Letters: KC readers discuss mental health at Christmas, how we teach, Jan. 6 lessons
Simple Christmas
Holidays are hard. They’re beautiful, and great, sure. But the holidays can be especially difficult for those with mental health issues.
Under the best of circumstances, living with a mental illness is a lot to handle. The anxiety. The depression. The mood swings. That all gets compounded by 1,000% when the holidays roll around.
Fear. Loneliness. Racing thoughts. Sleepless nights. These symptoms can creep up even more when the holidays approach. So, what can we do about it?
I believe the first thing, and the hardest thing, is to name it, shine light on it and present it to family and friends. Without taking this step, healing can be delayed. In fact, everything could get worse without taking this step. It can get a lot worse.
Another step is to remember the reason for the Christmas season: the birth of Jesus Christ. We need to create margins in every aspect of life. This includes our mental health and well-being. In simplifying this Christmas season, we can truly be at peace while receiving the peace that can come only from the Lord.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
- Pete Gutschenritter, Kansas City
Snowflakes
Dear parents,
Thank you for volunteering. This letter outlines changes, made entirely on our end, to ensure your comfort.
The school district is now book free, responding to complaints about texts people think are critical of their race. Students have enjoyed reading their chosen content off personal devices, especially in the knowledge teachers won’t chance classroom discussion.
Masks will not be required, and vaccination status is none of our business. If you’re feeling feverish, we trust that you are personally responsible to know your own body, to tough it out for the kids’ sake.
After last year’s embarrassment when a staff member spoke out of line regarding a parent volunteer’s “**** Biden” T-shirt, district lawyers want to make clear that dress codes apply only to students, who may now apply for religious exemptions.
It’s true we humbly ask you to check weapons at the door, admitting that exposes us to bad guys roaming the halls. Rest assured, your representatives in the government are working tirelessly, for your children’s safety, to remedy this.
Again, we appreciate you volunteering to make this party special. The children will be making snowflakes. Per an individual parental request, only one message may be imprinted on each: Merry Christmas!
- Boyd Bauman, Overland Park
Not unbelievable
A recent op-ed in The Washington Post by three retired U.S. Army generals reveals their concerns that a military coup could occur after the 2024 elections. In 2020, half of active military personnel voted for Donald Trump.
If Trump manages to avoid criminal indictment before 2024, and that is unlikely, and does run again and loses to his Democratic challenger, we all know he will again claim that it was stolen. What if, instead of just half, 60% of the military votes for Trump? What if it is 70%?
What if the military decides to pull off a coup to put Trump back into office, as was suggested in the op-ed? It is not far-fetched, given what we have seen the past year. If generals had written in December 2020 about the possibility of what actually occurred Jan. 6, who would have believed them?
And a recent poll from the Public Religion Research Institute shows that 30% of Republicans agree that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence” if the next election doesn’t go their way.
As the Jan. 6 Select Committee continues to develop more leads and witnesses, who can say what else it will uncover, given what we have already seen?
- Michal Betz, Wichita