I saw Tina Turner wow a tiny crowd in KC’s River Quay. That was only the beginning | Opinion
Tina’s greatness
I was a partner in a live music club in what was then Kansas City’s River Quay in the 1970s. Across the street from my Madame Lovejoy’s was Harlow’s, a concert venue with tiered cocktail seating for about 250 in a neat art deco motif. As both places required tickets or a cover charge, we were on each other’s permanent guest list as a courtesy.
Tina Turner was newly split from the abusive Ike when she struck out on her own. I remember breaking away and going across the street to catch a glimpse of her show. Her fast-paced act drove the sellout crowd into a frenzy.
I remember thinking as I went back across the street that I should savor the moment because she would not likely be playing these small venues much longer. But even then, I never imagined she would ultimately fill the 18,000-seat Sprint Center. (May 26, 5A, “‘Mind-boggling’ night: Tina Turner launched last tour in KC”)
- Tom Kramer, Independence
Deck is stacked
Betty Jane Frizzell’s May 31 guest commentary was a horrifying glimpse into Missouri’s legal system. (8A, “Poor, rural women fueling Missouri’s prison growth”) It told the story of a rural, employed, single mom who was pulled over by her local sheriff for not using her turn signal.
He claimed he saw cannabis and was able to search her car without a warrant. He found none. He did find a plastic bag with methamphetamine dust (no drugs, only dust). This was her first offense. Yet she suddenly found herself plummeting through a trap door of rapidly escalating legal fees and imprisonment.
I wonder two things: How many affluent-appearing white men have been pulled over for not signaling a turn, let alone subjected to a search? And how could we have better served the self-reported casual meth user as well as the taxpayers? Surely, there are more constructive, humane and just ways to apply the law.
Missouri has the nation’s fastest-growing rural female prison population. Who is benefiting from imprisoning our poor rural women?
- Mary Schultis, Kansas City
Facts, law matter
When will Republicans finally hold Donald Trump accountable for his actions? Republicans continually support Trump’s illegal actions and words. Republicans make up conspiracy theories to justify Trump’s actions, deny that Trump broke the law or obstructed justice and plan a coup to overturn the election and challenge the Electoral College count based on no facts. Republicans rarely base their words and actions on facts.
This indictment did not come from the Justice Department. It came from members of a grand jury based on facts and tangible evidence of Trump’s wrongdoing. Republicans appear to be saying that a grand jury is controlled by the Justice Department and the people serving on it are not truthful and honest. Republicans believe Trump is above the law and the law of the land does not apply to him.
Kansas Republican representatives in Congress have shown themselves to be deniers of facts. Sen. Roger Marshall and Reps. Ron Estes, Jake LaTurner and Tracey Mann challenged certification of the 2020 electoral vote and have never provided any facts or evidence they based this challenge on.
When will facts and the law mean something to the majority of Republicans?
- Karen Bradfield, Lenexa
Some campaign
It’s interesting to see the campaign strategy that Piper school board candidate Jami Applegate exhibited by wearing an “FJB” T-shirt, displaying an intellectual and emotional level of a spoiled, bratty 13-year-old. (June 11, 16A, “KCK school board candidate was there on Jan. 6, claims it peaceful”) Not to mention her lies about attacks on law enforcement in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.
And she wants to tell us how to educate children. Disgraceful. Unfortunately, too much of today’s Republican Party has sunk to this level.
- Bill Shefchik, Kansas City