Reader offended by officials' comments

I was offended by the opinions of our local officials in your article defending an outrageous activity, Lingerie football, published on the front page of the March 21 issue. (“Leaders weigh in on Lingerie League.”)

Your paper made this seem like a laughing matter; that it is humorous to watch women play football in their underwear

I was particularly insulted by how Council President Debbie Raplee acted, as if she was speaking for all of Kent by saying, “We watch beach volleyball. And they’re in pretty skimpy swimsuits”.

Obviously, she is trying to glamorize this activity by making it seem that everybody in this city is desensitized to the perversion the media has promoted of the human body. I am disappointed that our officials are trying to popularize this event, as Mayor Suzette Cooke stated she wants to go to it.

And, Ms. Raplee also stated that since there are other events such as competitions or entertainment where women are chosen for beauty, that it makes this sport okay when women are chosen based on their looks.

Just because there are other degrading events taking place elsewhere doesn’t mean that it is appropriate for our community.

This is putting women on display for people such as Mayor Cooke to laugh at, people like Ms. Raplee who simply “don’t have a problem with it,” and the majority of people to lust over.

This isn’t exactly helping the young girls who think their bodies have to be as “hot” as the 10 percent of the population that just “happen” to be chosen to drool over, or the young men who are struggling with lust.

This is clearly a case of greed over morals.

Dena Armijo, age 14

Kent

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