Readers react to President Lyndon Johnson, MU football players and the Royals
Johnson’s legacy
Efforts to restrict voters’ rights in states that believe the right to vote should be less inclusive reminded me of the restrictions placed on black voters after President John Kennedy but mostly President Lyndon Johnson got Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act. Although it broke down some barriers, voting was still a luxury limited to white America.
I saw a recent Kennedy-Johnson program on public television. Kennedy was a strong advocate for passing the Civil Rights Act, but it was Johnson who saw it and other measures pushed through the House and Senate.
Johnson was not just an advocate in words; he put words into action by hiring the first black secretary to the president. He went even further by taking her to an all-white dinner on New Year’s Eve in Texas.
This one small act integrated this establishment permanently.
The Voting Rights Act ended the tests blacks were forced to pass in order to register, such as counting jelly beans in an unopened jar. Sadly, the Vietnam War diminished the impact of Johnson’s work for social justice.
Steven Addison
Kansas City
Powerful athletes
Student-athletes took control of what was happening on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus and showed their power. When I read this, my first thought was, “Excuse me?”
Did they forget about the scholarships that were given to them? I think the athletic director should remind these “powerful” athletes why they are at MU and who is paying for their education.
Bill Grossnickle
Kansas City
Cheers to Royals
Congratulations to all the people in the Kansas City area. As my husband and I watched each game of the World Series, we were always amazed at support the fans showed.
Kudos to the Kansas City Royals. Outstanding job. Kudos to the fans. You are amazing. And kudos to the celebration. It was as classy as the World Series victory.
The team and fans are a credit to your city.
Tonight I will proudly teach ballet classes in my Kansas City Royals shirt. The Royals rock!
Angela Lowe
Joplin, Mo.
Bigotry in U.S.
What happened at the University of Missouri-Columbia is happening all across America. The young men and women of color won because they are on the right side of the issue.
Racist people are doing and saying things and getting away with it because of the weak leadership at that college.
Republican billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump and his hate speech against immigrants has created additional concerns for the safety of our students.
This quote applies to the inaction of many: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Amen.
Florentino
Camacho Jr.
Kansas City
Thanksgiving Fate
T'was the day after Thanksgiving as I got on the scale,
The dark meat, the white meat, “It can't be,” I wail.
I felt myself swelling, so round and so plump.
My stomach, my stomach, it sure hasn't shrunk!
To the “Y” I did fly, but not through the sky.
Stuck to the Earth with my bountiful girth.
The gravy, the turkey, potatoes and sauce,
Jiggled and jiggled but wouldn't come off.
As I wiggled and strained on each machine,
Clear it became — slim me was a dream.
So now as I waddle on my way,
Like the turkey I had on the previous day.
I resolve in the future to avoid such fate.
And not gobble and gobble no matter the date.
John Couture Sr.
Kansas City
Concerns at KCI
I recently submitted my concerns about safety and security at Kansas City International Airport to Mayor Sly James and to 2nd District City Councilman Dan Fowler. I have not received a note, call, email or otherwise from anyone at the local government level.
This airport is used by my family and friends as well as thousands of other people. There are various corporations with interest at the airport, but this airport belongs to the city and ultimately its people.
If you submit problems and concerns to the city and get no response then what do you do. Leave it alone and hope for the best?
David R. Thomas
Kansas City
Religion debate
Religious zealots pose a serious threat to our country’s unity (e.g., Kim Davis, who refused to give marriage licenses to gay couples).
The rule of law in our country should apply equally to everyone. There should be no exceptions. Exceptions based on religion open the door for an unlimited number of religious laws, perhaps even Sharia law.
Those who knowingly break the law are generally sent to prison. In the case of Kim Davis, I suggest she at least be fired for failing to fulfill the requirements of her government job.
As a nation, we must decide whether to honor the Constitution’s separation of church and state or submit to a system based on religious reign.
Mona Glazer
Overland Park
Why do the news media snicker at people who are obeying their religious beliefs instead of lining up with what a bunch of judges in Washington, D.C., call the law?
It seems that the government is imposing its standards on us.
This country is leaning toward a dictatorship, not a democracy, as it was originally founded. We need more people to stand up for what they think is right, not for what is politically correct.
Paulette Craig
Kansas City
Shifty in Kansas
Taking a medical doctor, a pharmacist and an expert on rural medical practice off of the Kansas House Health Committee further emphasizes the fact that the Kansas GOP owns the Kansas economic collapse (11-12, A4, “3 Kansas GOP lawmakers ousted from health panel”).
By not expanding Medicaid at the federal government’s expense takes money out of the Kansas economy. Absolutely nothing that the Gov. Sam Brownback and Koch brothers Republicans have said about the upsurge Kansas economy has come true.
But then again, Brownback as a U.S. senator said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Joe Hodnik
Olathe
Kansas politics
Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick should be tarred, feathered and run out of Topeka for removing the three most qualified members from the health committee: Reps. Barbara Bollier, Susan Concannon and Don Hill.
This is a blatant insult to citizens of Kansas and another example of the poorest government imaginable. It’s a sad day and it keeps getting sadder.
Susanne Shutz
Mission Hills
This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Readers react to President Lyndon Johnson, MU football players and the Royals."