Letters: KC readers discuss slighting Trump, supporting Coleman and overblown voting risks
Trump slighted
Why are the media ignoring that the S&P 500 closed at an all-time high Tuesday? (Aug. 19, 7A, “Markets”; Aug. 18, KansasCity.com, “Shares mixed in Asia after S&P 500 logs fresh all-time high”) This is big news to the 58 million Americans who have 401(k) plans. Could it be the media don’t want the president to get any credit for this?
- Jim Walsh, Overland Park
Pollution ahead
I live near Penn Valley Park. Last Thursday evening, a large group of people released at least 100 blue and white mylar balloons at the Firefighters Memorial Fountain.
This is a disaster for the environment. What goes up must come down. The ribbons can tie up birds’ feet or wings. Wildlife can mistake the balloons for food.
There are so many other ways to commemorate a milestone or memorialize a loved one. You can plant a tree or a butterfly garden. You can organize a food drive or donate blood.
I suspect that the people releasing the balloons do not read The Star. I ask that parents, coaches, youth pastors and others in contact with young people who want to do these things let them know there is absolutely no good thing about releasing mylar balloons.
- Mary Lew McCarty, Kansas City
Trump chuckles
I respect The Star for printing letters from all points of view, and I appreciate the two laughers on Sunday. (14A) The first repeats the ironic Trumpian projection about “do-nothing Democrats,” ignoring how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to debate numerous bills passed by the House on everything from infrastructure to environmental issues to health care to the coronavirus.
Republicans avoided all those debates, while the Senate diddled away the time and now has taken a break.
The second letter brings us further amusement, calling President Donald Trump a better Catholic than Joe Biden because of Trump’s stance on abortion. Of course, Trump was in favor of abortion rights and said so in the past. Of course, he does not go to any church. Of course, Trump is a flagrant womanizer who avoided a direct question about paying for abortions and has paid off strippers, Playmates and other women with all-important non-disclosure agreements.
The sad thing is that these one-issue voters ignore that Trump is also, in his longtime former attorney Michael Cohen’s words, “a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man.” But thanks for the laughs.
- Mark Johnson, Kansas City
Trust Coleman
Aaron Coleman, the 19-year-old Democratic nominee for Kansas House District 37, represents our country’s path to healing, freely admitting he was a troubled young man who behaved abusively toward girls online in middle school.
Energized by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Coleman ran for Kansas governor in 2018. He expected to lose again in his recent primary race against longtime incumbent Rep. Stan Frownfelter. Like Sanders, he hoped to pull his party left.
Coleman masked up and vigorously knocked on doors, loving it and loving us. Then he thought he’d forfeited the election because of his incendiary comments wishing ill on his political opponents.
Remembering Coleman’s heart, voters supported him anyway.
We all want to raise the joy in our district through increased and equal access to everything essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But we now need progressive leaders like Coleman.
We mustn’t tell our youth, “Come back when you’re perfect.” Healing means wholeness. If we banish those parts of our collective self we’d rather hide, they’ll fester in darkness. They can shine away in the light of love and truth — the light that’s emboldened Aaron Coleman to release childish games and grievances and serve.
- Susan Stevens, Kansas City, Kansas
Voters will be fine
For months, we have been told how to protect ourselves and those around us from COVID-19: Wear a mask, keep your distance and wash your hands. Are we little children who need Big Papa to tell us what to do?
Stop the blame game and act like responsible adults. Also, go to the polls and vote (excusing those with pre-existing conditions). I don’t see people not shopping or not going to the grocery store, old and young. I guess the coronavirus is only at the polls. Nonsense. Is it a convenient political excuse?
- John Ulett, Lee’s Summit