Don’t judge someone just for wearing a fur coat. You don’t know the whole story | Opinion

Second life

A recent letter to the editor asked people to refrain from purchasing real fur coats and items. (Feb. 23, 8A) For almost 30 years, I have purchased my clothing mostly from thrift and resale shops. I have also inherited some fur coats. I know many people who have purchased beautiful furs at thrift stores where they had been donated. They often are very affordable, and they definitely help people stay warm.

So please, do not assume that all fur coats you see people wearing are new. Many are hand-me-downs from generations ago or purchased at thrift stores that help a lot of people in our community.

- Cathy Runyan-Svacina, Kansas City

Library workers

I would like to remind everyone who uses Mid-Continent Public Library branches for their books, technology assistance, story times and more to be kind to the staff there. All too often, I have seen library employees screamed at, talked down to and generally harassed by patrons who are unhappy with their tax forms or holds list.

These employees are not paid enough, most making $15 an hour while MCPL allocates most of its budget to much higher salaries for its leadership, marketing and its extensive collection. Branch staffers work for a pittance because they love their work but are now leaving in droves because of management’s priorities.

Please, be kind to your local librarian.

- Jamie Stillwell, Blue Springs

Look inward

It’s sad when a place like America, which was founded as the land of the free, has now become the land where our common rights are violated over and over, supposedly in the pursuit of justice. Now I know why Lady Justice is blind: so she can’t see what we have become.

We are so focused on other countries’ people, while we turn a blind eye to our own people who are suffering. We feed thousands in other countries but make it illegal here to be poor and have nowhere to sleep. What is that saying to us? Our compassion doesn’t extend to our own people.

God is not just for a few hours a day — he’s for 24 hours a day. Empathy, compassion and common decency are what we pride ourselves on, so why are we abusing our government offices, our courthouses, our morals and our values to where there is nothing but judgment and misunderstanding?

We lack humanitarian compassion for the people here who are not blessed to have everything they need to survive.

We owe it to our land and our people to get it together before it’s too late — because it’s coming, and soon.

- Belinda S. Blizzard, Independence

Wrong move

The left’s cancel culture has now come for “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams. (Feb. 28, 7A, “KC publisher made the right call on ‘Dilbert’”)

The overheated reaction by The Star’s parent company McClatchy to drop the comic strip after Adams made irrelevant outside comments now deprives readers of likely the best comic strip on The Star’s modest comics page.

Many of us paying customers are tired of the ongoing drama of The Star’s virtue signaling and militant wokeness. Leave that in the Opinion section, not in the comics. “Dilbert” follows daily editorial cartoons out the door at The Star, leaving us to wonder what further aberration is next from a once-proud newspaper.

- M.E. Hintz, Prairie Village

Deal is off

Now we know that Scott Adams is the real “Dilbert.” We do not need his comic strip if he is going to entertain and spread such blatantly racist views.

Congratulations to all publishing and news companies that have severed their business ties with him.

- Mike McConnell, Lenexa