Letters: KC readers discuss an offensive ‘Wumo’ comic, honoring losers and sports on TV
Not laughing
As the mother of a person who prays he finds an accessible parking spot, I found the “Wumo” comic in Monday’s paper very hurtful and in poor taste. (4B)
I read this comic because it’s usually humorous yet a bit sick, and that’s OK. But this strip, depicting a guy ready to run his own foot through a blender in order to get an accessible parking place, was beyond sick.
I doubt anyone who requires a wheelchair would find any humor in that.
- Jennifer True, Arrow Rock, Missouri
Honor other losers
As a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, I would like to suggest a few new names for military bases.
Since Cadet Heel Spurs is enamored of enemy generals who lost to U.S. forces, I would like an Army post named for Lord Charles Cornwallis.
How about naming the Army’s tank training center for German Gen. Erwin Rommel?
We could rename Pearl Harbor for Japanese Marshal Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
And the Air Force’s newest flying machine could be the Hindenburg — oops, that one’s been taken.
And if it helps Sen. Josh Hawley, all the people on my list were racist, antisemitic or slavers. (June 13, 3A, “Hawley quotes Lincoln to defend Confederate-named military bases”)
- Allen Parmet, Kansas City
No renaming
Please do not change the name of the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain and Parkway. This name is noted the country over as part of Kansas City. It would be bad to change these Kansas City landmarks’ names.
- Arthur Kinder, Kansas City
Get specialized
“Defund the police” sounds like a frightening dystopia where laws cease to exist. It does little to encourage people to support reforms. “Specialize the police” better encapsulates the endeavor.
Police are responsible for competence in too many situations. They must be professional animal handlers, crisis counselors, detectives, post-mortem specialists, marksmen, stunt car drivers and emergency medical technicians.
Problems require different skills, knowledge, tools and approaches, so it is to our benefit to seek the right helper for the situation. We can accomplish this by reallocating funding to a more efficient system in which unarmed social servants, with clearly defined specialties, work alongside counselors and social workers.
The renewed police force could include subteams: armed forces (the only ones to carry weapons), de-escalation, highway patrol, crime investigation and fraud teams, with each managing only certain types of calls under its specialty, and using armed forces for backup only when the scene requires force.
We need to recognize that policing is a Band-Aid for societal problems. We cannot penalize human tribulations. We must address our flaws by using the appropriate tools and experts. In this new world we are entering, people can be flawed, but never institutions.
- Nikki Reineri, Cedar Hill, Missouri
Online future?
Although I totally agree with a recent letter to the editor’s prayer for the continuation of the printed edition of the newspaper, I believe only money from supporters such as this writer and others will sustain The Star. (June 5, 10A) I have made my contribution and recently renewed my subscription for another year. I hope the author of that letter and other readers of the same mind have done the same.
I wonder how many Star readers are really concerned enough about the print edition to show their support with cash. I doubt anyone under the age of, say, 60, cares what happens to the physical newspaper.
Unfortunately, I believe the future of journalism is the internet, whether I or any other older readers like it. In a capitalist society, the money goes to the product the customers are willing to pay for.
- Paul L. Zirjacks, Iola, Kansas
Televise them
A message for major league sports commissioners: Temporarily switch to playing games on pay-per-view with empty stands.
Yes, teams would lose ticket and parking revenues with thousands of empty seats — but they would garner revenue from thousands of local fans paying nominal fees for watching their home teams, as well as the normal fees from networks. Viewers also could watch other games for a fee.
Local TV stations that normally broadcast games must agree to cooperate in what would be a win for players, owners, fans and networks. Considering the current health concerns that sports fans face nationwide, I believe they would readily welcome this situation.
- William R. Park, Shawnee