I’m a Christian, too, Vicky Hartzler. My faith tells me to be loving and nonjudgmental

Christian truth

On Sunday, The Kansas City Star featured a front-page story on Missouri U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, her Christian faith and her conservative biblical values. (1A, “Running God’s way”) As an individual who also identifies as Christian, may I take a moment to be the voice of a great many liberal and moderate Christians who interpret scripture much differently? We find direction to be loving, accepting and forgiving from a benevolent God — words that encourage equality and a vision that is nonjudgmental.

Peace, empathy and understanding should be paramount for all, along with standing up for the oppressed. Seeking and finding the truth is a responsibility of each of us. After doing so, may we fulfill that responsibility by electing leaders who find that truth is sacred. Those people are out there, but they are becoming more difficult to find.

- Mark Fowler, Kansas City

Scouting rewards

I’ve been in Boy Scouts of America for the past three years, and I really have enjoyed my time. We are having issues with recruitment, and I want to share my good experiences with Scouting.

We do campouts once a month, which is always fun. We learn to budget, prep and cook food over a camp stove. We also go to Bartle Scout Reservation for a 10-day summer camp where you can earn merit badges for different activities.

With recruitment being low, it makes it harder to plan stuff when you don’t have that many people going to camps or helping with Eagle projects. We always need extra hands when we are doing things like that.

If we could get more people to join the Boy Scouts, they could learn a lot of life skills. I know I have.

- Malachi Chilcoat, Kansas City

Yes, it’s fair

I despise Josh Hawley. I disagree with him about everything. And I am appalled that a United States senator would support the rioters who invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Francis Chung’s Politico photograph of Hawley saluting the rioters is an embarrassing reminder of how low the Republican Party has fallen.

Hawley doesn’t care. Chung and Politico used the photo essentially to call Hawley a traitor and encouraged others to do the same. So Hawley used the photo to sell campaign mugs, urging his fans to “drink liberal tears.”

Politico responded by threatening to sue Hawley for copyright infringement. On April 10, Mickey H. Osterreicher applauded that complaint in The Star, arguing that Hawley shouldn’t be able to use Chung’s photo without permission. (20A, “Josh Hawley is stealing intellectual property for cash”)

Wrong. Hawley is a bad person making a bad argument, but even bad people are entitled to say their piece. Politico owns a copyright on the photo. But fair use says everyone’s a critic. Although copyright owners get the profits from their works, they don’t get to control how people talk about them.

Politico wants Hawley to shut up. I sympathize. But he gets to say his piece, just like everyone else.

- Brian L. Frye, Spears-Gilbert professor of law, University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky

Got it wrong

I am appalled by the boneheadedness of your editorial regarding the appearance of Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov in the Harriman-Jewell Series. (April 17, 19A, “Unless Russian-born pianist denounces atrocities, his KC show must not go on as usual”)

Do you think there is any human being with an ounce of humanity who does not recognize the atrocities of this invasion? Are there any other political views you think Trifonov should have to publicly embrace? Must all members of the Kansas City Symphony publicly declare their opposition to the war as well before performing? Or have you reserved this judgment for those who, by making such a declaration, would be subject to imprisonment or who have loved ones in Russia who could suffer the consequences?

I would think you would be celebrating the appearance of Trifonov, whom The New York Times called “without question the most astounding pianist of our age.” In fact, The Star’s coverage of the arts is abysmal despite Kansas City having a thriving symphony, ballet, opera, chamber music and more. We are fortunate to have one of the finest performing arts centers in the world.

You need to immediately readdress this unfortunate editorial. Why do I suspect you will not have the journalistic integrity to do so?

- John Middelkamp, Kansas City