Letters to the editor

Immigration reform

Latinos oppose the mass deportation of refugees and migrant workers. We will join them in their struggle for human rights.

We stand in solidarity with immigration workers, children and their families. There is no such thing as an illegal human-being in the eyes of our Lord and savior. Silence is consent.

Florentino Camacho Jr.

Former Lulac

Civil rights and

Human-rights

State director

Kansas City

Malaysia Airlines crash

The official Dutch report states the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was downed by “high energy” impacts to the aircraft body. There was no apparent evidence of burning from any explosive.

Jet engine turbine rotor blades that fail will make high energy impacts.

Did the media get this one all wrong? Was this an aircraft engine failure and not a missile?

We just can’t wait. Fix blame and point the finger now.

Richard Blaisdell

Kansas City

Basketball oddity

I'm as guilty as the next person, but I can't help but wonder whether our obsession with big-time college sports hasn't gone too far when a Sept. 10 article, “Mykhailiuk is finally a KU student,” expresses concern that a new recruit might not perform up to expectations because he arrived 21/2 weeks into the semester after playing for his national team.

Nowhere, however, is any concern expressed that he might be behind his peers in the classroom as well as on the court.

Robert Powell

Independence

Assault at Sam’s

As the father of six females, I was horrified about the two-game suspension (9-10, B1, “Heat rises on NFL over Rice”). As a victim of assault in a Sam’s Club parking lot, I also believe the recent action is over the top, at least compared to my experience.

Last year while getting medicine for my wife just out of the hospital after three abdominal operations in 10 days, there was a light-hearted verbal exchange when a 30-something male was blocking the driveway while his wife visited with someone in a truck. This 66-year-old, supposedly a protected class like a juvenile, was hit violently in the eye so hard I somersaulted backward.

A witness got his license number as he fled, and Sam's Club got it all on tape. The Kansas City police arrested the man, and the city prosecutor did absolutely nothing.

I had to call to see what was happening and was told that because I was not permanently disabled and the suspect had no record, there would be no jail time. The prosecutor has never called me back.

I suffered hip pain for six months, but it doesn't matter because I never missed work. It certainly complicated my helping my wife to recover.

Thanks for nothing, city prosecutor.

R. Wes Jones

Smithville

This story was originally published September 16, 2014 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor."