Letters: KC readers discuss real estate racism, Bob Dole’s hope and Bill Self’s envy
Look beyond
The views about racism expressed in Sunday’s front-page special report, “East Side land grab,” are troubling. My background: white, Brooksider for 40 years.
One person in the story spoke about the exploitation of Black people because of solicitations to buy her house. I get those calls and mailers, too, and don’t think Black exploitation. Yes, someone is trying to make a buck.
Another said that when she saw a group of white young people running in her neighborhood, “I just waved like they belonged in the neighborhood.” Do white individuals not belong in certain neighborhoods?
Rachel Riley, president of the East 23rd Street PAC Neighborhood Association, refers to “genocide.” That is misplaced hyperbole. She also alleges “conspiracy.” There are lots of people trying to make money on real estate. I imagine they’re fighting one another, not conspiring together.
Banker Lolita Pulce sees the new shops, restaurants and apartments on Troost Avenue and asks: “Who are they trying to gear that to?” Many of the new shops and restaurants are Black-owned. Do they not want my business?
Kansas City has many real estate-related issues: the lack of affordable housing, absentee landlords, illegal dumping and rising property, among others. I don’t believe it is helpful to frame the discussion in racist terms.
- Margaret Dean, Kansas City
Too hopeful?
Americans with an interest in history are grateful to the family of the late Sen. Bob Dole for sharing his extraordinary life with us by allowing the broadcasts of his memorial and funeral services, which provided important lessons about what being a leader and a patriotic, decent and honest human being used to mean.
In his moving and passionate eulogy, President Joe Biden emphasized his friend’s laudable qualities and quoted him, including Dole’s final message to the public when he urged the two major political parties to set aside rancor and hyperpartisanship and to work for the benefit of the people, as he did.
Although the assemblage of Democrats and Republicans for the events brought a moment of what would appear to have been unity, it was in fact hypocrisy on display as some of the most dishonorable sat in honor of a fallen hero, whose decency and integrity they have rejected. Many of those present will return to being obstructionists and to indulging dangerous lies and delusions in order to maintain political power.
Sen. Dole said in his final words that he continued to have faith in America. I admire his optimism, but as a realist, I must wonder if it was well-founded.
- Oren M. Spiegler, Peters Township, Pennsylvania
Bill Self’s thinking
In a Dec. 10 letter to the editor, a fan speculated that the main reason the Border War was put on hold was that University of Kansas basketball coach Bill Self was “envious of Missouri escaping to the SEC.” (8A) There hasn’t been much to envy about MU’s basketball program since it left for the SEC. The fact is that the KU-MU rivalry was ended, unilaterally, by MU when it left the Big 12 Conference, and that rivalry is not, and never will be, the same. Self knew that from the day MU decided to skip town.
Self also knew that KU had little to gain by continuing the series with MU. A win against what has been a fairly mediocre MU team adds little to KU’s non-conference record for NCAA Tournament seeding, whereas a loss to MU would be considered a “bad loss.” Playing KU would give MU an opportunity to sell out Mizzou Arena, which rarely happens. Allen Fieldhouse, on the other hand, is sold out consistently whether the opponent is MU or the Topeka YMCA.
Bill Self’s motive for choosing not to play MU had nothing to do with envy.
- Gary R. Scott, Olathe
Jesus’ gift
If for years, someone denied assistance for the poor, health care for the sick, livable wages for the worker and homes for immigrants and overlooked racism in our land — would you call that person a true follower of Jesus?
If we are for Christ as many of us say we are, we should be advocates for the poor and suffering. We should stand for those who cannot stand, speak out for those who have no voice. We should seek justice and fairness for the oppressed.
Let this be our gift to our country for Christmas.
- Tom Krause, Kansas City
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Letters: KC readers discuss real estate racism, Bob Dole’s hope and Bill Self’s envy."