Trump reaction

So, the man who disparages anyone who dares to disagree with him has now attacked the most popular show on Broadway, “Hamilton.”

Although the cast simply and politely asked Vice President-elect Mike Pence to “uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us,” Trump overreacted and accused the cast of harassing Pence and being “very rude.”

I’m guessing the result will not be a Trump-wished-for boycott of the show, but instead an explosive growth in ticket sales. It’s currently sold out until August 2017. Thanks to Trump’s tirade, it may be years before tickets are available.

Joyce Richards

Leawood

Missing Gusewelle

My grateful thanks for reprinting the beautiful words of C.W. Gusewelle, the most beloved, incredible writer I have ever known. His words made me, a fellow animal lover, laugh and cry.

Meeting him and having him sign his books for me was one of the highlights of my life. On Sunday, his columns were the first thing I read in the paper, and they were a joy to read every week.

I miss him already, but as Lee Judge’s wonderful cartoon last week showed, I believe he is in heaven with Rufus and his many furry friends.

Susan Lord

Leawood

We are all one

If Trump and his minions decide to create a registry of all Muslims, then I sincerely believe that we should all claim to be Muslim — no disrespect meant toward the true followers of Mohammed.

But we either stand as one or die as a diverse group of believers in the progressive agenda, begging on our knees.

Whatever group they try to separate from the whole, I shall become one with. I will never turn my back on anyone who is being oppressed because of his or her color, religious beliefs, country of origin or sexual orientation.

We win when we refuse to exclude any member of our society. We lose when those in power cause us to blame each other for the problems that the wealthy have created because of their greed.

Steven Addison

Kansas City

Shop local

On behalf of all small businesses, my husband and I encourage everyone to participate in Small Business Saturday this week.

Small Business Saturday is a day to support the small businesses that fuel our economy and invigorate our communities. First there was Black Friday, and then Cyber Monday. Now there is Small Business Saturday.

Pledge to shop small. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge.

It is time to think outside the box — outside the big box stores.

Becky Hanf

Co-owner,

Mission Fresh Fashion

Mission

Veteran’s reflection

As a Vietnam veteran, I would like to share my extraordinary Veterans Day with my fellow vets and friends.

It started with my granddaughter, Savannah, inviting me to her grade school for a Veterans Day celebration. I was truly humbled. There were 25 vets representing wars from Korea to Iraq, including a double amputee (Vietnam).

I wore my new Army Security Agency baseball cap (“In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor”) and decided to wear it to my bartending job at a popular downtown restaurant and jazz club to honor the day.

I removed the hat when customers began arriving but was implored by my wait staff to leave it on. So I did. Many people thanked me for my service, and I’m sure I made an extra $50 in tips.

But the highlight of the evening occurred when a young woman, having dinner with friends at a nearby table, approached the bar, extended her hand and said, “Sir, I want to thank you for your service, and I wanted you to know that I turned 21 today and am honored that you poured my first glass of wine.”

Tom Kramer

Independence

Not my word

I object to an editor’s insertion of the word “suckers” into my letter published in The Star’s Nov. 12 Opinion pages.

I originally wrote the short letter as a small ray of humor for those of us disappointed by the outcome of the election. I deliberately chose not to use any pejoratives to describe Mr. Trump or his supporters because rudeness would surely be redundant at this point. We’ve all had enough of it.

I did not reference any specific quote from P.T. Barnum in my original letter. My larger point was to reference P.T. Barnum as a parallel to Mr. Trump.

Barnum was a scoundrel, a huckster and a con man. He cheated and mistreated his employees and allowed horrific abuse to the animals in his “shows.” He regularly pulled stakes and left town in the middle of the night, leaving squalor to be cleaned up by the citizenry and unpaid bills with the local merchants. He lived and died morally (if not financially) bankrupt.

That’s it. Let’s try to get through the next four years without nuclear war.

Diana Brinsko

Overland Park

Campus rape

It is disturbing to read about the ongoing rapes on campuses. The Oct. 29 story “Haskell Indian Nations University School, U.S. sued over alleged rape” is the most recent example. It is more disturbing when justice is not served for the victims and the offenders are released on bond.

Any person who commits rape should receive proper punishment, regardless of circumstances, age, athletic ability or student status. Students should feel completely safe on campus.

Universities need to improve their security and give students the right to protect themselves. Open carry on campus is just as important as it is anywhere else.

Students live, study and sometimes even work on campus. They need to be safe.

Students already have enough on their minds. Safety should not be a concern.

Monica Cabrera

Kansas City