Letters: Readers discuss Confederate monuments, big government and Hillary Clinton
To remember
The English word “monument” comes from the Latin word “moneo,” to warn or remind. Monuments document history and always have a point of view. The United Daughters of the Confederacy monument recently removed along Ward Parkway was intended to memorialize the Old South.
It may be instructive to consider nearby Fort Leavenworth, where more than 220 things are named to honor distinguished men and women. The people behind the names on that 190-year-old Army installation are an interesting lot, ranging from a teenage Girl Scout to crusty old generals. Most were named from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of World War I.
None is named for an Army officer who resigned his commission to fight for the Confederacy. This was not an oversight.
Many who chose these honorees were veterans of the Civil War, the classmates, comrades, subordinates and friends of the fallen. Despite the hazy and romantic view of that war in many circles today, they knew the horrors of war and did not appreciate acts they considered treason against the Union. They made deliberate decisions not to honor Confederates with names on the land.
Quentin W. Schillare
Lenexa
Local response
I feel the need to address Jennifer Rubin’s defense of big government in her Aug. 31 column, “Harvey shows the utter hypocrisy of the anti-government crowd.” (13A)
According to Rubin, Hurricane Harvey highlights the need for big government to confront huge catastrophes that it symbolizes. But it is not the response of the federal government that is most to be admired about the Harvey efforts. It is the response of local governments and private citizens that is most remarkable. The first responders, backed by the countless volunteers, are the ones to be applauded.
Even FEMA knows its role is to back local governments in its efforts to coordinate and provide an adequate response. The federal government provides the checkbook while the local governments determine where the efforts will be applied.
It is local government that most people support, because local government is closest and most responsive to the needs of the people.
The federal government is disliked because it is unresponsive, unaccountable and wasteful of taxpayer money. That’s the point Jennifer Rubin misses.
Thomas A. Hardy
Olathe
Planning lessons
Images of neighbors and strangers rescuing the people of Houston are powerful, but sound public policy in urban planning, toxic industry regulation and disaster management also should have been in place.
Thoughtful urban planning would not have permitted Houston to be paved over with little green space left to absorb water.
A well thought-out disaster management plan would have provided for those people unable to get themselves to safety.
Like Texas, Kansas under Gov. Sam Brownback and a conservative Republican Legislature has promoted business at the expense of health and safety of its citizens.
Already politicians are lining up to run in 2018. Kansas voters should remember the lessons of Houston and be aware that we could also have a devastating natural disaster.
Vote for politicians who promote sound public policy and don’t just cave into business and industry in their desire for development with little regulatory oversight.
Marcia Brox
Shawnee
No cooperation
President Donald Trump was in Springfield last week speaking to a handpicked audience. He talked about the proposed tax bill that is being crafted in the Senate. He wants to make it simple, fair and easy to understand. I would like that too.
He would like to give massive cuts to businesses so they would raise their workers’ salaries. I would like that, too, but history has shown that tax cuts to business owners only means those business owners get richer.
The president then mentioned in passing that the middle class should get a tax break, too, but he made no mention of our working poor and how we can help them.
The president also made a point to call out Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, who has been a tireless worker for all the people of Missouri.
When it was announced that the president would be in Missouri talking about tax cuts, McCaskill released a statement, covered in The Kansas City Star, indicating her willingness to work for tax reform with the president to help Missourians. (Aug. 28, 2A, “Trump takes swipe at McCaskill ahead of his Missouri visit”)
Trump chose to lie and indicate she would not work with him on tax reform. That is wrong.
Martha Linville
Lee’s Summit
This story was originally published September 2, 2017 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss Confederate monuments, big government and Hillary Clinton."