Readers sound off on the Ogallala Aquifer, rape, KCI
Ogallala Aquifer
With more than a dozen previous water studies sitting on the shelf gathering dust, do we need another study to tell us what anyone with common sense already knows? We’re pumping the Ogallala Aquifer dry. The pumping rate far exceeds its ability to recharge.
The only winners are agribusiness corporations sucking meager profits out of rural America.
Pumping this precious natural resource to produce crops and livestock to sell at a loss is just plain stupid. When the Ogallala Aquifer gets too depleted, life as we know it will cease, and the vision of a “Buffalo Commons” will become reality.
Stephen Anderson
Alma, Kan.
Common sense
We were proud of The Star for printing Laura Herrick’s July 9 Midwest Voices column, “Women can take action to prevent rapes,” but disappointed that publisher Tony Berg chose to apologize for it in a July 10 column, “Rape is not the victim’s fault. Period,” and that Herrick’s piece was removed from The Star’s website.
Mr. Berg evidently missed Ms. Herrick’s point. She did not state that rape is ever the victim’s fault. She simply offered suggestions to help women keep from becoming victims. Her common-sense advice is the same as that often given to female freshmen as part of their college orientation.
Ms. Herrick’s well-thought-out column should be posted on bulletin boards in every sorority house and dormitory in the country, and Mr. Berg should be ashamed for caving to reader pressure.
Carol and Bruce
Cochran
Prairie Village
KCI standoff
All the head scratching by civic leaders over the public’s refusal to support a single terminal for Kansas City International Airport makes me think they haven’t flown since that TWA Connie at the Wheeler Downtown Airport was still in service.
After spending three hours shoehorned into an airline seat, no passengers want to get off a plane and embark on a five-mile hike to retrieve their luggage. Nor do airline passengers want to arrive at Gate A2 only to discover that their connecting flight is now boarding at Gate D56.
From the moment you get off a plane at KCI, you’re a mere two minutes from the luggage carousel and the pickup points for parking lot shuttles. And if you’re a Gordon Gekko wannabe who can afford to park in the Circle Lot, you’re a hop, skip and back flip from your Mercedes.
Sure, KCI is old and dumpy and has all the charm of a high school gymnasium. But you’re there for such a short time, it really doesn’t matter. And while the amenities aren’t great, it’s got the basics.
Air travel nowadays is about as much fun as juggling chainsaws blindfolded. Given that, can you blame people for wanting to hang on to the last remaining vestige of when flying was relaxing and enjoyable?
Chris Brethwaite
Kansas City
Special night out
My husband, daughter and I recently went to Lulu’s on 47th Street and had a delicious dinner for our 65th wedding anniversary. When we went to pay the check, it came as a wonderful surprise that another couple had already done so.
What a kind — and fun — thing to do.
We hope they will see this letter and know how much we enjoyed their heartwarming gesture of kindness in making a special occasion even more so.
Dorothy and
Hugh Brown
Westwood Hills
Great divides
As I get older, I am sad and don’t understand
Why people cannot join together in our great land.
We turn against each other, and many good people die.
Let us spend time hugging, bring happiness to our lives.
The tragedy that happened in Dallas was bad as it could be.
Seeing policemen gunned down was the saddest thing to see,
Caused from hate and madness for it could have been me,
Should not happen in America for we are home of the free.
Our country has changed since I was a kid in school.
We pledged the flag and said a prayer for that was cool,
Not to be honorable would cause a discouraging glare.
Today many kids don’t have a father and are out on a dare.
The time has come for our political leaders to take charge.
Everyone must play by the rules or they will be charged.
If they don’t like this great country, then just let it be.
Ship them to a Third World country and send the bill to me.
Howard McHenry
Raymore
This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers sound off on the Ogallala Aquifer, rape, KCI."