Voice of the people: Dressing in drag no different than blackface
Another terrific article from Gary White (Dragged into Politics, The Ledger, Dec 18)! But I couldn’t help reading it with the idea of substituting drag shows with blackface shows. Put a picture of Justin Trudeau or Justice Kavanaugh in blackface going to a party for the one of DeShazo and you’ve got yourself a much more interesting article. They want to defend drag shows as perfectly respectable entertainment that needs to be welcomed into society and shown to our kids, but put a blackface show on and all hell breaks loose.
So what’s so funny about women that we are allowed to mock them in all of these shows? What is so amusing about women’s mannerisms and dress that a man in drag results in instant laughter? We have been taught now that Al Jolson, Amos and Andy, and all minstrel shows are just plain wrong, insulting, politically incorrect, but put on a dress and you become a righteous currier of up to date thought and acceptance.
What a bunch of phonies.
Gary Eickmeier, Lakeland
Overpopulation, not climate change, the real issue
Re: Action on Colorado River called "Absolutely Critical," by Ven Ritter, AP, The Ledger, Nation and World, 12/18/2022. First, let me start with, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. It can't be a problem because it is caused by overpopulation.
Overpopulation in the USA is caused by the U.S. birthrate of over 10 million per year, and 2 million illegal aliens per year being allowed to invade our nation.
How much water would 12 million new drinkers need? Then, think about the fact that that is only one year! Long ago, there was a TV show called, "Centennial" that showed how the rivers dry up as they move through populated areas. That was in 1978-1979. That was fifty years ago, and what did the US learn? Nothing.
So, stop whining about Climate Change, and river change, if you aren't going to talk about population change, especially enabling Illegal Aliens to invade our nation.
Donald T. Milligan, Auburndale
People with disabilities punished by the system
As you may or may not know, people with disabilities are being neglected and abused by the system. People with disabilities who are on SSI are not allowed to work full time. If we go over our limit, they will take our services away from us. Why should we get punished being disabled?
Can you live off of what we receive from the government? That hardly covers housing! And what about the rest of the bills like lights groceries and entertainment and etc. Are we not allowed to live comfortably? Are we supposed to suffering even more? Isn’t having a disability enough, or must the system punish us even more by limiting our income? We have to go without so much! Why make our lives harder than it already is?
Then God forbid if we apply for food stamps. I recently applied for food stamps. I was approved for $23 a month. I don’t qualify for more because I have a job. The system is discriminating against people with disabilities. We are being punished by the system because we have a disability! That’s not our fault!
Manyvone Champavannarath, Lakeland
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the people: Dressing in drag no different than blackface
