That $100 bill in my palm will go a long way toward helping homeless Kansas Citians

Anonymous help

On Monday, I was comparing prices at the Hy-Vee on Barry Road near Interstate 29. A young woman came up to me and asked what I was doing. I told her I was trying to figure out how many groceries I could buy for my little food pantry for the homeless.

She shuffled around in her purse, then told me, “Shake my hand.” I felt her pass me what turned out to be a $100 bill. When I looked up to thank her, she had already turned and walked away.

Her generosity was a reminder that there are many good people in this world. Although she’s anonymous to me, I hope she or someone who recognizes her will see this and give her the applause she deserves for helping the needy.

- Ernie Martel, Kansas City

Peace is possible

The Ukrainian people could call a truce by going out and embracing the Russian soldiers with common humanitarian concerns and asking that no one be killed. The World War I Christmas Eve truce brought soldiers out to play soccer and share music and sweets. Sit-down strikes and dialogue are a way out.

Peace must prevail.

- Henry Stoever, Co-chair, PeaceWorks Kansas City, Overland Park

Let’s prove it

In these tensely divided times, many of us have struggled to find unity in this country. Now, with the illegal, cruel invasion of Ukraine, it seems that the American people — left and right, Democrats and Republicans — have common ground.

It speaks volumes to our people that we would witness the barbarity and betrayal of Vlad the Invader and say in one voice, “No. This must not be allowed.” How often have we seen Donald Trump-defending House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders agree on something? What about liberal firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez championing aid to Ukrainian refugees as right-wing hardliner Sen. Mike Lee calls for American military aid to bolster the Ukrainian people? Even massive corporations and our own oligarchs stand against Putin.

We must take a lesson from all this. It cannot be ignored. As we go down this path of championing freedom and democracy, we must live up to it at home and abroad. The denial of civil, voting and workers’ rights must be remedied. Internationally, we cannot be the aggressor or the warlord. No more unjustified invasions.

Let’s put our money where our mouths are. Let’s prove that we are who we say we are.

- Garrett C. Owen, Overland Park

Better baseball

So MLB is at an impasse, again. Let’s not forget that the minor-league Kansas City Monarchs are coming off a championship season, that they play professionally at an affordable cost, and that there are plenty of dining and entertainment options within walking distance of their park. And you get all that without building a new downtown stadium.

- Steve Bader, Olathe

Biden must act

March 25 will mark the anniversary of the 2015 commencement of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition waging war against Houthi insurgents in Yemen. Seven years later, the U.S. Agency for International Development reports 16 million of Yemen’s 30 million people are food insecure, 4 million are displaced and 2.4 million children are wasting. The war continues and the suffering does not stop.

Images from the war in Ukraine remind us of the terrible toll war takes on the innocent population and how senseless it is in resolving problems. Unlike in Ukraine, the United States can end the war in Yemen by simply stopping the supply of spare parts, maintenance, targeting, intelligence and munitions that enable Saudi Arabia to continue the war.

President Joe Biden committed to do that a year ago. He now needs to act with the same commitment to ending the war in Yemen as he is applying to the implementation of sanctions to end the war in Ukraine.

- Steve Kellogg, Independence

In it together

Thank you, President Joe Biden, for a positive, uniting State of the Union address.

- Vicki Cooper, Pleasant Valley

Political stunt

Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden’s hyperpartisan announcement that he’s investigating claims of election fraud only perpetuates right-wing media’s Big Lie. (March 2, 14A, “Johnson County election fraud inquiry raises alarm”)

This is truly a case of the “Fox (News) guarding the henhouse.” The sheriff should recuse himself because of his prejudice — or, better yet, drop the investigation altogether, as this is only a pathetic attempt to score political points with Johnson County conservatives.

- Patrick McGarry, Overland Park

Teaching moment

Here’s what we’ve learned about Jan. 6, when the other team doesn’t win. In this case, our own Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley raised his fist and endorsed the riot that was to come. That set the stage for what our own parents, our children, our grandchildren watched unfold that day. Where is his moral foundation?

Hawley, as well as his Republican colleagues, endorsed the most horrendous insurrection experienced in our lifetime. Even Sen. Roy Blunt, who used to be considered “genteel,” endorsed the coup with his silence.

The former president’s own grandchildren will have to live their entire lives with this legacy: If you don’t win, your grandfather can incite a riot. Rather than gracefully admitting his loss, he encouraged others to fight while he sat and watched.

The world witnessed the disruption of a peaceful transfer of power. Children and grandchildren watched from classrooms around the world. We can’t use this as a good example of a civics lesson. How is this OK?

- Constance Kemmerer, Parkville