Ken Burns’ ‘Vietnam,’ discord in America and financial woes

Thanks to veterans

My late husband was a Vietnam veteran — a career soldier of some 26 years. I was riveted to the TV screen watching Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series, “The Vietnam War.”

My heart went out to all who were part of this great, eye-opening series — but to none more than Kansas City-area vet John Musgrave.

Seeing the pain and frustration in his eyes and hearing his voice falter brought back so many memories of my darling husband. He was fortunate to not be seriously injured during that senseless war, but the burden of the wrongs done weighed heavily on his shoulders.

It was not until August 1987 that I saw the true effects during the “Welcome Home for Vietnam Vets” celebration held in Sydney, 20 years too late. My husband was a very proud man and soldier, and I saw that again when I saw and heard Musgrave’s stories.

John, I would like to thank you for your service to your country. When you spoke of how you sobbed when you first visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall with all the names of those who didn’t come home, I sat in my lounge and sobbed with you.

Lyn Spain

Toowoomba,

Australia

Can’t get along

In The Star’s Sunday special section on Martin Luther King Jr., the front-page headline asked, “Where do we go from here?” (1F) I believe one of the best answers to that question can be found in King’s quote in an advertisement on the back page of the section: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

We see injustice becoming pervasive in America — most notably in politics, where respect for officeholders is lacking and respect for other points of view is dwindling.

This results in an inability to discuss and compromise on issues, as has been done in the past.

On college campuses, invited speakers are prevented from addressing the students as planned. In human relations, sexual harassment is apparently rampant. In families, there is a breakdown and no visible attempt to correct it. On the highways, road rage has become common.

Enough said. The list is too long to continue here.

G. David Dixon

Leawood

Tread lightly

After seeing the news about President Donald Trump’s physical, I have one question: How are his bone spurs doing?

Steve Carrington

Shawnee

Judicial power

The Kansas City Star’s editorial board and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback are wrong in saying the Legislature cannot defy the state Supreme Court’s Gannon school funding opinion. (Jan. 15, 6A, “Brownback moving closer to answer on Kansas schools”) The court itself says the Legislature has a duty to oppose encroachments on its constitutional authority under the separation of powers doctrine.

In 2015’s Solomon v. Kansas, the court struck down the Legislature’s attempt to amend the procedure for selecting chief judges in various judicial districts. The Legislature passed a bill allowing local judges to select their chief judge for the district, rather than having the Kansas Supreme Court appoint each chief judge.

Justice Eric Rosen wrote, “One department of government usurps the powers of another department when it exercises coercive influence on the other. … In order for the interference by one department with the operations of another department to be unconstitutional, the intrusion must be significant.” (emphasis added)

The court’s action in Gannon surely is significant. Although the state constitution vests authority to appropriate money solely with the Legislature, the court ordered the Legislature to spend more money and to pass enabling legislation by April 1. The Legislature, by the court’s own logic, thereby has a “duty … to abstain from, and to oppose, encroachments” on its constitutional authority.

The Legislature should pass laws ensuring that the court cannot cut off funding to schools. And in the event that any district doesn’t open, it should allow students in those districts to take their tax dollars to another school.

Dave Trabert

President

Kansas Policy Institute

Overland Park

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Ken Burns’ ‘Vietnam,’ discord in America and financial woes."