If Kansas City changes Troost Avenue’s name over slavery, where do we stop? | Opinion
Logical extension
The Star’s May 28 editorial “Relics of racism belong in museums, not on street signs” (16A) says Kansas City should change the names of certain streets because they are named after prominent residents who were slaveholders. But to the average person, they are simply the names of very familiar streets, and they have no racial significance whatsoever.
While it may be appropriate to make changes where places and things are still used as symbols of oppression, such as the Confederate flag, it is ridiculous to insist on changing street names such as Wornall, McGee and Troost when they do not have the slightest racial significance for the average Kansas Citian. They are the names of well-known streets and nothing more.
That the men they were named for were slaveholders should of course be condemned, but to change street names just because they are named for prominent but long-forgotten men who owned slaves does not advance the cause of racial justice.
If the editorial board’s position is correct, it must also insist that we change the name of our nation’s capital, because we know that George Washington was a slaveholder. And we must also change the name of Missouri’s state capital because we know Thomas Jefferson was a slaveholder.
- Jim Borthwick, Prairie Village
With this team …
I rarely miss watching a Royals game. I definitely consider myself a loyal fan. Sunday’s game marked the one-third point of their season, standing at 16-38. At that rate, they would have one of the 20 worst records in MLB history.
And a downtown stadium is the priority?
- Jerry L. Daily, Kansas City
See the future
Royals majority owner John Sherman insists the team is headed in the right direction despite its dismal record. I have a way for Royals fans to judge the truth of that. It doesn’t get much publicity and is well worth their time.
I am a Kansas City native, a die-hard fan and retired journalist who wrote a lot about baseball. (My first article about the sport ran in The Star on July 10, 1966.) I now live near the Royals’ spring-training facility and have had season tickets to those games for 10 years.
If you want a clear picture of your team and its future, come to the Arizona Fall League. All 30 major league teams send minor leaguers to what has been dubbed “baseball’s finishing school.” Some 300 major league all-stars have played in the AFL, including Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge. Tickets are inexpensive, and fans can sit anywhere they want. The sparse crowds include scouts and players’ friends and families.
Go, and you’ll see the Royals’ future. I would respectfully suggest that for the Royals, it doesn’t look as rosy as Mr. Sherman would have us believe.
- Greg Joseph, Sun City, Arizona
Just geography?
I read in the paper that the Taliban has removed elected officials and groups representing minorities and women from their executive committee. Oh, wait — that was the leaders of the Kansas GOP, and they’re only considering it. Whew. My mistake. (May 12, 1A, “Kansas GOP may oust minority groups from leadership”)
- Shirley Lewis, Overland Park
A new start
There must be a better way. We are not enemies but fellow sojourners — strangers, but all part of a chorus of voices crying out for change. Paul the apostle, who was instrumental in bringing the message of Christ to the known world, wrote a simple message to his disciple Timothy, whom he looked upon as his spiritual son. It was written in a tumultuous time like are own with conflicting ideas, teachings and beliefs.
He said, “I write nothing else to you other than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand to the end.” (2 Corinthians 1:13) I believe part of what he was saying is that truth is basic, not complicated or hard to grasp. It is the things we know in life, who we are and the gifts we have. It is not a cult of personality or the misery of believing everyone is bad. It is opening our eyes to the possibility of healing rather than driving the sword of division deeper into the heart of this nation.
We must sear the wound and begin again.
- Michael Brennan, Merriam