Readers share views on Kemper Arena, racial fairness and Mike Huckabee
Divided Kemper
Kemper Arena should be divided in half. A reinforced concrete floor should be erected at the base of the upper deck. The resulting upper arena would be perfect for all American Royal and other equestrian events.
In addition, it would work well for arena football, motocross, monster trucks, tractor pulls and rodeos. Because it would seat 8,000 to 9,000 people, it would be perfect for lesser concerts, basketball games, graduations, minor league hockey and more.
The lower area could be divided in a way to support lectures, restaurants, catering, shopping, conferences and exhibits.
Let your imagination rule here.
Under this plan, both levels could be money-makers for the city.
Andy Fisher
Pleasant Hill
Fairness lost in race
The system fails, the government moves in to try to stop the suffering in Ferguson, Mo., and Boston, and the pinch-pennies complain that the government started the trouble.
Let’s go back a ways.
For as long as they have been here, minorities have been pushed off the gravy train. “It’s their fault!” the haters insist. “They are lazy, rebellious scofflaws, probably not even members of our own species.”
And because the haters are running the gravy train, their view prevails. It is becoming more and more obvious that the haters are the problem.
They want to reduce the problem to a conflict between government overreach and free enterprise. But anybody who knows anything knows that Marxism has never worked and never will.
They also realize that free enterprise in its purest form comes with a price.
Forget the party line.
We have to be fair, regardless of the economic system. Black people have been left out, and that is not fair.
Ben Vineyard
St. Joseph
Huckabee’s hope
Mike Huckabee’s campaign slogan is “From hope to higher ground.” One wonders whether that’s also his solution to global warming.
As the rising ocean waters threaten the Florida coast, will he tell beachfront property owners to give up hope and move to higher ground?
Susan Pepperdine
Fairway
To President Obama
The Guantanamo prison represents the worst about America.
Do Americans torture? Yes, see Guantanamo.
Do Americans hold people without charges indefinitely and deny them habeas corpus? Yes, see Guantanamo.
Does America encourage Islamic people to join extremist groups to protect Islam? Yes, see Guantanamo.
You promised to close it. You are the president and commander in chief. Put the ball in Congress’ court.
Order that by a certain date all troops will be withdrawn and the gates and cells simply unlocked. If no one will take the detainees, leave food and farm tools and let Cuba figure it out.
Other countries will help Cuba do it. And, we can help Cuba deal with it.
Guantanamo is a stain on our country’s legacy and what we believe in. Our revolution and Constitution and the French Revolution, upon which part of our ideals were based, are all about basic human rights.
Guantanamo is un-American. Close it, please, and start negotiations to give all of Guantanamo back to Cuba.
It serves no purpose for us to occupy any part of Cuba. That, too, is un-American.
Fred Slough
Kansas City
Empty Obama suit
Let me see whether I have this right.
On the one hand, we have a president who had never done anything in his life except be a community organizer and who knew zip about foreign policy. President Barack Obama and his advisers, who in large measure also had done nothing outside academia, have demonstrated how to destroy this country’s leadership and respect in the world. Obama has put our economy on the path of destruction and socialism.
On the other hand, we have a Republican governor who has demonstrated the ability to manage and lead a state to a balanced budget and a significant surplus. No matter what one thinks of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, it is possible that he can develop a foreign policy that will ensure the security of our country, which will prove to the world the U.S. deserves respect and is a leader in the world arena and can be relied on.
This is something we have not had in the more than six years of the current administration.
What temerity for President Obama to criticize a potential presidential candidate.
Bob Burns
Blue Springs
Arrest bullying
Bullying is a pervasive issue that affects students at all grade levels across our country. The Kansas City area is governed by federal laws around discrimination, but the matter of bullying often slips through the cracks, depending on school-board policies.
Bullying causes trauma to those who experience it. Bullying is hurtful, discriminatory and demeaning.
When bullying occurs, it can leave wounds that the victims carry into adulthood. Triggers include physical appearance, racial and/or ethnic background, sexual orientation (real or perceived), gender identity, religion, mental or physical disability and socioeconomic status.
If students don’t feel safe, they don’t learn in the classroom. All students have the right to learn and grow in a safe environment.
Considering the effect of bullying in recent years; media attention and social policy have grown to raise awareness of this issue.
I want to see the school districts in the Kansas City area adopt zero-tolerance policies to bullying.
No bullying is permitted, no matter the reason, and faculty members are required to respond to all incidents.
This method of intervention would make it possible for teachers and staff to intercede on behalf of all students, making our schools healthy, effective climates for young learners.
Andrew Frosch
Kansas City
More world news
Are The Star’s editors really finding it hard to find news from around the world?
Although the small section of short news items from around the world is pitiful compared with what is out there, it was still something I enjoyed reading. Sometimes they can’t even find enough world news to write three or four short paragraphs?
And, while I am sure you must know, news doesn’t always have to be about war and killing and generally bad news, but there can also be some good news.
Whoa, we wouldn’t want that.
In any case, even knowing The Star is a local newspaper, some regular world news in every daily paper would be nice. At a minimum, please keep the “Around the World” section.
Gary Housknecht
Independence
Royals broadcasts
Again this year we are saddled with the inane blathering that emanates from the Kansas City Royals’ TV broadcast booth. I can only imagine that those two are being paid by the word, because it seems they make up things to talk about apparently just to get their voices heard.
And who doesn’t enjoy a nice bench interview with a coach or player, which means a split screen and a lot of talking with no regard to what is going on in the game?
This concept is almost mind-numbing, and one can only wonder what type of mind-set made the decision to allow this program to commence, and then continue.
Count me a disgruntled viewer.
Wayne Miller
Lone Jack
Thanking police
I want to thank all law-enforcement officers in Missouri and across this nation.
Problems in society are enormous, and police officers are forced to deal with most of these issues.
What would our cities be like without them? We need law enforcement.
I appreciate all the risks they take every day to protect, serve and keep us safe.
Could you do their job? I know I couldn’t. It does take special people for this job.
I think I’ll hug a cop today and say “Thank you” to them for putting their lives on the line for our safety.
Now, I’ll go hug my husband.
Sharon Stathopoulos
Raymore
This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers share views on Kemper Arena, racial fairness and Mike Huckabee."