Letters: Readers share their views on St. Luke’s, Donald Trump, Mark Twain, Missouri Republicans, KCI, Russia and the Electoral College
St. Luke’s thanks
John and I would like to acknowledge the excellent care he recently received as a kidney-transplant patient at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Everyone involved in his care was courteous, knowledgeable, efficient and caring. We were made to feel welcome and not just a number.
Coming from a small town in Kansas, we believe this was important.
Kansas City can be proud to have such a fine hospital as St. Luke’s.
Kathy Dohm
Sharon, Kan.
Real meaning
Euphemism: Substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend.
Example: At a Grange convention in Kansas City, Harry Truman used the word “manure.” A friend of Bess Truman’s suggested to her that her husband should use the term “fertilizer” instead.
Bess replied, “You have no idea how many years it has taken me to get him to say manure.”
Manure is a euphemism for the word Harry used before Bess trained him to use a less offensive word. And, in turn, fertilizer is a euphemism for manure.
Donald Trump’s claim that his statement “We’re not going to let Carrier leave,” was a euphemism. “I was talking about Carrier like all other companies from here on in,” he said.
I am not sure what Trump’s statement is (perhaps an example), but it is assuredly not a euphemism.
John Ratzlaff
Shawnee
Shame on them
This news (12-13, 4A, “Missouri GOP raises money selling meetings with lawmakers”) should have been in headlines on the front page of The Star, not tucked away inconspicuously. How disgusting.
We, the public, pay lawmakers. We should have access to them without paying the GOP a cent.
Shame on the businesses and PACS who “donated” $5,000 or more to the GOP Senate Campaign Committee for face-to-face private time. I was horrified to see H&R Block, Centurytel and Kansas City Southern among them. No wonder voters are disenchanted with the political process.
This is a disgrace and a blatant blow to democracy.
Susanne Shutz
Shawnee Mission
Take a trip
Now that president-elect Donald Trump is traveling to states that gave him his electoral victory and thanking them, I wonder whether he will go to Russia and thank that country, which helped elect him.
Hey, if it gets him out of this country, then bon voyage.
Marlene Shulkin
Prairie Village
Learn Twain
One of president-elect Donald Trump’s directives before his Cabinet nominees get to play God should be that all of them must read Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer” and then take a test to make sure they understand the ramifications of poor judgment.
If they don’t pass, they don’t get to play.
Judging from the track record of warmongers, the odds are not in our favor.
Rolland Love
Overland Park
Holiday shipping
Here is a little anecdote for all of you planning to send packages for Christmas:
A few days ago, I sent several boxes toward Minnesota for the kids and grandkids. That night around 8, I got a call from a gentleman who said he found a box with my name and number on it, addressed to Minnesota. He found it at the side of the road, undamaged and unopened.
I went on the agency’s website and entered the tracking number, and sure enough it was bound for Minnesota, to be delivered Saturday.
I called customer service; she told me three times that the parcel was in its possession and was due to be delivered Saturday. I could not convince her that I was the sender, not the recipient, and that the parcel was in my possession.
She finally bumped me upstairs. The company made amends by sending three different drivers to the house that afternoon to pick it up. I only hope it doesn’t try to charge me a second time.
Beware of FedEx. Make sure the driver shuts the door.
Robert Gjertson
Overland Park
Stability?
The presidential campaign brought serious concerns about the mental stability of Donald Trump. The pacing and grimacing during the debates supported the idea that he was off the rails.
Now his selection of henchmen raises concerns and, coupled with the reneging on most of his campaign promises before he even assumes office, should be a clear signal to all those who voted for him that this man is not in touch with almost any concept of reality.
Now comes the incredible rejection of the CIA as a reliable source of intelligence that his predecessors have depended on to make all sorts of domestic and foreign decisions. It makes one wonder where he will lead this country over the next four years (12-10, 17A, “CIA says Russia favored Trump”).
He says he knows more than the generals and the CIA.
One would pray that the nation is stable enough to survive this insane prelude to his presidency.
Although I never watched “The Apprentice,” I can hardly wait for the first episode that he promises to produce in his “spare time.”
Lord, give us strength.
Keith W. Ashcraft,
M.D.
Leawood
New KCI
Thanksgiving week, I took an elderly friend to the Kansas City airport. She was flying United and required a wheelchair, and she had a somewhat heavy bag and a walker to be checked.
Lo and behold, United does not offer curbside check-in. I proceeded to American, where curbside check-in was offered, got out of my car and inquired why there was not more curbside check-in. I was informed that the airlines didn’t want to spend the money.
That convinced me that the airlines are cutting back services at KCI to make a point that they are unhappy with the airport situation.
We were lucky that a young woman working traffic control asked if I needed assistance. She led me back to the United gate, where she went in and got a wheelchair while I parked the car at the curb, pulled the luggage and walker out of the car and took them in to be checked.
Although I live in Miami County, Kan., and would have no vote on the issue, I believe Kansas City needs to wake up to the need for a new airport. If the airlines want a new terminal, services would likely improve substantially.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Sally Carr
Bucyrus, Kan.
The anti-Cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump has named Cabinet nominees who are openly opposed to the Cabinet department they would lead. For example:
Trump nominated Rick Perry for secretary of energy. But, in the 2012 election, Perry wanted to abolish the Department of Energy.
Tom Price was nominated as the Department of Health and Human Services secretary, and he wants to abolish Obamacare.
Trump named Betsy DeVos to be secretary of education, but she opposes public education and favors vouchers that could be used in private schools. As a retired public school teacher, I am appalled that she would dismantle public education.
Also, Andy Puzder was nominated as secretary of labor. He is anti-worker and opposed the $15 minimum wage.
Trump’s Cabinet nominations are unsuitable and would threaten all the progress made in the last eight years.
Jane Toliver
Leawood
Russia relations
During the campaign, Donald Trump said he would ban all Muslims from entering the U.S. until “we” figured out what the heck was going on.
May I respectfully suggest that the Trump inauguration be delayed until “we” figure out what is going on with him?
Trump has a favorable view of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has acknowledged that he likes the way Putin controls Russia. Putin said some nice things about him, so he said some nice things about Putin.
What kind of mentality is that?
News reports indicate that the CIA and other security agencies revealed Russia had hacked the files of the Democratic National Committee and released thousands of Hillary Clinton’s emails to WikiLeaks, intending to help Trump win the election. Trump assessed those reports as ridiculous.
During the campaign, Trump said it would be great if the U.S. and Russia could work together. I’m sure that could happen if the U.S. adopted Putin’s ideas on how a country should be run and how its citizens should be treated.
If you want to live under Putin’s rules, Trump could give you the opportunity.
Jerry Nowak
Lee’s Summit
Elector eve
’Twas the night before the electors met, and all through the land, all the creatures were moving, and taking a stand.
The votes were counted, and it didn’t look right. The hopes of democracy would require a fight.
The Donald was nestled all snug in his bed, while visions of the kingdom danced in his head.
When out in the street there arose such a clatter. The people were there to make all this matter.
When what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a golden limo with a Russian in the rear.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
Now Reince, now Sessions, now Wilbur and Kellyanne. On Puzder, on Rex, on Flynn, and on Bannon! To the top of the dome, and the top of the wall, now overrun, overturn and throw away all.
And then in a twinkling I heard the electors vote. It’s gotta be Hillary, and that’s all they wrote.
And we heard as our heroes moved out of sight. Happy democracy to all, and to all a good night!
Anne Worth
Kansas City
This story was originally published December 17, 2016 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers share their views on St. Luke’s, Donald Trump, Mark Twain, Missouri Republicans, KCI, Russia and the Electoral College."