Kansas City Star Logo

Letters: Readers discuss a wrongheaded Star editorial, KU football and dangerous roads | The Kansas City Star

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Newsletters
  • Obituaries

    • All News
    • Local news
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • The Buzz
    • Nation & World
    • 913
    • Cass County
    • Lee's Summit
    • Video
    • Photos
    • All Sports
    • Chiefs
    • Royals
    • Royals photos
    • Sporting KC
    • Olympics
    • Kansas
    • Missouri
    • K-State
    • High School
    • Scores & Stats
    • NASCAR
    • Outdoors
    • NBA
    • Buy Tickets
    • Blogs & Columns
    • The Full 90
    • Campus Corner
    • For Pete's Sake
    • Sam Mellinger
    • Vahe Gregorian
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Missouri Influencer Series
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Colleen Nelson
    • Derek Donovan
    • Dave Helling
    • Melinda Henneberger
    • Steve Kraske
    • Toriano Porter
    • Guest commentary
    • Syndicated columnists
    • Submit a Letter
    • Entertainment
    • Ink
    • Events
    • Arts & Culture
    • Music
    • Comics
    • Stargazing
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Movies
    • Horoscopes
    • Arts
    • TV
    • Restaurants
    • Books
    • Star TV listings
    • All Business
    • Cityscape
    • Development
    • Workplace
    • Personal Finance
    • National/International
    • Technology
    • Kids & Money
    • All Living
    • Chow Town
    • Eat & Drink
    • House & Home
    • KC Gardens
    • Advice columns
    • Faith
    • Travel
    • Family

    • True Blue app
    • Red Zone Extra
    • Star news apps
    • Extra Time KC

  • Cars
  • Contests
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
  • Spaces
  • KC Weddings

  • Contact us
  • Mobile & Apps

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss a wrongheaded Star editorial, KU football and dangerous roads

She earned it

Normally, I agree with The Star’s editorials. But Monday, the editorial board was wrong in its opinion that Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Sharice Davids should reject Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. (7A, “Emanuel Cleaver and Sharice Davids should support a new leader to replace Nancy Pelosi”)

The editorial’s reasoning is poorly constructed. It lists all of Pelosi’s accomplishments, which are enormous in the political arena, and then draws the conclusion that because of her age and the length of time she has served, and because she has to withstand Republican dirty-trick bashing, she should disappear as leader of the party.

We need leadership that is experienced and has earned the right to serve the party. We have seen how destructive elected leaders with no experience can be.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Kansas City Star

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

As for her reputation among Republicans, any leader the Democrats choose will be subject to GOP belittling. Therefore, that is no reason to send Pelosi packing.

Wake up, Star. Someone has lulled you to sleep.

Chris Kraft

Kansas City

Level the field

Without getting into a conversation about free speech and whether it allows for hate speech (which it shouldn’t) or even hate crimes (which it doesn’t), I’d like to state emphatically that not being offensive or using oppressive language is 100 percent more important than “being honest” in today’s world.

Are you a racist? We don’t want to hear your “honest opinion.” Are you a misogynist? We don’t want to hear your “honest opinion.” Are you homophobic? We don’t want to hear your “honest opinion.”

Because (and I’m happy to break it to you) those opinions are worthless.

Political correctness is not meant to serve you, the individual, with your opinions or even your “rights.” It’s meant to create a baseline of civility where those oppressed by a legacy of heterosexual patriarchal white supremacy do not have to suffer the immediate pain of that legacy’s terms of discourse — therefore allowing them to participate fully in the conversation. This is an important part in beginning to change that legacy for the better in a democratic society.

The drive to get rid of “political correctness” in favor of “honesty” is just a ploy to carve room for hate speech and to silence dissent.

Don’t listen to these people.

Nathan Smith

Bonner Springs

Let’s go, KU alums

Yes, University of Kansas football has been hard to watch the last few years. But this season is different. Not only do the Jayhawks have three wins, but they’ve lost four games by two scores or less. That means when you’re tuning in, you’re watching competitive football.

