Letters to the editor: Have we lost our sense of humor?

Lost art of humor

What has happened to our sense of humor? It has been ages since I have heard a good joke.

Perhaps it’s because our politics have become so serious that it’s no longer a joking matter. Lee Judge’s cartoons are so far left that they don’t elicit even a chuckle.

The liberals I know have never been a source of humor. They are afraid the butt of a joke will offend someone.

The same holds true of the religious right. And, comedian Bill Maher is about as droll as it gets.

Has the art of joke-telling gone with Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and the old “Saturday Night Live”? Has today’s humor gone “viral” with millions of viewers?

I long for a good laugh even if it’s at my expense.

Steve Katz

Leawood

Surprised by mayor

I have been a resident of Leawood since 1978, during which time I have admired and appreciated the leadership of Mayor Peggy Dunn. Thus, when I read her letter in support of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s re-election in the Aug. 20 edition of the 913 section of The Star I was surprised, disappointed and even appalled.

How could she endorse a governor who has been bankrupting the state budget, seen a lowering of the state’s ratings, cut funding to education and led efforts to deny thousands of Kansans access to the Affordable Care Act?

Her letter is obviously politically motivated, unfortunately reminding one of the pressures New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie imposed on his state’s mayors to support his re-election two years ago.

I would have expected much more from Mayor Dunn.

John Obetz

Leawood

Bishop Robert Finn

The Star reported that the persecution of Bishop Robert Finn may be ending. What did Bishop Finn do wrong?

All he did was protect a priest — the Rev. Shawn Ratigan — who liked to take and look at obscene pictures of little girls. By protecting Rev. Ratigan, Bishop Finn was just performing a public service.

Isn’t it tragic that the Rev. Ratigan has to spend his time now in prison? We should be grateful to those like Bishop Finn who see no need to protect our children.

Bishop Finn is a true man of God.

Frank J. Smist Jr.

Prairie Village

Way off Brownback

In April, Gov. Sam Brownback signed legislation approving the Health Care Contract, which wants to wrest financing and control of Medicare from the federal government (8-27, A1, “Health compact faces many hurdles”).

Brownback thinks he could oversee Medicare and other health care programs in Kansas even though he couldn’t manage the installation of a new computer system for the Department of Motor Vehicles; even though his tax reduction legislation is a failure, which has already resulted in downgrading of financial ratings for Kansas from two top ratings agencies; even though he has not been able to achieve any goal for employment or new businesses in this state; even though he distorts figures and accomplishments in his campaign ads.

Any legislator who thinks any state can manage Medicare with anything close to the efficiency of the federal government, doesn’t know anything about Medicare or health care. The Health Care Compact is nothing but a political ploy to distract from the real issues that have not been addressed in this state and this country.

Every person in Kansas and also in Missouri, which has passed the same type of legislation, should be terrified to think that either state believes it could manage Medicare.

Jennifer Randle

Overland Park

Whopper statement

Burger King has had enough and is opposing President Barack Obama’s anti-business attitude (8-27, Editorial, “Buffett should explain BK’s deal”). Living in a country where the leader openly hates profitable corporations and does everything except chain and lock their doors is simply too much.

Now the shareholders will enjoy enhanced earnings. No one person or corporation is morally obligated to pay more taxes than what they are minimally obligated to do.

Those who think Burger King is obligated to pay excessive taxes should open up their checkbooks and start writing payments to the U.S treasury. I hope Obama gets the message from this whopper of a move.

Joe Lavender

Lenexa

Healing Ferguson

As the nation and the world reels over the tragic events that unfolded last month in Ferguson, Mo., we wonder how catastrophes like these can be prevented. One simple solution may be in the words we use and how we use them.

Capt. Ron Johnson with the Missouri Highway Patrol demonstrated responsible leadership, in part, by the words he used to help change the tone of the narrative. We don’t yet know what really sparked this tragedy, but for certain it started with words which led to a confrontation, which led to a shooting death, which led to riots and civil disobedience.

The words we use can either lift us up or tear us down. Two thousand years ago, Paul had it right when he wrote: “Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.”

Then Paul added, “Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4: 29, 31, 32)

Ron Fugate

Overland Park

Supreme questions

Do the Supreme Court decisions earlier this year foreshadow a subtle change in the First Amendment? Has “freedom of religion” come to mean “freedom of religion to dictate our laws” aided by their new partners, corporations?

What particular religious tenets and owners’ agendas will oversee the new legislature? What new freedoms or, more notably, what new curtailments of our rights will follow?

John Nelles

Shawnee

This story was originally published September 2, 2014 at 6:31 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Have we lost our sense of humor?."