Opinion > Letters to the Editor

Posted on Mon, Oct. 26, 2009

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Letters to the editor on 'Wicked' run, fireworks ban, school nurses, H1N1 threat

Obstacles to city getting musicals

Wichita is very lucky that a great show like "Wicked" decided to come to Century II and present 24 performances. An Eagle article was correct in many things about what this could mean for the theater scene in Wichita ("Wichita connection helped get 'Wicked' here," Oct. 18 Arts & Leisure). However, Theater League president Mark Edelman was mistaken in saying that this might make Wichita a stop for some of the largest tours, such as "Mary Poppins," "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Lion King." There are much larger obstacles that have to be overcome for each of these shows in their current incarnations.

"Mary Poppins" and "Phantom" would require that extensive additional structures be built into Century II, and "The Lion King" requires aisles that run though the seating of the theater for the opening animal parade.

I am not saying that these shows will never play Wichita. Simply that they will never play Wichita in their current form. The shows will have to be cut down until they are dim approximations of their envisioned form before they can play Century II Concert Hall.

Wichita and Theater League should instead focus their dreams on shows that are being put on the road in such forms that could be put into the Concert Hall. I am afraid the "mega-musicals" are still a little too "mega" for Century II's Concert Hall and the city of Wichita.

DAVID WEIGANT

Haysville

Legalize everything

Regarding "Should fireworks ban be lifted?" (Oct. 21 Eagle): Why stop with fireworks? There are so many more laws that cannot be enforced and should be repealed.

People have been clocked at 122 mph in front of my house. Let's do away with speed limits. Drugs, anyone? They all should be legalized. Murder? People are still doing it on a regular basis. What the heck — anarchy for all.

Maybe the Democratic Party should base its platform on this. Self-restraint and personal responsibility are almost nonexistent anyway, so let's just legalize everything.

L.M. HOLZMAN

Wichita

Help nurses

School nurses are dedicated to the children and young adults of our community. They manage records, medications, allergies, breathing treatments, specialty feedings, blood sugars and insulin injections, as well as day-to-day illnesses and emergency situations. Most recently they are fielding questions about H1N1, as well as preparing to coordinate H1N1 flu vaccine clinics in the schools.

You can help your school nurse by trying to keep your children healthy with good nutrition, hydration, exercise and sleep. Follow your doctor's orders when treating illnesses and giving medicines. Inform the school of changes in your child's health. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date. You never know when your child may need you.

The school nurses work tirelessly for the children and staff in schools so the learning environment is the best that it can be. School nurses are jewels of our community who appreciate your support. They couldn't do their job without you.

CONNIE COTTER

Clinic nurse liaison

USD 259

Wichita

Government sheep

To keep the effect of H1N1 flu from being a drag on the economy, the government hushed any dire reports of the severity of this pandemic. Now that many citizens state they won't get the vaccine, the government has unleashed a slew of reporting and studies on how H1N1 is life-threatening not just to health-compromised individuals but to the otherwise healthy as well.

We are just sheep being led by our nose in whichever direction the government wants us to go, aided by the media. And right now, that direction is the acceptance of the vaccine.

Notice the similarities to the news on the economy? Our situation was dire when they wanted billions of taxpayer dollars, and now it's on the mend? What has changed? Jobs? Housing prices? Bankruptcies? Foreclosures? No, just the banks' balance sheets and government control in every part of our lives. That's not the shepherd I trust to follow.

TERESA SMITH

Wichita