Readers share thoughts on language, the Royals and voting
Derogatory language
I am a high school student, and it is not uncommon to hear people use the word “gay” when they mean “stupid.” I believe this could be part of the cause of the dislike of gay people by some.
If gay means stupid, then by that logic, wouldn’t gay people be stupid people?
Stupid means stupid. Gay does not mean stupid.
Peter Doran
Kansas City
Kudos to The Star
The Kansas City Star is doing a bang-up job reporting on the Royals. This has brought many new fans.
I have always been a fan. Keep up the great work.
Julie Watterson
Independence
Immigration reform
Tell the Republicans in the House and Senate to stop stalling and vote for immigration reform. Our country needs this as soon as possible.
Karen Hawk
Kansas City
Voter restrictions
In 2010, the Republicans won a resounding victory in the midterm elections. Democrats could hardly have imagined the assault on voting rights that was about to ensue.
Republican-dominated state legislatures contorted (gerrymandered) congressional districts, creating dozens of new safe seats for their party, and disenfranchised millions of Democrat voters.
Next, claiming pandemic voter fraud, Republicans began passing restrictive and burdensome voter-identification laws, ushering in a new era for Old Jim Crow, although the number of confirmed fraudulent voter-ID cases was low. In Kansas, nearly 20,000 voters were notified they were no longer eligible to vote.
If Republicans showed us the same love they shower on gun owners, we would all be voting at home on our tablets and smartphones and eating free pizza. Instead, Republicans in Ohio and North Carolina voted to shorten and tighten restrictions on early voting.
We will never have early voting in Missouri until gun owners and Rex Sinquefield demand it.
In November, vote “no” on constitutional Amendment 6. The Star got it right when it declared the Republicans’ proposed amendment “set a new standard for contemptible governing.”
Jeffrey Bushman
Kansas City
Brownback, schools
As a former K-12 public educator in Kansas, I’m astounded at the preposterous claims in Gov. Sam Brownback’s political ads regarding his so-called improvements to education.
As I recall, funding for Kansas public education was austere, with school budgets drastically reduced, leaving cash-strapped school districts with few choices other than to dramatically cut teaching positions, eliminate programs and reduce educational supplies, materials and equipment.
However, Gov. Brownback was not content with merely crippling public schools through inadequate funding. After collaborating with Americans for Prosperity, the Kansas education Grinch recently eliminated the right of due process for Kansas teachers, which has been in place for decades.
Now Kansas teachers must negotiate through collective bargaining with their board of education for due process. Although the writers of our U.S. Constitution saw merit in due process, Gov. Brownback seized the opportunity to abolish that right.
Everyone knows a teacher. Before the election, I encourage every Kansas voter to ask teachers about the state of public education under Brownback.
Who better to know the effects of paltry school funding than one of the key stakeholders? Ask Kansas educators about Brownback’s education record and vote accordingly.
Sandy Burrell
Lenexa
Orman for Senate
Being an educated voter is critical in the Nov. 4 election. As an advocate for universal background checks, I urge all like-minded Kansans to support independent candidate Greg Orman for Senate.
Per Orman’s website, he supports the right to bear arms while also supporting background checks to plug the gun show loophole. That would ensure that no one who has been convicted of domestic violence, subject to a restraining order for harassing, stalking or threatening behavior, incarcerated for longer than a year, dishonorably discharged from the military or determined to be mentally defective is able to purchase a firearm.
Background checks have prevented more than 700,000 people who met the descriptions above from buying firearms at licensed dealers. Sen. Pat Roberts, on the other hand, consistently opposes gun-control proposals and is endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
Although I live in Missouri, I know this Senate race is important to everyone who supports common-sense gun legislation. We cannot continue to elect recalcitrant, stubborn people who are in the pocket of the NRA.
Judy Sherry
President
MOKS Grandmothers
Against Gun Violence
Kansas City
Equestrian program
All I have to say to Kansas State University in regard to dropping the equestrian program is, “You ain’t got no class” (10-15, B6, “K-State equestrian team will soldier on”).
Sonja Shaffer
Overland Park
Salute to veterans
The public is invited to the 17th Veterans Salute at the Platte City library from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Veterans from all wars and conflicts are invited.
This year’s theme is the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion during World War II. Several D-Day veterans are expected to attend, and the speaker at 9:30 a.m. will be Mary Eisenhower, a granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower.
Inside the library will be 60 tables of historical artifacts, some from the invasion. Outside will be a re-enactment between authentic-looking U.S. and German soldiers and vintage vehicles.
Re-enactors will be available for photo ops. All liaison and international officers at Fort Leavenworth have been invited.
Earlier this year, the Mid-Continent Public Library received an award at the White House, and a large reason was sponsoring this event to honor veterans for so many years.
Everything is free. Last year, more than 800 people attended the event at the Smithville branch. You are invited to come salute all veterans.
John Reichley
Member
Planning Committee
Leavenworth
This story was originally published October 16, 2014 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on language, the Royals and voting."