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Don't destroy natural garden
Botanica does not need a "children's garden" (Feb. 8 Eagle). Add this to the other wasted dollars of city projects. It's up there with a new airport, new library, new and improved Old Town, renovated Century II. Private donations and public funds are wasted on this unnecessary project.
Why can't Botanica use an area that it already has as a designated children's garden? Why does it have to destroy what is already a natural garden? In the area Botanica wants to develop, I've seen nature in action — wild turkeys, red fox, birds, ducks, lizards, butterflies and rabbits. I've listened to the quiet.
It is tragic what Botanica wants to do to the area. It will do real harm to the animals living there. Look at how disc golf has lowered the bird count in Oak Park.
I wonder — do they want citizens to have to pay Botanica in order to view nature, rather than just driving or walking in the area as we are free to do now?
BECKY FOSTER
Wichita
Easy to assail
Reading about Sarah Palin assailing President Obama at the tea party meeting (Feb. 7 Eagle) reminded me of Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell delivering the Republican response to Obama's recent State of the Union address. McDonnell had been governor a whole 11 days when he gave the Republican view of what our nation should be striving to accomplish.
McDonnell, with his lack of substantive knowledge of governing a country of 300 million residents, took his allotted time to do nothing more than lead a Republican cheering section composed of 200 of his family members and close friends sitting in the Virginia legislative chamber.
And Palin, playing in Salina and other selected venues around the country for an estimated $100,000 a pop, puts forth a brand of what she calls "the future of politics" in America. But what is that future? Based on what I see and hear from the Republican Party these days, their main message is "no" to everything, backed up by a complete lack of plausible solutions for the many ills facing our nation these days.
Now more than ever, it seems being on the political "outside" is a license to do a lot of talking without being required to say much of anything substantial.
PHIL MILLER
Matfield Green
Tebow had choice
Thanks to Roe v. Wade, the mother of University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow had a choice whether or not to continue her pregnancy against medical advice ("Too much ado about Tebow ad," Jan. 28 WE Blog excerpts). She weighed medical and moral considerations and decided what was right for her. She made her choice in private, and without government interference. That's exactly what every woman should be able to do.
Women take decisions about their health very seriously. They consider their doctors' advice; they talk with their loved ones and people they trust, including religious leaders; and they carefully weigh all considerations before making the best decision for themselves and their families.
All women should continue to be entitled to make their own personal medical decisions, including full-term childbirth or elective abortion, depending on the circumstances. No one can criticize Tebow's choice.
TIMOTHY QUIGLEY
Wichita
Get a life
I cannot let stupidity go unchallenged ("Super Bowl ad controversy doesn't end after airing," Feb. 8 Eagle). NOW president Terry O'Neill said the ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother glorified violence against women. O'Neill and NOW need to get a life.
SUNNY MELICHAR
Wichita
Lack of thought
I never cease to be amazed at the lack of any careful thought process of our elected officials when making decisions or recommendations. Kansas Revenue Secretary Joan Wagnon responded to criticism concerning her recommendation of a proposed $25 fee to file income taxes on paper and $10 fee to receive a tax rebate in paper check form (Feb. 3 Eagle). She said she hadn't intended to hurt those who don't have access to computers or who don't have a bank account.
It seems like she would realize that it certainly would hurt a great many people. Why is it that advocates for the elderly have to point this out to her?
Wagnon compounded the problem with the statement that perhaps the fee could be waived for those people, or the fee could be waived based on income. I can only imagine the amount of paperwork and working hours it would take to try to figure out who would and would not be exempt from her proposal.
In trying to talk her way out of a rather thoughtless proposal, Wagnon stumbled onto an even more ridiculous proposal, again showing a complete lack of a thorough thought process.
GORDON WIEBE
Hillsboro
Tancredo's world
I listened to the opening speech for the National Tea Party Convention, delivered by former Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo. I thought I was listening to former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.
Wasn't the literacy test for the vote, which denied voting to millions of Southern citizens, abolished many years ago? Tancredo seems to have a problem with people who do not speak his brand of English.
I realize that this group of activists is made of many sincere people who are looking for answers to serious national problems and a solution to the dirty politics that prevail. They are not going to promote their cause if they are identified as friends of Tancredo.
EARL DeHAVEN
Wichita
