Holocaust agony, downtown baseball and gerrymandering Kansas

Lessons hit hard

While at the Holocaust exhibit at Union Station, I felt overwhelmed — and mostly sad. I felt as if I was a survivor myself, and I became scared. It made me sad to think real people could turn so much hate into action, all because they were influenced by one person.

I think more people should see the exhibit, because I know what I had previously learned about the Holocaust didn’t begin to express the pain and suffering people had to endure.

The details that stood out most were the garments prisoners wore. They were so normal, like a baby’s outfit. These were kids who had no choice but to suffer the same fate as their parents.

I wasn’t prepared for all the stress the exhibit would bring. In fact, I fainted during my visit because of it.

The message I got, which I think I should share, is that we should never forget just because something is in the past. And always remember what a little bit of influence can do to people, including carrying out atrocities on innocent people — mothers, fathers, children.

The memory of the Holocaust must stay alive so it never happens again.

- Makaila Traylor, Kansas City

Empty seats

The Downtown Council’s concept for a downtown stadium for the Royals is missing something: people. (Jan. 27, 8A, “Does KC need all of this Downtown Council plan?”) That’s because the Imagine Downtown KC Plan has no specifics about parking to accommodate all the fans, and the streets shown would never handle the traffic.

If the Royals want to play in a stadium without fans, it’s a great concept. Otherwise, what are they thinking?

- Bruce Lindgren, Independence

How it happened

A former intern for Sen. Jerry Moran wrote a letter to The Star blaming (while denying it) Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly for the unemployment benefit crisis in our state. (Jan. 27, 8A) “It was her administration that deemed a 1970s Department of Labor (software system) was still good enough,” he wrote.

Perhaps the author is not aware that as a Kansas state senator, Moran voted for many budgets that ignored the problem of obsolete computer systems for several state agencies, including the labor department, even though it was raised by those agencies during legislative sessions throughout the years. The chickens finally came home to roost during the current administration, but the disaster was foreseeable for decades, and legislatures and administrations continued to kick the can down the road on this and many other infrastructure issues.

More energy and resources focused on resolving these problems and less finger-pointing is needed, but I am not optimistic.

Will Moran support a federal effort to modernize infrastructure, including information technology, in his home state? What do the senator and his former intern say to that?

- Roger Werholtz, Lawrence

Rally, Chiefs fans

To the Chiefs Kingdom: It’s to time rally around our own. Brittany Matthews, Patrick Mahomes’ fiancee, needs our support, not our condemnation. (Jan. 26, 6A, “Brittany Matthews, fiancee of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, doesn’t deserve online hate”)

Who among us has not done such things at that age? Now imagine yourself dealing with those choices and social media judging you at every turn.

She deserves our support. Let’s show what Kansas City is all about. I’ve lived in other cities with NFL teams. Nothing compares to the Chiefs and their fans. It’s time to stand tall and let Patrick and Brittany know we have their backs.

- Janet Wells, Sarasota, Florida

A legit win

I have been watching the debate about the overtime rule in the national sports media. I have been a Chiefs fan for nearly 60 years. Originally, overtime was called “sudden death.”

The Chiefs had home-field advantage because they had a better regular-season record than the opposing team, the Bills. I believe the overtime rule is unfair in that the visiting team, which has the worse record, gets the advantage of calling the coin toss.

To recognize the regular-season accomplishments, the team with the better record — the home team — should get the ball in overtime.

The Chiefs earned this exceptional victory. Go Chiefs!

- Chris Urnise, Kansas City

Unjust maps

I read the recent Star story “Lawrence fears Republican gerrymander in redistricting” (Jan. 27, 4A) about Republicans in the Kansas Legislature wanting to move Lawrence into Kansas’ 1st Congressional District.

I am appalled but not surprised that GOP legislators, including mine — state Rep. Troy Waymaster and state Sen. Elaine Bowers — have chosen partisanship over common sense.

Russell residents know about having voices silenced by gerrymandering.

Sen. Bowers resides in Concordia, 115 miles away, and her district stretches to Marysville, 170 miles distant. Instead of Russell being in a district with nearby Hays and the rest of northwest Kansas during 2012’s reapportionment, it was pawned off on a district where many residents probably could not locate Russell on a map and a majority lives within 40 miles of Nebraska.

The Republican scheme is grossly disrespectful to Lawrence and the University of Kansas. I do not believe Big 1st District state Rep. Tracey Mann has the best interests of KU and the residents of Lawrence in mind. How could he, when Lawrence is 130 miles from his adopted home of Salina and more than 300 from Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal?

Lawrence is home to a major university. It is progressive. That’s life. Gov. Laura Kelly must stand firm and veto this brazen gerrymander.

- David Steinle, Russell, Kansas