Height discrimination; Palin help pay for health care? Fair help; Lupus needs attention

Will Matt Claman protect me from height-ism?

I am hoping Matt Claman will hear my cry and attempt to pass an ordinance to protect me and those like me. I am 6 feet 9 inches tall, I am told by many of the clothing stores in Anchorage that they can't help me and I will have to shop somewhere else since they don't carry my size; size iscrimination. I also get turned away from many shoe stores because they don't carry my size 16; size discrimination. It is difficult to sit in many restaurants because of the low tables, causing me to sit in the bar area at the taller tables; size discrimination. Sitting on an airplane just plain sucks and, oh God, let's not even talk about how many people point and stare at me while whispering to their friends telling them to look at the "giant". Well, I might not get an ordinance passed but at least Julia O'Malley could write a piece saying how "sad" it is that the "older" generations just don't get the younger taller ones.

-- Adam Trombley

Anchorage

Palin could help pay for national health care

I know a great way for President Obama to raise the money to pay for national health care.

Let's sell hoods and burning crosses to all the "enraged" citizens!

Rush and Hannity and Beck and Palin can set up little booths at all the town hall meetings.

-- Mike Overdorff

Anchorage

Thanks for help at the fairAfter a terrific day at the Alaska State Fair last weekend, my family found our car battery dead. Fair staff would only give us a tow truck number, but a couple of older gentlemen in a pick-up saw the problem and jumpstarted our battery. Thank you to you both; I've purchased jumper cables so I can pass on your kindness to someone else.

-- Krista Scott

Anchorage

Lupus can be tough on young women

I am frustrated about the lack of media coverage on lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects thousands of Alaskans.

Most people know about cancer, arthritis, heart and lung disease, and diabetes. Yet, few people have heard of lupus. Early diagnosis and treatment can help significantly control lupus symptoms, yet awareness of lupus is lowest among minority women aged 18 - 24, those most at risk. If left undiagnosed, lupus can lead to heart attacks, strokes, seizures, miscarriages, and organ failure.

When the last drug was approved by the FDA for the treatment of lupus, Alaska was not even a state and Eisenhower was President! Fifty years is a long time to wait for new treatments and media coverage!

-- Debora Griffeth

Anchorage