Guns, senseless killings

How many innocent people will have to be killed in this country before the nation wakes up from the lunacy that makes some of us think that freedom can only be had if people have the right to own guns other than for hunting?

Klaus Karbaumer

Platte City

Evaluating schools

In evaluating and measuring pupil achievement in the public schools, several systems are calling for the grading of each. Generally, these grades would be the same as in traditional report cards sent home to parents. Thus, A, B, C, D or F would be given to a school.

In Louisiana, the governor signed a bill requiring schools to be graded. Yet in Philadelphia, grading was halted.

Numerous questions should be asked about grading public schools:

•  Do parents have adequate information?

•  Which specific standards should appear on a checklist?

•  Are these standards written clearly so that responders understand each?

•  Should the results appear in the news media?

•  What should be done with the grading results for school improvement?

If grading is being emphasized, the purpose needs to stress the improvement of pupil education.

Too frequently schools are criticized without saying what needs improvement. For example, if there were an agreement on the need for technological aids to improve in-depth mathematics teaching, then it would behoove the school district to fund necessary materials of instruction.

Diagnosis determining areas of need and remediation fulfilling the need would be a salient response.

Marlow Ediger

Professor emeritus

Truman State University

North Newton, Kan.

Kudos to Star series

Bravo! Your responsible reporting this week in “Beef’s raw edges” will undoubtedly change the diets of many readers. The effect on human health, the environment and the lives of animals is enormous.

I hope you will continue the series with a look at other sources of “meat” such as pork and chicken.

Candi Ayres Phillips

Merriam

Unfair slam of beef

Beef is a huge industry in the Midwest, from farm, trucking and processing to the grocery stores. Far more people die yearly from E. coli bacteria in fruits and vegetables and improper hand washing.

I do not understand the attack on the beef industry by your three-day series (12-9, A1, “Beef’s raw edges”). Beef cattle are raised to be processed for consumption in the safest, cleanest environment possible.

Standards have vastly improved over the years for an industry that processes more than 100,000 cattle per day and is one of the largest employers in the Midwest. The attack on the industry by this series of articles seems to be very one-sided and biased.

I guess we should ban meat, fruits and vegetables, medications, autos, alcohol and tobacco as they all kill people every year.

Sherry Roberson

Blue Springs

Obama well protected

President Barack Obama has a built-in impeachment protection program. It’s called Joe Biden.

Ken Hedden

Parkville

Senate’s wrong action

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities simply sets minimum human rights standards and gives nations set measures and legal obligations that protect the rights of disabled people to participate in society freely and with accessibility (12-5, A1, “Treaty fails, despite push from Dole”).

U.S. presidents have to sign every treaty, and American advisers are involved in formulating the human rights treaties.

In every case, the Senate — influenced by groups such as the Eagle Forum, Concerned Women for America and the Christian Coalition under false claims of subjecting America’s domestic policy to foreign control, hindering parental rights and misinterpreted claims — lobby to prevent Senate ratification of human rights treaties.

On Dec. 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights went into effect, with the United States as its major signatory.

However, the Senate hasn’t ratified significant treaties such as the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

It is ironic that we espouse the importance of human rights around the globe, but by the Senate’s non-ratification, we impede the advancement of universal human rights standards.

Manny Pedram

Kansas City

It would be real interesting to know what segment of society the Republican members of the U.S. Senate are representing by voting against the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Could their justifications just be a cover for what amounts to retaliation against what they perceive as getting few if any votes from that part of society?

Could it be their fear of having their tin hats taken from them?

What it comes down to is that when we vote for the candidates of our choice, we have to think real hard about those choices because in too many ways those choices could come back to haunt us.

Maybe the word disabled has taken on a new meaning — that the actual disabled are in the Senate, and their concern for the U.S. losing its sovereignty is what’s crippling them from making decisions for the good of this country and being a proper example for the rest of the world to follow.

Barry Jackson

Kansas City

Gun-control pundits

NBC sports anchor Bob Costas, after his recent comments about the murder-suicide committed by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, should limit his corporate-induced opinions about gun control to off-air commentary.

What’s next, taking spoons away from the obese?

Karl Zinchak

Belton

U.S. freedoms at risk

We Americans seem to be asleep at the switch.

Our government continues to take our liberty inch by inch.

This time it is the right to practice our religion freely in our daily choices. The Health and Human Services mandate put forth in the Obamacare initiative takes a shot at removing a fundamental right to not just worship but practice our religion.

This is not only a religious issue but an issue for all Americans.

If we continue to be apathetic, we are going to find that in a few short years the fundamental rights that the founders of our great country put in place are no longer available to us.

By that time it will be too late.

Jim Maxwell

Overland Park

Parking for KU games

The University of Kansas hosts 18 home games this men’s basketball season. The university has gone to great lengths to provide parking for visitors, either at a modest price or for free.

Arrangements include shuttle buses.

There are plenty of side streets available and off-campus lots to park in as well.

Yet, there are visitors to Lawrence who insist on paying to park in residential driveways.

They use the front yards to get on or off that driveway, create unnecessary traffic congestion, endanger pedestrians and drivers alike, and cause visible property damage that is unsightly and irreparable to lawns and housing values in our neighborhoods.

In Lawrence, it is illegal to park in front yards of residential neighborhoods, whether invited or not.

There are fines of $30 or more for drivers, and the residents or landowners face charges for damaging their properties, not to mention the ill-will of their neighbors.

Everyone deserves to enjoy basketball games being played at Allen Fieldhouse, including the homeowners and residents in the area.

Please be considerate if you choose to use our neighborhoods to park on game nights in Lawrence.

Rock chalk Jayhawk.

Deborah Snyder

Lawrence

Girls’ giving spirit

I would like Kansas City to know about a very giving group, which is making a difference in the lives of many people.

For the past two years, my daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, ages 8 and 6, have been host to a Christmas party to benefit organizations around the world.

Last year, 20 young girls attended and donated $288. This money went to World Vision to purchase a goat, two rabbits, two chickens, five mosquito nets, a share of a sewing machine and seeds to feed a family of four for a year.

This year, 14 young girls attended, donating $200. The girls always vote on how the money will be used.

This year, it provided fruit trees, seeds and a household water-purification system.

These girls are not only learning about the living conditions in other parts of the world, but they are enjoying the chance to help others.

Kudos to Stephanie the organizer, parents of the girls, the young ladies who donated their money and everyone who helps make this a better world.

Sharon Taylor

Kansas City