Letters: Readers discuss smearing protesters, Parson on voting and Christo in KC
Not about sides
I’m writing in support of protests in Kansas City backing Black Lives Matter. Black people continue to lose their lives at an alarming rate as a result of racial, social and economic injustice. As Desmond Tutu said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
This isn’t about politics or whose side we’re on — we’re on the side of humanity and human rights. If you believe in humanity and you believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity in this country, then you should be out there protesting alongside our fellow human beings.
- Meg Murphy, Kansas City
It’s a mob
Why do some people, including Star reporters sometimes, continue to label rioters (you know, the ones who are violating the curfew, destroying property, vandalizing and attacking the police), as protesters? Protesters follow the law; the mob does not.
- Stanley Heth, Hillsdale, Kansas
End to strife
The members of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City express both outrage and sadness at the death of George Floyd. We offer our condolences to the family and our support to the struggle of black people in America against the plague of rampant injustice that infects our society and the centuries-long legacy of racism that corrodes our culture and our humanity.
We support all those who peacefully raise their voices in protest. We are saddened by the outliers who have expressed themselves via destruction of property and the risk of injury to others. Such action does not serve the interest of justice and places an obstacle to those who rightfully protest the plague of racism that afflicts our country.
We pray for the safety of all: peaceful protesters, police and everyone working for a better world. We pray that justice reigns for African Americans and for all who call the United States home. May this come speedily and in our days.
- Rabbi Doug Alpert, President, Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City
Not what I saw
Weekend TV coverage of the protests on the Plaza was pure sensationalism. Cameras should have been there during the day. Water and snacks were passed out freely. People picked up garbage and checked on each other’s welfare.
Why wasn’t it reported that a young lady offered police officers a flower and their answer was to douse her with pepper spray? Then police dumped milk and threw the plastic containers on the ground as if protesters had left a mess, which is not true. I did run into some very polite, concerned police officers, but they were rare.
I am a senior citizen and felt perfectly safe with the protesters.
- Julianne Thompson, Lee’s Summit
Let us vote
Gov. Mike Parson must not be elected. I would say re-elected, but Missourians did not vote for him to be governor. I was disgusted when I read his quote in The Star about voting during the pandemic: “If you don’t feel safe, then I wouldn’t.” (May 31, 20A, “Missouri Gov. Mike Parson: If you don’t feel safe, just don’t vote”)
I read that the same day I received a notice about a change in my voting location. Instead of a church just three blocks from my house, I now must go to Penn Valley Community College, which is quite a distance. Also, consolidation means a lot more people will be voting there. As a longtime survivor of melanoma, I am not going to stand outside with others who are not wearing masks, nor am I going to stand in the sun.
We should always be allowed to vote by mail, but especially during this pandemic. The fact that Parson will not allow this shows just how little he cares about the people of Missouri. Blocking mail-in ballots is un-American and definitely voter suppression. Parson does not care about the elderly or the health of Missourians. He must go.
- Fred Holtz, Kansas City
Got us talking
The plastician artist Christo died this week. In October 1978, he and his wife, Jeanne-Claude, revealed one of their unorthodox artistic performances: They wrapped the walkways of Loose Park in fabric. The massive project was installed in three days and remained on display for the benefit of the community for less than two weeks.
These artists played valuable roles in the enhancement of locations such as Loose Park and New York’s Central Park with their “The Gates” about 27 years later.
We may or may not like Christo’s work and mode of operation, but he made people see, stop and talk to one another about nothing. About a walkway or metallic gates or a pedestrian bridge that he covered, people could talk about their town. People talked, didn’t they?
- Benoit Blondeau, Albuquerque, New Mexico