James Pearson’s vision, Josh Hawley’s spirit, Bible’s wisdom

Leadership needed

An open letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris:

I am no stranger to the workings of the Congress. My father, James B. Pearson, was a U.S. senator back in the 1960s and ’70s. I grew up walking the halls of Congress and the U.S. Capitol. So you might understand the effect the Jan. 6 insurrection had on me.

My father retired from the Senate in 1979 because he saw the path the Republican Party was headed down. He believed in bipartisanship and worked tirelessly with Democrats as well as members of his own party to get things done. He introduced a bill to reduce the filibuster to 60 votes and better stimulate bipartisanship. In 1975, with the support of Democratic Sen. Walter Mondale and others, he got the bill passed.

I implore you to help carve out or end the filibuster, get strong voting rights laws passed and help save the democracy for which my father served so many years.

I know this letter most likely will not make it to your desk, or in fact to anyone’s, but some of us out here hope real leadership will return to the hill. Will it be you?

- William Pearson, Paola, Kansas

I’m for Hawley

Back just two days with a renewed subscription to The Star, and in the same issue I find two derogatory items about Sen. Josh Hawley. It seems like Star editors just can’t get over the fact that a majority of the good people of Missouri sent their beloved Claire McCaskill back to her mansion.

And, yes, Hawley is a bit brash, talks too much for a junior senator, is cocky, arrogant and not likable — but the wonderful fact remains that Barack Obama sycophant Claire is not in Washington voting for all the extremes of the left. And that makes Sen. Hawley among the best of the best. Go Josh.

- Keith R. Miller, Belton

From the past

On a recent trip to Hannibal, Missouri, I visited the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum. Hanging in the gift shop was a T-shirt bearing the following words: “Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself.”

What a sad commentary on our times, then and now.

- Tami Tomes, Kansas City

Haven’t earned it

In October, Kansas City and Kansas City, Kansas, hosted officals from FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, in a bid to secure the distinction of being a host city for World Cup 2026 matches. Shortly before their visit, Missouri executed Ernest Johnson, a mentally disadvantaged prisoner. In November, Kevin Strickland was released after decades of false imprisonment with nary a penny of compensation from the state. The largesse of strangers made up for this outrage.

People from around the world followed both stories. Meanwhile, police departments in both cities are dealing with criminal investigations of their members, past and present, for killings of Black people and excessive use of force. A travel advisory issued by the NAACP for Black people is still in effect for Missouri.

Cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada will be chosen as venues for World Cup 2026. I am a Chelsea FC, Premier League and World Cup fanatic. I love Kansas City. I grew up here. I do not believe Kansas City is deserving of this honor.

It is additional sadness that FIFA traveled the trash-strewn highways from the airport to downtown and to Children’s Mercy Park while visiting.

We can do better.

- Laurie Franklin, Mission Woods

Words of wisdom

People of the world, take your Bible and read the book of James. If we want to be spiritually wise, we must exhibit understanding, acceptance and peace.

- Sharon Holst, Independence

Help parents, too

Before releasing parents on a “Meet the Teacher Night” in an urban Kansas City charter school a few years ago, I asked them a question: What if the school opened its computer lab a couple nights each week for the parents to use the computers to search for jobs, work on resumes, take online classes and so on. Anyone interested? Every hand went up.

The Star’s Dec. 28 editorial, “Cutting aid to families wouldn’t solve truancy,” (7A) described the issue I experienced as an administrator: Parents need school support, too. The editorial accurately described the situation many urban parents face. Raising a family in poverty is very challenging.

I had the honor of meeting dedicated parents who tried very hard to help their children. However, in single-parent homes, the hours parents worked often conflicted with their ability to be home and support their children.

I firmly believe most urban parents desire to create better lives for their children, but they also desire to create better lives for themselves. Schools cannot do this alone. Legislative support, both state and local, is essential. Provide the opportunity for parents to improve their education and job skills, and day care so they can accomplish this.

- Pete Muenks Jr., Raymore

Show-Me smarts

A host of candidates are vying to replace retiring Sen. Roy Blunt. Some have made the obligatory pilgrimages to the Donald Trump “government-in-exile” and expressed their antipathy toward the 2020 election results in the hope of securing Trump’s coveted endorsement.

However, the Show-Me State would be better served by electing an independent-leaning Democrat who would garner attention from both parties, as does West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. This is especially important to Missouri, which is heavily dependent on federal spending in such areas as agriculture, military installations and transportation.

- Kenneth Lee, Raytown