An idea for the Royals, selfish teachers and the post office

Familiar faces

I love that the Royals are having fun with cutouts of Royals greats and recognizable fans behind home plate. Spotting the likes of George Brett, Bo Jackson, Paul Rudd and the Marlins Man is an entertaining distraction while a hitter adjusts his batting gloves or whatever.

Being that this year is the centennial celebration of the Negro Leagues, it would be special to see photos of Kansas City Monarchs players such as Buck O’Neil, Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson placed in prominent positions for all to see.

- Ryan Bowser, Kansas City

Work together

This is about a cow, a mask and sharing.

Each year, we buy a side of beef from our neighbor Stu. Because of beef shortages, there were more requests than usual this year, so Stu asked those buying a full side to halve their orders. Everyone agreed so we could share a piece of the pie — I mean cow.

Conversely, I shopped at a local hardware store after masks were mandated in Johnson County. Some employees and shoppers weren’t masked. I complained to the manager, who did nothing, even when a non-masked customer was rude to me after overhearing my complaints at checkout.

Why do some people recall preschool lessons about sharing and others don’t? We live with a disease that necessitates social responsibility. If I wear a mask, I protect others. If others wear masks, they protect me. Like everyone getting beef, we all succeed when we share.

Fortunately, some of our November candidates learned well in preschool.

Joy Koesten is running for Kansas Senate and has a history of bipartisan solutions. She listens to all concerns and finds ways for everyone to have a share of the cow. She also believes in being masked while shopping.

- Ann Brewer, Leawood

Care for others

There are some people who are not able to wear a face mask because of health issues — asthma and so on. However, cloth masks and plastic face shields are very inexpensive. You can get them at Amazon, Staples and elsewhere for as little as $5 and even less.

So if you can’t wear a face mask, please wear a face shield when in public. Let’s look out for one another. It’s what a community should be doing for the good of everyone.

- Wili McKinney, Lenexa

Selfish teachers

Teachers have tried to emphasize to the public for many years how essential they are. Now, because some don’t want to return to the classroom, are they trying to say they are not essential?

What if doctors and nurses refused to go to work — would these same teachers be able to get medical treatment at the hospital?

- Gene Arnott, Overland Park

Define ‘pro-life’

Like many other Americans, I often think that no candidate or party fully represents my values. But to believe that “along with Ronald Reagan, (Donald) Trump has been the strongest pro-life president,” as a letter writer put it Sunday, (14A) overlooks Trump’s callous inability to follow the science and help this country curb the pandemic that has taken more than 170,000 lives.

It ignores his utter disregard for children who were separated from their families and caged at our border, his consistent belittling of the human dignity of anyone who disagrees with him, and his childish name-calling and boorish denigration of women. (“You can do anything — grab them by the p----.”) His words (white supremacists are “very fine people”) and actions (current attempts at voter suppression) have fanned the flames of racism in this country.

All of this is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his abject failure to lead this country with compassion that truly cherishes life. It just isn’t within Trump’s capacities.

As Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, stated recently: “For this president to call himself pro-life, and for anybody to back him because of claims of being pro-life, is almost willful ignorance.”

- Peg Ekerdt, Kansas City

Not a business

Someone should remind the current presidential administration and Congress that the U.S. Postal Service was conceived and established as a service to the American people. It was not intended to be a money-making business. Like the military and political offices, it is meant to serve the citizens.

- Edward Stine, Prairie Village

Answers, please

Three questions: Is Russia our friend or our enemy? Does Russia want to see the United States strong or weak? Is Russia aiding President Donald Trump or Joe Biden?

- Eva Kasmar Foster, Lake Quivira