Despite racial differences, Kansas City winter acts of kindness show we aren’t divided | Opinion
In it together
To the victim of an accident at Wornall Road and 102nd Street near the QuikTrip on the evening of Jan. 3: Because a medical condition led to the incident, you might not remember losing control and your car hitting a pole, landing upside down on the busy road.
Immediately, people of different skin color, race and ethnicity jumped into action. One young white guy cut the safety belt. Two or three Hispanic teenagers pulled you out of the car and laid you on the cold grass. A Black lady brought a blanket from her car and covered you — it was about 35 degrees. A white guy rolled his jersey into a pillow. Another young man ran into the gas station to fetch a fire extinguisher. An off-duty medical technician checked your vitals. Some held your hand and comforted you.
In this divided country, it was a heart-warming reaction to an act of God, with the help of human beings of all different walks of life. In this divided nation, there is hope.
Get well soon, sir.
- Tej Dasari, Kansas City
That’s caring
I have an ice storm story worth sharing. My son works in the Northland and lives in the country way south of Lone Jack. After three-plus hours of trying to get home in the storm, he slid off the road for a fifth time less than 3 miles from his home and was stuck. Imagine a father’s feeling of helplessness knowing his only son is stuck in an ice storm with a blizzard and subzero temperatures approaching.
After he endured more than an hour of fear I can’t imagine, four strangers in two vehicles stopped to see if he was OK. Three were Hispanic. Not only did these four get him out of his vehicle, but the group of three took him all the way home to warmth and safety.
Friends, I’ve been severely disheartened by the rhetoric of recent years, especially regarding our Black and brown neighbors. Thank you to those people who were angels in the freezing night. I wish I knew who you were. Hispanic, Black, white — I don’t care. Your human kindness makes me forever grateful for your rescue.
It has resurrected a little of my faith in humanity. Thank you.
- Gerald Valet, Kansas City
Duh, it’s winter
Some TV weather forecasters probably should take a breathalyzer test, considering their prognostication behaviors have gone from elation to overzealous .
Midwest natives understand winter is an annual event, and we adjust accordingly:
- Stock up to be housebound for a week.
- The municipalities have learned their lessons and start salting, then plowing to keep roads open, as expeditiously as possible.
- If you want your road plowed quickly, get your vehicles off the streets and let the snow pushing dudes do their job.
There’s nothing like watching the Chiefs while you’re snowed in and fully supplied with beverages and junk food.
- Paul Comerford, Blue Springs
Speak up
With the possible elevation of Robert Kennedy Jr. to the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where is the outcry from our professional organizations? As a retired nurse, I’m concerned that there has been no response from the American Nurses Association, and that the American Medical Society has been similarly silent. Are they afraid to anger the ruling party and self-censoring themselves, as many tech companies have done? (Jan. 7, 8A, “Trump has reeled in more than $200M since Nov. 5”)
I expect better from groups that are dedicated to serving the public.
- Sue Sykes Berry, Kansas City
Not unalike?
Russian President Vladimir Putin uses military power to try to take over Ukraine. President-elect Donald Trump threatens to use military power to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal. (Jan. 9, 6A, “Refusing to sell, Denmark backs US investment in Greenland”)
Hmm.
- Phil Smith, Kansas City