Letters: Readers discuss Trump’s ‘God’ smear, poll workers and the Savannah Savages
Religious gambit
Our Bible-thumping president made a statement Thursday in Ohio that adherents of most organized religions would consider blasphemous: that former Vice President Joe Biden, if elected president, would “hurt God.” (Aug. 6, KansasCity.com, “Playing electoral defense, Trump claims Biden opposes God”)
All the religions I know of believe God is omnipotent. If so, then how could any individual hurt God?
The real purpose of President Donald Trump’s remarks, however, is more sinister. Much of his base is evangelical protestant, and Joe Biden is a Catholic. What Trump is doing is reviving the anti-Catholic rhetoric many of us believed was extinguished when John F. Kennedy was elected.
I guess he figures that it worked against Al Smith in 1928, so why not try it again?
- Stu Lewis, Prairie Village
Help us vote
In her Aug. 4 column, Maya Patel wrote passionately about the need for more and younger poll workers. (11A, “Young people can help to fill our short-staffed polls”) I have been a poll worker for four years and couldn’t agree more.
Voting is the most basic building block of democracy, and without enough poll workers, voting becomes harder and elections become less free and less fair.
So I am throwing down the gauntlet to our local boards of elections: Get creative. Take to local TV and radio stations and get the word out. Approach major employers and request that they give their employees time to do this valuable public service. Go to local high schools, community colleges and universities and request students to work at the polls in exchange for class credit or community service hours.
If there are legal impediments to these ideas, then go to the legislatures and ask for appropriate changes.
I am 73 years old and had a full knee replacement May 12. If I can put in a full day as a poll worker, then the rest of you weenies need to step up.
- Fran Abram, Overland Park
Under attack
Two of our oldest democratic institutions, the census and the U.S. Post Office, are being degraded for political purposes by the Trump administration. The speeding up of the census in order to undercount people of color is another attack on our democratic institutions and deserves front-page coverage. (Aug. 5, 8A, “Early end to census raises concerns”)
- Dean H. Katerndahl, Parkville
Change needed
I am an alumna of Savannah High School, class of 2009. Whether it is my recollection of my days as a student or yours, a mascot does not change or remove those experiences. This topic has divided my hometown. But by supporting those who want the district to adopt a mascot to replace the Savages, my life will not change at all. (Aug. 2, 1A, “Town split over changing school nickname, mascot”)
What can change, though? The negative representations of Savannah alumni, families and indigenous people, as portrayed by the current mascot. The consequences of negative representations are tangible, widespread and extremely dangerous.
I have dedicated my life to working with underprivileged communities. I often hear privileged members of the same community place blame on those suffering. However, the Savannah mascot is one example of a representation that ultimately creates these circumstances.
Some say, “It’s going to cost too much money to change the mascot,” or, “The mascot doesn’t intend to be offensive.” Unfortunately, these perceptions are significantly outweighed by the consequences of racism.
I understand the hesitation surrounding change. It evokes fear, masked by anger. Those emotions are much more easily resolved than the dangers of racism. Each member of the community can determine how to prevent these consequences.
- Brooke Todd, Kansas City
Follow footsteps
Kris Kobach has held a couple of political offices in Kansas and has run for a few more. Now that he has lost his U.S. Senate bid, the question is, What’s next for Mr. Kobach?
My suggestion: He should pull a “Sammy.”
What’s a Sammy? Remember former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback? He failed as Kansas governor and was pretty much run out of Topeka on a rail. Somebody in Washington, D.C., found an office called the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Brownback took the job, and Kansas was rid of him.
There must be some equally obscure office Kobach can be appointed to. Maybe Brownback needs an assistant.
- Steve Grant, Kansas City