Sagging pants not that big of a deal
Reading your article about sagging pants (March 26), I was struck by how big of a deal this seems to be.
Most of these kids are just looking for a way to express themselves, and sagging their pants is one way to do that.
If they want to make it harder for them to "run from a police officer or from a guy trying to fight," that's their problem.
Sagging pants aren't obscene or indecent as long as there is underwear underneath the pants, so I don't see the problem.
The argument that administrators need to teach these kids how to conduct themselves, "so they can be promoted to the next level in life," is moot. The kids who are driven and will succeed will recognize in the corporate world sagging is not acceptable and will stop doing it.
In any case, this is certainly not an issue for the state Legislature.
I tend to agree that no governing body should "legislate morality." It's up to parents or guardians, and only in very extreme cases schools, to do so.
This bill is a waste of state congressional time and a disgrace.
It's probably pandering to an upper-class voting base to garner votes come election time.
CASE DUCKWORTH
Minorities still face injustices
Reading the title alone (of David Cook's March 29 column, "I am not Trayvon Martin," I felt heat creep into my face, but I continued and found something refreshing.
I had assumed that he was saying he simply saw no similarities between a boy like Trayvon and himself. I thought he was insulting the memory of this beautiful child.
I apologize to Mr. Cook, sincerely. What his article actually is, is open acknowledgment that, still today, there are some injustices that are felt just a little closer to home, if you're a minority.
Certainly, anyone with a conscience feels a small rage begin to erupt inside them when hearing of a crime perpetrated against another, because of gender, race, religion, etc. But to truly know the feelings of fear at the thought of what might happen to one's child on the way home and the hopelessness that things will never change, simply draw less attention. For that feeling, it's not enough to imagine how it might feel. For that feeling, you have to actually be the one afraid that someone will get the message that they can hurt your child, your baby, and no one will care. You have an honest soul, Mr. Cook. I will keep you in my prayers.
GEORGE RAMSEY