Letters: Readers discuss coal-fired power, great K-State fans and offensive editorial
Power realities
I worked for 33 years operating coal-fired power plants and am fully aware of what they do and how they work. We are all upset about climate change and want to reduce pollution, but there is also a need for constant electricity production. Our whole world depends on it.
Since electricity is not a natural occurrence, it has to be man-made, unless you want to harness lightning. (I don’t.) Shutting down our current system of producing electricity with coal with no replacement capable of meeting our needs is going to be a serious problem.
- Michael Smith, Independence
That’s the spirit
This past week, our family decided in take in a college football bowl game. We wanted to watch a Big 12 Conference team play, and we also wanted to be able to drive rather than fly. Since KU did not qualify for a bowl game, when the assignments came out, our choices were the Camping World Bowl in Orlando with Iowa State playing or the Liberty Bowl with K-State playing Navy. We went with K-State.
Memphis is an easy seven-hour drive, so we loaded our car and headed out across Missouri and Arkansas to Tennessee. On the way, we saw many K-State fans on the road and at our hotel. We are KU fans, but the K-State fans were OK with us cheering for the Cats.
This spirit was present during the game, too, with both sides cheering at various times for the other team. When the Midshipmen entered the stadium, K-State fans cheered loudly as nearly 1,000 attendees marched in unison to their seats.
Later in the game, the Navy section gave a very loud KSU cheer, led perfectly by Navy cheerleaders. Both fan bases were for their schools, but K-State remembered that these young men will be protecting us soon.
- Richard Tatro, Kansas City, Kansas
No ‘sides’ here
On Friday, our president told an audience in a Miami church that God is “on our side.”
Many years ago, during a break between classes, I was invited to attend a lecture covering the Ten Commandments. The speaker, when explaining the third — “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” — described a double-edged sword as an example. The first was, “Do not swear an oath unto God and relent to keep your promise.” The second was, “Do not use the name of God to justify your sins against others.”
“God is on our side” is steeped in human arrogance and has been the rallying cry responsible for more death, destruction and suffering than any other man-made action in recorded history.
God does not take sides. Rather, he watches and lets his gift of our own free will determine our future and our fate.
One God — the God of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael and Joseph, the God of many religions — is watching.
- Ronald D. Burri, Pleasant Hill
Offensive words
Did The Kansas City Star Editorial Board just imply I am “morally dead and economically dunderheaded” because I don’t land squarely against positions on refugees that it characterized that way? Astonishingly, yes, it did. (Jan. 5, 8A, “Gov. Parson says yes, we’ll welcome refugees in Missouri. It’s the least we can do”)
Many social issues must be considered dealt with in a fiscally responsible way. Take the foster care system, which this very paper did an exemplary job in bringing to the forefront in its recent “Throwaway Kids” series. I’m wrong because I analyze putting our limited financial resources to this issue over refugees? Bottom line, economically sound thinking does not allow us to do it all.
“Morally dead and economically dunderheaded”? Highly offensive, editorial board, highly offensive.
- Christy Londerholm, Prairie Village
Congress’ duty
While I appreciate the Democrats’ newfound willingness to require the executive branch to come with hat in hand to ask for a declaration of war, they’re a little late to the party.
I’m a retired Navy captain in my mid-70s, and we’ve been at some sort of warfare nearly constantly since 1945. Never since has Congress demanded a formal declaration of war before the president commenced hostilities.
The last time Congress did so was the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor — Dec. 8, 1941. Our representatives failed to do their duty for Korea, Vietnam or either of the Iraq wars. They dodged it again with the War in Afghanistan, which has outlasted the combined lengths of World Wars I and II and the Korean War.
But, as I always say, better late than later. Perhaps the Senate can find the ethical conviction to make President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial worthy of the name, with real witnesses and real testimony.
I applaud congressional backbone in whatever form it appears.
- Michael L. Pandzik, Shawnee
This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.