Readers reflect on racism, guns, Kander, Clinton, Trump, KCI, voting
Combating racism
Late last year, while I was engaged with a reading group’s review of Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow,” the question was asked: What is white America going to do when confronted by the browning of America, the rise of overt racism, the fear of terrorism and the calls for a return to the past?
What did Republicans think would happen when they opened their party to racial hatred as they employed Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy? Did they really believe the hatred would simply die under its own weight, its being shunned by polite society, its relegation to the far right of their party?
No, racism is a sickness so deeply embedded in our national DNA that it cannot be wished away, or ignored away, or even prayed away. Like any cancer, it must be burned out or cut out so that its spread can be contained. And we must do it now.
The popularity of Donald Trump is a testament to fear, hatred and, unfortunately for some, hope. His acceptability implies an acquiescence to racism. We must not return to what we were.
So, the question requires an answer: What is white America going to do?
Michael T. Patton
Kansas City
Guns, U.S. history
Both the Second and Third Amendments to the Constitution were enacted to enable organized state militias to be armed and housed. Immediately after the American Revolution, the Continental Army was disbanded and sent home, meaning we had no land army.
State militias were then our only well-regulated military forces (the National Guard came into being in 1916), and each member was required to have a firearm, ammunition and provisions for several days. Housing the militias prompted the Third Amendment, whereby permission of the building owner was required before troops could be billeted, a sore subject after the 1765 enactment of the British Quartering Law that commanded the colonials to house and subsidize British troops.
Over the years, the Second Amendment has morphed into an individual arms race fueled by the National Rifle Association and legislators who take the money.
I think weapons are OK for farmers, ranchers, hikers, collectors, hunters and others like them. But I believe the idea that arming the good guys helps stop the bad guys is insanity.
Our elected representatives can bring order to the current mess, or not. Elect the ones who will.
David B. Smiley
LTC (Retired)
U.S. Army
Shawnee
Why Kander
I was greatly dismayed by The Star’s endorsement of Roy Blunt as the “right” candidate to lead Missouri as a senator. You have endorsed entitlement over humility, deceit over integrity, shirking duty over accepting its call.
Here is the Jason Kander I know.
I am an educator in the urban core of Kansas City. For several years, Kander visited my government class to speak about being a state representative and the process of creating laws. He was so engaged with these young people and gave credence and respect for their views and questions.
He is not bought and owned by corporate interests, lobbyists and billionaires. Kander represents the working-class man at the local Ford factory. The single black mom raising her three kids in Ferguson. The elderly couple in the Bootheel, living in the same family home for generations.
We need a true leader and patriot who will stand for freedom, impartiality and integrity in Washington, D.C. What we do not need is someone who is willing to prostitute himself to the greed of billionaires’ self-interest.
We need Jason Kander in the Senate.
Bryan VanOsdale
Kansas City
Airport idea
Just another thought: If Kansas City can’t get its act together on remodeling the airport, maybe Johnson County can. The former Olathe Naval Air Station is a perfect spot — runways are in, and they’d only need to tear down a couple of old hangers and barracks and build a state-of-art terminal.
It’s close to many Kansas City International Airport users, and no major overhaul would be needed.
Let KCI stay obsolete.
Frank Franke
Prairie Village
Think, then vote
I’ve been voting for about 50 years, and I’ve never been more concerned about an election. I beg voters to carefully consider who is the more qualified candidate for president. Ignore the promises, TV ads, exaggerations, accusations and occasional lies of both candidates.
Do a little research. Go to factcheck.org and votesmart.org. Go to liberal and conservatives newspapers and journals. Read biographies of both candidates and think about which one seems better prepared to run our nation.
Spend some time on this. It’s vastly important. The wrong candidate could wreak havoc on this great nation that could change the course of history.
Be careful. This is not reality TV, nor the Miss Universe contest. This is deadly serious business concerning our future, and you will be responsible for what happens if the wrong person is elected.
Michael Zygmunt
Kansas City
Vote American
This election will soon be history, and no matter who is elected, we end up with a creepy clown. It’s time to put our focus on a bigger problem — the career politicians in Washington.
While the president makes some executive orders, the people in Congress pass all the rules and regulations we live by. I submit that any congressman or senator who has two or more terms in office cannot vote objectively on any issue and is controlled by lobbyists and special-interest groups.
This year, forget you are Democrat or Republican and vote American. If you are voting for these people to stay in office simply because they are Democrat or Republican or they are your friend or neighbor, then you are part of the problem.
Incumbents need to go. People such as Roy Blunt and Emanuel Cleaver are controlled by outside people and have overstayed their time in Washington.
I urge everyone to get out and vote and get rid of anyone with two or more terms in office. They are causing all our problems, and we need new blood and new ideas. Vote American.
Ernie Vietze
Kansas City
Leaves
(With apologies to Joyce Kilmer)
I believe that I shall never see
A thing so ugly as a leafless tree
Wherever leafless limbs are found
Means the leaves are on the ground
Tis true in summer, leaves offer ways
To shield fair skin from harmful rays
In early fall folks spend big dollars
On bus tours just to see their colors
At these times, leaves seem a joy
But in the late fall they just annoy
All over my yard they blow about
And clog most every gutter spout.
I rake them up and just about then
From other yards more blow in.
Actually I like them, don’t you see
When on trees where meant to be
But liking them is kind of hard
When dirty brown all o’er my yard
I have faith God’s “will be done”
He guides the earth, moon and sun
And I also think it’s not just rumor
That the Lord has a sense of humor
Tis why he drops leaves in the fall
So weekend raking is the protocol
And every fall he does the same
So we can’t watch the football game
John Murry
Kansas City
This story was originally published November 6, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Readers reflect on racism, guns, Kander, Clinton, Trump, KCI, voting."