Crystal attracts many races
5/26/2010Thank you very much for your coverage of Crystal Bowersox. I was privileged to enjoy her downtown Toledo concert with my 4-year-old daughter ("Local fans show she's already Idol-ized," May 15).
The concert brought many people downtown. To my left were people in business suits, people in biker attire, and mothers with their children. To my right were people of all races - black, white, Hispanic, Chinese - who came together to enjoy the day.
I was proud to witness Crystal's amazing talent, and I look forward to more Blade coverage of her and her journey. Go Mama Sox.
Deana Matney-Davis
There's a name for people who can't be happy for someone like Crystal Bowersox. They're called "haters."
Karen D.
Johnson-Webb
The writer of the May 21 letter "Bowersox is no superstar" says Crystal Bowersox is not an idol. Believe me, she does not consider herself one.
I know Crystal. She is humble and appreciative of all that is happening to her. She is an honest, average woman who wants to make beautiful music. She deserves every accolade.
The letter writer says Jesus Christ is his idol. I, too, am a Christian, but that doesn't make me blind to the fact that Crystal is special. Her talent is God-given. He has made her a superstar.
Let's all rejoice in that.
Karen McCreery
What kind of mean-spirited person would want Crystal Bowersox to lose just because he is tired of her ("Why, she's just an entertainer," Readers' Forum, May 18)?
No, she hasn't cured cancer or walked on the moon. But she has worked hard and shown perseverance to chase her dream, which is what more young people should do instead of wanting everything handed to them.
To get where Crystal is now took more than just luck. Crystal is someone to be looked up to, as one who didn't give up and stayed true to herself on the road to reaching her goals. She is a wonderful, down-to-earth entertainer from our area who should be supported by local people.
Crystal deserves all the attention she's getting.
Cheri Kaintz
Let me be the first to say: "There goes The Blade, being positive again."
Tom Walton said it all in his May 24 op-ed column, "Bowersox put Toledo in spotlight for the right reasons."
Not just Toledo and Elliston should be proud of Crystal Bowersox's accomplishment, but also the entire state. She could have come from any small town in Ohio.
If negative readers don't like The Blade's coverage of Crystal Bowersox, don't read it.
I say to Crystal: You are a definite winner, whether or not you win the title.
Vivian Dominique
I had the pleasure of attending Chelsea Tipton's farewell concert Sunday at the Stranahan Theater ("A musical farewell," May 20).
What a delightful experience. The music was wonderful.
What has struck me most about Mr. Tipton, resident conductor for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, over the years is his enthusiasm for and joy in music and his ability to convey that to the performers and audience.
He always seems to be truly having fun. Though I wish him well in Texas, he will be greatly missed in Toledo.
Kay L. Baker
The May 23 letter "Church adheres to Bible, not synod," about St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Maumee stated: "Any pastor who is blatantly sinful and plans to continue in that sinful lifestyle does not merit being ordained."
The statement was in defense of the congregation's decision to split from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over its new policy on the ordination of gay and lesbian persons who feel called to serve in the ordained ministry and are also in monogamous relationships.
In Martin Luther's "Sacristy Prayer," he admits: "I am, indeed, unworthy of the office and ministry in which I am to make known Thy glory and to nurture and serve this congregation." My grandfather, who was a Lutheran pastor, hung this in his office as a daily reminder that none of us clergy-types merits ordination.
If gay and lesbian people are sinful by virtue of their natural orientation, then their souls are no more sullied than the rest of us heterosexual folk who are in constant need of repentance and forgiveness.
St. Paul's is certainly within its rights as a voting body to leave the ELCA if members feel the rest of the church is interpreting scripture erroneously.
Having said that, I think the purpose of God's kingdom is not defined by whom we exclude, but by our ability to welcome and celebrate the diversity of God's creation.
As for the clergy, nary a pulpit would be filled if only those who merited ordination were to apply.
Any pastor who thinks otherwise is a hypocrite and a scandal waiting to happen.
Martin Otto Zimmann
Toledo refuse workers are whining about paying $55 a month for family health insurance ("Refuse crews unanimous in rejection of concessions," May 19).
While the rest of the country pays through the nose for health care or has no care at all, this union thumbs its nose at taxpayers. Work an eight-hour day? How dare government officials require us to work a full eight hours?
If Toledo City Council had restructured routes years ago and made each route an eight-hour day, there would have been no need to go to the expense of purchasing new trucks and cans.
It's high time to bust these unions. They were good in their day, but they are stifling the growth of this town's economy.
Plenty of unemployed people would gladly share the costs of health care and work eight hours a day.
Gary Thornton
A consultant who represented the CEO of Huntington Bank in negotiations with Franklin County over naming rights to the new stadium in Columbus says he was paid "less than $10,000" ("Groups release details of naming-rights accord," May 25).
He was then paid $789,665 to represent Lucas County taxpayers in negotiations with Huntington Bank over naming rights to the new arena.
Something stinks. Somebody should investigate to find the source of the smell.
Bob McCarthy
Does Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop ever have anything positive to say about the county or city? Now he's upset about the naming rights to Huntington.
Huntington paid $2.1 million for the rights. Deals are made for a reason and I'm sure more than one company was approached. I wonder whether Mr. Konop knows what the public thinks of his actions.
Marie Mocek
Rugby Drive