Chiefs fans annoyed at Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce news coverage? You need to calm down | Opinion
It’s just fun
Toriano Porter is a favorite columnist of mine, but with all due respect, Toriano, it’s time for Chiefs fans such as you who should consider “chilling out” over the “hoopla” regarding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. (Oct. 11, 11A, “Chill out on Taylor Swift, NFL. Chiefs fans just want football)
A few camera shots of the pop superstar and overzealous announcers at Chiefs games aren’t hurting football. Instead, the lure of Swifties around the world to join the American phenomenon of football could expand markets for the NFL. Football in the Olympics, anyone?
There are several Swifties in my family who are also loyal Chiefs fans, buying tickets for both concerts and home games. Leave this harmless Travis-Taylor pairing to chart its own course.
If the Chiefs’ tight end can handle the drama, surely his fans can, too — and without resentment and indignation. It’s fun to watch, and football is already reaping benefits.
- Elaine Bethke, Kansas City
Works for you
After 10 years of serving Overland Park on committees involved with zoning, parks, housing and the vision of our city’s future, I know the qualities I value in the person who represents me and my Ward 5 neighbors on the City Council.
Someone who:
- Listens to all constituents, even those with whom she disagrees.
- Knows how to compromise.
- Treats colleagues, staff and constituents with respect.
- Collaborates with colleagues in a respectful manner.
- Comes to meetings prepared.
- Values honesty.
- Practices civility.
- Embodies empathy.
If you agree that this is the kind of person you want to represent your family and Ward 5 on the Overland Park City Council, I encourage you to vote for Inas Younis on or before Nov. 7.
- Mary Coffman, Overland Park
Right side
I would like to commend Melinda Henneberger for taking the side of Israel in the war with Hamas. (Oct. 13, 7A, “In Israel, as in Ukraine, this is no ‘tomato/tomahto’ situation”) Everything she wrote is correct, but she needs to add the following:
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, there have been no free elections. The millions of dollars Hamas has collected have been spent on guns, rockets and building tunnels to attack Israel. Hamas has not used the funds to improve the Palestinian people’s lives, but rather to keep them in a state of poverty and war. There have been few improvements to their infrastructure and little effort to help their economy.
Hamas’ mission is to eradicate Israel and kill Jewish people. They use their own people for human shields. They have no regard for human life. I am not an expert on the Middle East, but I do know right from the despicable wrong, as seen by the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir called it many years ago: You cannot negotiate with people who want to kill you.
Thank you again, Melinda. I was born and raised in Kansas City. The Star is lucky to have you on its team.
- Linda Arenson, Westport, Connecticut
Stop violence
As an American Jew, a passionate and emotional supporter of Israel, and a passionate and emotional opponent of Israel’s policy toward Palestinians, I have mourned the deaths of innocent Israelis and Palestinians and have been horrified by Hamas’ brutal, barbaric attacks. Israel’s counter-attacks in Gaza pale in comparison, but I find no comfort or logic in that sad, irrational, inhumane and counterproductive Israeli response.
The U.S. has blood on its hands, too. Our blind support for Israeli policy and our equally blind, irrational, inhumane and counterproductive contributions of death weapons add to the carnage.
We — American Jews in particular — have a moral obligation to release our stranglehold on U.S. policy and add our voices to the search for a rational, civilized alternative. We — including the international community — must find a way to separate Hamas from other Gazans and prevent those Gazans — children in particular — from dying or turning into the next generation of Hamas fighters and murderers of Israelis.
Our voices should be shouting, “Stop!” Our intelligence and humanity should be contributing to the search for another way.
- Michael Ginsberg, Overland Park
This story was originally published October 19, 2023 at 5:17 AM.