it how they interprite it, in their subconcious mind "So-And-So who sings this is sucessful and they behave this way, quite obviously I can act like that and be sucessful as well." Perhaps those arent their exact subconsious thoughts, but it is close enough.

Why You Are Sick

Dear Editor:

(1) "The market" will not fix the health care situation. "The market" caused the health care situation. (2) "Socialized" medicine is not a bad thing; often it is a good thing. (3) The primary reason that health care in the United States is so expensive is the insurance companies. Insurance companies dominate the "market" that John McCain loves so much.

What is needed to change the situation is a single-payer health plan managed by the government. Oh, oh, oh, such dirty words. "Frontline" recently aired a documentary called "Sick Around the World." It visited five capitalist countries (Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) with more functional health plans than our own. None of them were perfect, but they were all better than here. The basic principle in each nation: Health care is a right. Everyone is covered automatically. No one ever goes bankrupt because of health care costs. All sick people are looked after, no questions asked.

In most of those countries, you can see a doctor right away if you have a health problem. You pay a very nominal fee or nothing at all. Of course, taxes are higher in some places, but they ain't higher than what your medical care costs are right now. Guaranteed.

The documentary is viewable at links.sfgate.com/ZDGN, if you are curious.

President Harry S. Truman stated long ago: "A national health insurance program is a logical extension of the present social-security system which is so firmly entrenched in our American democracy. Of the four basic risks to the security of working people and their families--unemployment, old age, death and sickness--we have provided some insurance protection against three. Protection against the fourth--sickness--is the major missing element in our national social insurance program."

-Ron du Bois