Cross Words

I was delighted to see Elizabeth Buckley's door, "Outdoor Café," featured in Andreas Kreis's letter to the editor, however I was dismayed to read his opinion that the cross pendant on the young lady-"ruins the impression" and is "a commercial for Christianity," appreciated, no doubt, only by tourists from the "Bible belt."

As a native Kentuckian newly returned, I have noticed "in the Bible belt" it is en vogue, even de rigeur to dismiss Christianity-certainly more so than in more sophisticated areas. I was also unaware that wearing a cross makes one a walking advertisement for Christianity anymore than wearing a thong makes one a stripper. Both have become, for better or worse, fashion statements. To wit, Madonna wearing a cross no more makes her a Christian than kissing Brittany Spears makes her a lesbian. I wonder if Kreis would have been as insulted had the young lady been portrayed wearing a red Kabbalah string bracelet (Madonna's current religious accessory) or a Buddhist amulet.

I also wonder why he objected so strongly to the cross jewelry? Why not the fact that all of the people are white? Or young and attractive? Or that one of them is pregnant? Or wearing pink? My point in all of this absurdity is that the gentleman seems to have missed the point -Ms. Buckley was portrayinggaspher family. All seven of us-ten if you count my stepbrother's girlfriend (the cross wearing fanatic), my nephew and nephew to be.

Sincerely,

Amy Buckley

Lexington, Kentucky

Laguna Beach & Palm Springs, California

In reading one writer's opinion about the "Outdoor Cafe" painted door, I could not help noticing the amount of venom (masked by an air of pseudo-sophistication) the writer displayed against anything Christian. What if the young lady had been wearing a dot on her forehead a la Hindu, or was covered from head to toe in Muslim fashion, or had worn a Wiccan pendant? Would the writer have labeled those who liked it as "unevolved"? Perhaps the artist might have been depicting an actual couple she had observed, with no "commercial" intent. I don't know, and neither does the writer. Why not ask the artist why she painted it? Or did the writer just want to grab an opportunity to vent against Christians?

The writer is correct in stating that more mature viewers would not pay such heed to the small detail that obviously disturbs the writer so much. Mature viewers would accept it at face value as the delightful vignette into human life that it is.

I can tell you one thing for sure. The scorn which the writer displays represents the basis of humanity's problems-intolerance of others.

Anne Wood

Lexington

No such thing as a free lunch

Sean Gonsalves, what a gullible dimwit you are [guest op, Sept. 11]. A constitutional amendment guaranteeing living wage jobs? Right! I can see it now: "Sir, a happy meal with water? That'll be $129.99. Drive around."

As a longtime contractor I can tell you unequivocally, unemployment is a myth. Along with endless government regulation, the biggest problem I have is finding people who will show up for work, much less lift a finger after they get here. This is true for every employer I know. And it has nothing to do with pay. Liberal do-gooders everywhere need to face this fact: there exists a certain percentage of people who absolutely will not work. And liberal handout policies that began with FDR have contributed greatly to this pitiful epidemic.

Recently, while on lunch break, I was approached for a handout by a man just as healthy as I am. Once inside the restaurant I noticed that every single worker there was Mexican. What's wrong with this picture, Sean? Don't strain your brain with a typical liberal, anti-capitalist soundbyte. I'll handle this one for you. In this spoiled country of ours, way too many people think they should own the restaurant before they even know how to run the cash register. And the ultimate result of more feel good policies like a guaranteed living wage is a communist state where the Clintons and Kennedys look down on the rest of us as we shuffle toward the bread line.

Tim Mesaris

Nicholasville, KY

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