Respect for the anthem, democratic norms and fighting hate

Linked together

If the Chiefs want to show a united front for Black Lives Matter, I think they should link arms during the national anthem. This shows respect for our country yet makes the statement that things need to change.

Any players who don’t wish to participate can remain in the locker room until after the ceremony.

How cool would it be if eventually the entire stadium did this?

- Christen Martiny, Overland Park

Who we are

President Donald Trump continually threatens and undermines American democratic institutions and traditions. This week, he announced that the only way the Democrats could win in November is if the election is “rigged.”

Our elections have been based on the peaceful transition of power and the idea of a loyal opposition — loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law and valuing one of our most significant democratic ideas: the right to dissent.

Respect for the ideas of others, discussion and compromise have been tenets of our functioning democracy. Trump mocks those values by denigrating all who disagree with him and labeling them “enemies.”

The Republican National Convention has endorsed no platform except “let’s agree to whatever Trump wants” at a time when we need moral courage to resist the insidious and blatant threats to our system of government and politics.

The Declaration of Independence presents the founding vision of what America should be — a nation of liberty, justice, opportunity and equality for all its people. We continue to strive to make that vision a reality.

Trump does not understand or share in that vision and continues to impede our progress in achieving these goals. Vote to protect America’s democratic institutions.

- Vicki Arndt Helgesen, Overland Park

Speed hazards

Nearly 60 years ago, I was a young, new inspector with the Food and Drug Administration in the Kansas City District office. At the time, a drug called thalidomide was being evaluated by the FDA’s office responsible for the review and approval of new products.

This drug was being used in Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and other countries as a sedative and to control morning sickness in pregnant women. Drug companies in this country were clamoring for its approval here. A physician in the FDA’s drug office by the name of Frances Oldham Kelsey was sitting on its approval because she thought something did not look right about the data.

Then we learned that hundreds of children were being born with horrible birth defects in countries where thalidomide was being used extensively. So Kelsey’s delay in approving this drug prevented similar tragedies here. Look on the internet for pictures of children with no arms or legs and other profound deformities. Virtually none of that happened in this country.

The FDA has not always been perfect in such decisions, but the American public has been saved many times from drug firms getting too hasty in putting dangerous products on the market.

- William L. Farrar, Kansas City

Has my vote

In 1980, George Brett was hitting .400 and the Royals were headed to the World Series. People around town had “George Brett for President” bumper stickers on their cars. I did and so did my parents.

Fast forward 40 years: The Chiefs won the Super Bowl and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the game’s MVP. Someone should start selling “Patrick Mahomes for President” bumper stickers.

- Tim Baron, Kansas City

Change needed

I watch daily the sad moving out of folks being evicted from my apartment complex behind Shawnee Mission North High School. As a retired school teacher (whose retirement check does not even cover rent), I worry about these people. Where will they go?

These are sad economic times for our country, made worse by a virus and a government that will not lead. I hope that in November, the population will vote to regain control.

The coronavirus might be defeated with a vaccine. The government will hopefully be forced to face the fact it must govern.

- Ruth Kauffman, Overland Park

Christian love?

I learned this week that the United States has an estimated 300,000-plus Protestant congregations and 17,000 Catholic parishes. If so, and the members of these congregations believe in the Christian precepts they are taught and endorse, how can there be so much visible racial and anti-Semitic hatred in this country?

- Joe McMillain, Olathe