Readers react to election results, societal problems, militias and guns, stolen dog
Not my president
As a law student, I complain a lot. About the workload, the job prospects, the law itself.
The results of the presidential election have me counting my privileges like lucky stars. Never before have I felt so grateful for my law degree.
Friends of different races and religions called late Tuesday night as they discovered, in real time, what their nation really thought about them. I wept, too.
To them and to me, a Donald Trump presidency signals a woeful move backward in progress. After electing the first black president, we have just elected a president endorsed by the KKK.
But we will not forget what he has said. We will not forget what he has done. We will stay angry.
He is not my president.
Mackenzie Sheehy
Lawrence
Shining example
It was very heartwarming to read the article by Sam McDowell regarding Allison Shewmaker (11-4, B1, “Runner with cerebral palsy isn’t stopping”).
The Fort Osage high school senior participates in varsity cross country and track. Disabled from birth with cerebral palsy, she is a heroic example of positive attitude, perseverance and dedication. Equally impressive is the love and caring attitude of her teammates and school personnel.
In our present climate, which is rife with rancor, divisiveness and negativity, it is easy to ignore all the good things that happen on a daily basis because of countless caring people. This article on the admirable character of Shewmaker, her mother, teammates and school personnel provides a welcome relief from the constant bombardment of negativity conveyed by our typical 24-hour media coverage.
It should inspire us to be thankful and reflect on what is right and good in our society.
Bob Meyer
Gladstone
Post-election note
To the candidates:
Now that the election is over, please remember that no matter the outcome, no one has a “mandate” from the people. You should, however, have received a message.
First, give yourself and your staff a week or 10 days off; you do us no favors by courting illness or exhaustion in the important upcoming months.
Next, invite members of the losing party to meet on how best to move forward. The country is extremely divided; identify a couple of issues that you can agree on and appoint a bipartisan committee on, for example, improving national infrastructure or fixing the Affordable Care Act.
If necessary, start really small: Just do something to demonstrate to yourselves and the country that you can accomplish something.
After that, set your sights higher, maybe on climate change or a tax overhaul. All the while, keep in mind that many Americans feel disaffected, ignored, even abused by their own government. Changing that will take cooperation.
Reading the results of this election makes clear the public’s low opinion of our government. Neither party should be able to accomplish all of its goals, but, idealistically, couldn’t you put the greater good at the top of your priorities occasionally?
Kevin Day
Parkville
Need to improve
After migrating to Kansas City — legally, as a born U.S. citizen — from a Latin American country, I have made the utmost effort to live as straight as a bullet.
It’s the least I can do as thanks to a nation that I admire for its greatness and Christian foundations as reflected in the Constitution, even counting the issues that had to be improved along the way.
I support law and order and promote the non-violent ways of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: fostering virtuous living as powerful weapon to bring down injustice.
Recently, a police officer I’d never seen before ticketed me for parking my car in front of my home looking south instead of north. Even though I immediately came out of my house, moved the car, apologized, asked what was wrong and tried to hold a conversation with the officer, it was to no avail.
I am aware that ignorance of the law is no excuse to violate it, but the total absence of mercy and an eagerness to apply the hammer of justice felt as if the city was targeting common citizens to line its coffers.
Missed opportunities like this contribute to the problem of building bridges with some segments of the population.
Luis Rivera
Kansas City
Fort Leavenworth
Many people are aware that it is a priority of the Obama administration to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility during the president’s term in office. Since 2009, Fort Leavenworth has been one of the primary options for placement of the detainees.
In Leavenworth, we know we can securely hold anyone. We are famous for our prisons.
However, Fort Leavenworth does not have a specific facility for the detainees. They would be only a few hundred yards from two elementary schools, the Missouri River and the railroad lines that go from Nebraska to Kansas City.
Significant additional security measures would be necessary if the detainees were to be transferred — including the ability to close rail lines and create a no-fly zone at the Kansas City airport.
We must continue to support the efforts of our Kansas congressional delegation to keep these dangerous detainees in Cuba, where they belong — and off our American soil. The consequences of inaction are great.
On this issue, the Kansas delegation’s fight to retain the safety and security of our community must also be ours.
Todd Thompson
Leavenworth
County Attorney
Leavenworth
Thanks, KC
Dear Kansas City,
I can’t thank you enough. My daughter was married on the first weekend in October. With many guests traveling from around the country and across oceans, all events were held downtown to minimize additional transportation.
The rehearsal dinner put us right in the middle of a First Friday event. On this beautiful fall evening, the streets of the Crossroads were filled with happy crowds of all ages enjoying great weather, lively music and art.
As many in our party moved on to the Power & Light District, they encountered a steady stream of nightlife fun.
With Saturday free, we later heard of streetcar rides and visits to City Market, Crown Center, Legoland, the Plaza, Union Station and more. Many guests had never been to Kansas City and hadn’t even considered it.
By the time Sunday rolled around, some were talking of extending their stays, others about planning a return trip, and some were even checking out the costs of downtown lofts.
Thank you, KC, you did us proud.
Anne Roberts
Kansas City, Kan.
Militias, guns
Several recent writers have presented false views regarding the Second Amendment requirement for a “well regulated militia.” People should Google the two Militia Acts of May 1792.
They went into effect during President George Washington’s first term. They should help people understand what the framers meant.
The May 2 act allowed the president to call up the militia to defend against “invasion from a foreign nation or Indian tribe,” or to “suppress insurrection,” or to “execute the laws of the United States.”
The May 8 act required that “every free able-bodied white male citizen” from age 18 to 45 enroll in his local militia, to be commanded by local officials. Each militia member had to equip himself with a “musket, firelock … or rifle,” plus shot and powder. It also created inspectors of state militia units to report on their status and readiness to state governors and the U.S. president.
The Constitution’s militias were government controlled, not independent vigilantes.
Stephen Melton
Leavenworth
Stolen dog
My best friend was stolen from me Oct. 1.
I am desperate to find my boy and bring him home. His name is Zen, and he is a male neutered malamute-shepherd mix. He is still just a baby, only a year old, and extremely skittish.
I have blasted him on social media and posted fliers and signs. I’ve done everything I can think of and have now run dry and don’t know what else to do.
Please, he is my best friend and he is beyond scared.
Any information would be appreciated. He was stolen in Platte City, and the last confirmed sighting was in northeast Kansas City on Oct. 21.
Thank you.
Amy Martinez
Platte City
Love trumps hate
Donald Trump will be president. It happened, and this is where we are now.
As a “nasty woman,” I of course am upset, but guess what? The sun will still rise, and life will still continue. Everything is going to be fine, and Trump is no longer the enemy — his supporters are.
Trump is a very, very smart man. He appealed to an ugly majority of Americans with his racist and sexist tactics all while speaking at a fourth-grade level, which was all just to pull voters.
Though the campaigning version of Trump is all that we know, I’m almost 100 percent confident that he will change with his new seat in office, but the people who won’t change, who actually share these ignorant beliefs, are the people we have to see and deal with every day. And that is what is scary to me.
To all minorities everywhere, we cannot change this scary outcome, but it’s time to put defenses up. Love trumps hate, and all the hate that people are about to experience is going to come from our neighbors, not from the Oval Office.
Brittni Walters
Overland Park
This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Readers react to election results, societal problems, militias and guns, stolen dog."