Letters to the Editor
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Ah, Lawrence
I lived in Lawrence for 13 years, and it is quite liberal for a midwestern town - both because of the college and the thousands of old hippies who made their fortunes dealing pot there in the 60's/70's...they invested their profits in starting businesses now considered Lawrence mainstays - funky restaurants, eclectic clothing shops, etc.
It is a lovely little place with a charming, tree-lined downtown of early brick buildings and much artistic flair; with many graceful old homes and one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. (KU) Of late, a lot of SUV-crazed conservatives have been turning it in to a bedroom community for irritating, obtuse Kansas City suburbanites - complete with the homogenized Border's and Starbucks arriving and killing local shops...a real shame.
Born and reared in ugly, climate-challenged Kansas, I have finally lost hope that it will ever be redeemed from the clutches of the nutjobs. Although the governor is a pro-choice democrat, the state now has a small but definite majority of hard right and center right conservatives -about 55% to the dems and libs 45%. Not encouraging.
The gym manager/owner was remarkably dense in allowing such a divisive display. I'm going to Lawrence for Christmas to be with my daughter - a little visit to see the Fetus Tree and ask impertinent questions seems to be in order.