Published: April 20, 2009 01:43 pm      

READERS' FORUM 4-21 | Editor gains support on hairy road to Stanley Cup

In response to “Dumping the razor to support cancer research” (April 15 column by Tribune-Democrat Editor Chip Minemyer):

Mr. Minemyer – the envy of all men.

Well, at least during the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs.

I admire and honor you for doing something, with good intentions of course, that men across the world really wish they could do – let go (or should I say let grow), put down the razor, throw out the shaving cream and let nature take its course.

As you embark on a (hopefully) long and furry playoff journey, I can’t help but think this should not be a hard thing to do.

I mean, yes, you may have an itch here or there, your wife may complain, or friends possibly will wonder “what is he thinking?”

But no more wasted time in the mornings, irritated razor bumps or nicks that lead to dots of toilet paper covering your face.

You get to sit back and enjoy as nature takes you back to your caveman roots.

While beards can imply about man that he is both distinct and handsome, or lazy and a hobo, I speak out for “clean-cut” men who wish that every day could be the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As you join the superstitious, diehard hockey fans on the hairy road to the Stanley Cup, I applaud you for your efforts to raise money for such a great cause.

But I also acknowledge that the benefits of not shaving far outweigh the down- falls.

So, whether you end up with peach fuzz, an old Dutch-looking beard, or looking like a character from the “Lord of the Rings” – grow on!

And my contribution’s in the mail.

Tom Kurtz

Richland Township

Bottle Works center criticized, responds

I contacted officials at the Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center more than a year ago about a display of Estonian handiwork.

After conversations for several months about an April display, I was very disappointed when I was told two weeks ago that they had changed their minds; they would no longer be doing the display.

They gave me a few lame excuses as to why, including that I had an insufficient number of items, and that many of the Estonian patterns looked the same.

Both reasons are sadly incorrect.

I had presented the center’s director with 30 to 40 samples, and informed her that I had 130 to 150 pieces total. Included were embroidered pillow cases, tablecloths, doilies, napkins, wall hangings, hand-tooled leather, knit hats, national costumes and dolls in ethnic costumes.

I have seen displays at the arts center with far less pieces than this.

As for the patterns all looking the same, there are similarities, just as there are with any country’s national artwork. There are also numerous intricate details that give each piece a uniqueness.

It is a shame that the lifelong accomplishments of an Estonian woman, a former resident of Johnstown, was so flippantly discarded because the country may not be that well-known.

Or was it because the country that replaced this Estonian artwork was larger?

Estonia has existed longer than most in the world. Its language has been used since 5000 B.C. It saddens and disappoints me that such a country is not worthy of recognition.

Arne A. Magi

Brownstown Borough



Editor’s note: We asked officials at the art center for a response, which follows.



Door remains open on Estonian exhibit

The Bottle Works regrets any personal offense the actions of the center might have caused Arne Magi.

The center has the highest respect for the proud history of Estonia and demonstrated a genuine interest to Mr. Magi in exhibiting the work of his mother, which indeed represents the industry and artistry of that heritage.

The fact that the center is an educational organization and has never hosted an Estonian exhibit made it even more attractive.

However, the exhibit, which we first saw several months ago, could not be incorporated into the 2009 projected schedule.

We did, however, express the “possibility” that the collection could be a part of an upcoming exhibit, which has been scheduled for two years. Because the scheduled exhibit is so large, it became clear we could not accommodate both. We suggested to Mr. Magi that we could explore and plan ahead for another time frame.

Rosemary Pawlowski

Executive director

Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center

Johnstown



Put end to reoccurring Kernville blight

I am amazed that the city of Johnstown allows the problem with Chandan Vora to go on. They clean up her messes constantly, only to have her do it all over again (April 17, “Workers clear refuse from Kernville property”).

I went to look at the mess with a person I was visiting recently and it brought to mind when my friend had a beautiful, clean, attractive house and property, only to have Vora have a similar mess just next door.

How unbelievable and awful.

My girlfriend moved to another area of Johnstown, but since then I have seen Vora in the newspaper at least five times with the same problem. And guess what? She gets no punishment or mental help, and the taxpayers have to pay for the cleanup.

If the place is that bad outside, imagine what it is like inside. It is not fair to anyone living (or who have lived) next door or close to her.

Give her jail or an institution and stop this reoccurring problem that is an eyesore and expense to the Johnstown area.

Erika Graff

Stroudsburg, Monroe County



Operating techniques at arena outdated

It is understandable that Jack Steeves would defend the current management structure of the Cambria County War Memorial Arena (April 15, “Chairman: Arena future is bright”).

While “more than 100 years of combined experience” is impressive, the inadequacies of the facility’s management do not correlate with this degree of experience.

The arena suffers from a 1960s-style ticket-purchasing and -dispensing system, the concession stands process only a fraction of the potential customers because of inefficient systems and design, and the sound system is rarely audible during games.

Overall, there is a feeling during events of failure to plan, which should come with experience.

Good luck, Chiefs. You deserve more.

Craig M. Saylor

Hollsopple



Military response won’t halt drug flow

This past week, Barack Obama made his first visit to Mexico as our president, amid rising drug-related violence.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rightly said that the problem stems from the “insatiable demand for drugs” in the United States. But so far, the only concrete measure that the U.S. government has offered is the Merida Initiative – a military response that continues the failed supply-side military strategy of combating drugs, but allocates no money for drug treatment or other proven demand reduction strategies in the United States.

We know from eight years of failed drug-war policies in Colombia that more military aid is not the solution.

To focus solely on the drug cartels and violence is missing the boat. NAFTA and the current economic crisis have had devastating effects throughout Mexico, in-creasing poverty and out-migration.

Sustainable development in Mexico and a reduced demand for drugs in the United States would drastically weaken the appeal of drug cartels and organized crime.

The Mexican people need an economic solution, but instead they suffer the consequences of a military solution with U.S. support.

It is time to renegotiate NAFTA.

Jenaro Rodriguez

Hastings