And yes, the team is 6-41 under David Beaty, but the team he inherited was in shambles. Now it’s better — strong enough to attract one of college football’s best coaches in Les Miles.

Friday morning for the season finale against Texas, the program will celebrate a group of seniors and a coach who worked hard and gave it their all every game. Although they won’t get to reap the benefits of what I think will be a successful era under Miles, they will get to run through the tunnel into David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium one more time, and they deserve to do so to a stadium full of appreciative fans.

So instead of Black Friday shopping, I’m going back to my alma mater to support a coach and a group of young men who never quit and, in the process, embodied what it really means to be a Jayhawk.

I cannot wait, and I hope you will join me.

Caleb Bobo

Shawnee

Hazardous roads

On Missouri 45 in Parkville just west of Interstate 435, there is a very sharp curve at Waldron Drive. I have been driving this route at least twice a day for 31 years, and every time it rains someone spins off into the ditch — no joke, every time.

The signage is too far from the curve and obscured by tree limbs. If the county would put a sign with a flashing solar light closer to the curve, it would certainly save lives.

A trucker killed two people on the curve a couple of years ago, and a car right next to me spun out one morning, almost hitting me.

There’s a second problem just 200 yards down the road where Northwest Jones-Meyer Road connects to Missouri 45. That stop sign is also covered by branches, and there is no double-arrow sign indicating you are about to enter a major highway.

In the past two years, I have seen four cars cross the highway and go into the creek on the other side. If the timing had been worse, they could have T-boned someone.

I have reported this to the Platte County Public Works Department but have had no luck. I am concerned for my life and the lives of others.

Frank Kampert

Farley, Mo.

  Comments  

Videos

Neighbors, advocates clash over Olathe homeless shelter

Royals Brett Phillips looking to break bad habits and be productive

View More Video

Trending Stories

More snow and ice on the way to Kansas City Tuesday: Here’s how much and when

February 18, 2019 10:22 AM

Oak Park Mall store employee out of job for confrontation with teen wearing MAGA hat

February 18, 2019 04:25 PM

Iowa State fans chide ESPN reporter about Fred Hoiberg comment

February 19, 2019 09:20 AM

New owners for locally owned BRGR Kitchen + Bar & Taco Republic

February 18, 2019 01:29 PM

West Virginia’s Bob Huggins poked fun at Bill Self about KU facing adversity

February 19, 2019 11:58 AM

Read Next

Letters: Readers discuss freedom of the press and violence in teenagers’ relationships

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss freedom of the press and violence in teenagers’ relationships

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 9 female teens and about 1 in 13 male teens report having experienced physical dating violence.” - Kim Cebula, Jana’s Campaign

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Kansas City Star

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters: Readers discuss good Clay County government and Latino representation on TV

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss good Clay County government and Latino representation on TV

February 17, 2019 08:26 PM
Letters: Readers discuss Trump’s despicable critics, ASPCA ads and taking a knee

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss Trump’s despicable critics, ASPCA ads and taking a knee

February 16, 2019 02:32 PM
Letters: Readers discuss Berkebile’s vision, Blunt and Hawley’s duty and KC weather

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss Berkebile’s vision, Blunt and Hawley’s duty and KC weather

February 15, 2019 08:34 PM
Letters: Readers discuss locker room privacy, endless Afghan war and Senate seats

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss locker room privacy, endless Afghan war and Senate seats

February 14, 2019 08:33 PM
Letters: Readers discuss Great Wall realities, Kareem Hunt and lazily blaming Trump

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss Great Wall realities, Kareem Hunt and lazily blaming Trump

February 13, 2019 08:29 PM
Letters: Readers discuss ‘middle ground’ on abortion, snow removal and police backlog

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Readers discuss ‘middle ground’ on abortion, snow removal and police backlog

February 12, 2019 08:37 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Advertising information
  • Print
  • Digital
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story