A warning on tyranny, an Arrowhead hazard and a kind gesture

Warned you then

Tucked away and folded among ID cards in my purse is a column printed on Page 13A of The Star on Jan. 11, 2017, just before the confirmation of then-Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general.

The headline? “The 15 warning signs of tyranny.” Two of those signs say that tyrants:

“Call anyone who opposes them ‘enemies.’”

“Turn the public against journalists or media outlets that criticize them, calling them ‘deceitful’ and ‘scum.’”

Both signs surfaced at President Donald Trump’s news conference last week.

Vitula Ruth Lungren

Kansas City, Kan.

Stadium terror

I attended Sunday’s Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium and had an excellent time. But the journey out of the parking lot brought me the scariest moment of my life.

The pedestrian bridge over Sportsman Drive between Lot C and Lot L in the southeast corner of the complex has become a challenge point for inebriated fans to endanger their lives — and the lives of their children. Some people bypass the bridge and attempt to run across eight lanes of exiting traffic, dodging and tapping cars as they dash by.

I almost hit one of them. If he had been one second slower and my speed 1 mph faster, he would have died under my wheels, as would the child he had with him. And under Missouri law, I would have been at fault.

I realize Arrowhead is a place where we expect that adults might not act like adults, but I believe it is time for the Jackson County Sports Authority to erect a fence on either side of Sportsman Drive before a child or a thoughtless drunk person dies under the wheels of a car.

Mike Boatright

Shawnee

Honesty matters

“Political correctness” is a term that became popular about 25 years ago. I think some people at first thought of it as a joke, but now I wonder whether many people even know what it actually means and just use it to respond to any comment or idea they don’t agree with.

The struggle to be politically correct has made people walk on eggshells in fear of offending each other. But I believe the most negative effect is that we have become afraid to be honest, hesitant to say what we think and how we feel, but most important what we believe.

Such terms only give us an excuse to stop thinking. And if we become complacent — well, look up the definition of that word — it won’t be good.

Traci Frerichs

Overland Park

Need to know

In The Star’s Nov. 13 editorial “Overturning the vote on Clean Missouri would be dirty politics” (9A), we find that disgruntled politicians of both parties want to overturn the ethics reforms that Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved. Some state legislators also want to overturn the minimum-wage measure and the anti-right-to-work measure — both passed by large majorities of Missourians.

In the past, our stalwart legislators have also gone against the voters’ wills on animal protection and concealed-weapons measures.

If we voters are ignored again by the people we elected to do our will, I hope The Star will print all their names on the front page in large type. That way, we’ll know whom to vote out of office next time.

Suzanne B. Conaway

Kansas City

Mouths kept shut

The president derides Michelle Obama for her book and interviews as efforts to make money. Think of the millions that Ivana Trump and Marla Maples could make off their insights and stories if it were not for the fortunes they have likely been paid to keep their recollections to themselves.

Mrs. Obama’s book only fleetingly mentions the president. His former wives, had they reneged on their agreements, could have made a world of difference in his campaign and presidency.

John Nelles

Shawnee

Stranger’s kindness

I went to Oak Park Mall on Nov. 7 to find a parka to send to my great-grandson for his 12th birthday. In Macy’s, I looked through a rack of nice coats in the preteen department. A lady there was looking for a weatherproof jacket for her son, who is also 12 years old.

The coats were all more than $100. I mentioned that I hated to pay that much when my great-grandson would probably outgrow any coat in one or two years. The lady told me there was a discount rack farther back, which she took me to. The coats there were about 70 percent off. She tried on styles in my great-grandson’s size, and I made my selection. She even looked on her cellphone to see if a coupon was available.

This gracious woman took time out of her normal shopping to help an 80-plus-year-old widower, a total stranger. I have never been given such warm, compassionate help by a total stranger.

I only hope I thanked her adequately, and that she reads this letter of thanks. I wish others would take lessons from this kind lady, because we need a million just like her.

K.J. Douglas