Easter is a good time to consider ‘newness’ in our lives | Opinion
Easter newness
Easter is here, and traditionally it represents many things — but at least renewal, a new beginning, new life, perhaps even a new hope.
May I suggest that you also take advantage of it to embrace newness? Newness in your kindness to others, to your loved ones of course, but to all with whom you come in contact.
Newness in your generosity, not just of your worldly goods, but of your time and compassion. Newness in your patience with people you find difficult, or with whom you are in conflict. Newness in your patience with yourself when a task becomes frustrating.
Perhaps in our current times that are so filled with conflicts of all types — nation against nation, beliefs against beliefs, “my” people against “your” people — you find yourself despairing. Instead of focusing on that which you cannot change, encourage yourself to devote your resources and energy toward bringing love to the situations you encounter.
Here, you can and will make a difference. It might make it the most meaningful Easter ever.
- Charles Stiles, Overland Park
Senatorial complicity
Donald Trump’s recent post about Robert Mueller’s death was beyond reprehensible. (March 22, 16A, “Former FBI director rebuilt agency, led Trump inquiry”) Mueller was a war hero who served his country with honor for decades — not a draft dodger who claimed to have bone spurs.
Predictably, not a word about the post was uttered by Missouri Sens. Josh Hawley or Eric Schmitt.
I recently sent emails asking when they might stand up to Trump. As with all my correspondence and phone calls to their offices, I don’t expect a reply — nor for them to ever disagree with their dear leader.
Trump is a dishonest person who has not lived up to his campaign promises and has caused chaos, while greatly enriching himself and his family. History will not judge him well.
Missouri may be a solid Republican state, but at some point I think our voters might view the senators’ work in light of their sycophantic support of Trump’s failures or accomplishments, with the former far outnumbering the latter.
Messrs. Hawley and Schmitt may want to consider how history will judge them as well.
- Mark Fitzpatrick, Kansas City
Supreme decision
Lawyers make up less than 1% of our population, and yet a small group of liberal lawyers on the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission largely controls the process of who gets nominated to Kansas’ top court.
In the past, every Kansan had a vote. Don’t let one small interest group control an entire branch of government.
Vote yes on Amendment 1 on Aug. 4 to amend the Constitution. Go to votersnotlawyers.com to read more.
- Debra Weingartner, Madison, Kansas
On deaf ears
There was a big turnout for the recent No Kings rallies, but did they accomplish anything? (April 1, 6A, “Crowds turn out across KC metro for No Kings”) Probably not.
Protests worked in the 1960s and brought about changes in policies dealing with race, women’s rights, gay rights and other social issues because back then the government listened to and cared about what people wanted. Now Washington no longer cares about public opinion or gives weight to the 99% while the 1% rule.
- James Mercer, Kansas City
No emperors
I admire those who participated in the No Kings demonstrations. However, the “king” has his sights set higher, in my opinion. Maybe he wants to be emperor of the West.
- Jim Turner, Independence
Marshall plan
If you have qualms about where the Trump administration is taking us, I’m wondering how you could justify supporting Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, who consistently enables the administration’s chaos, corruption and cruelty.
Even when other Republicans do their jobs and hold President Donald Trump accountable, Marshall only does Trump’s bidding.
Marshall was one of just eight Senate Republicans (also including Missouri’s Josh Hawley) who refused to verify the 2020 vote. This matters.
We have seen Trump’s self-serving pardons, tariffs that hurt Kansas farmers, cuts to mental health funding (even though he blames gun violence on mental health), threats to Greenland and sanctions lifted on Iran. At least some Republicans spoke out against all of these, but not a word from Marshall. Nothing.
There’s more. He walked out of a town hall in Oakley, Kansas. He praised Trump after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture, but he said nothing about the pardon of the former Honduran president, a convicted drug trafficker. He enthusiastically supports the inane SAVE Act and the many unqualified cabinet picks. He lists a small Kansas cabin as his official residence while owning a $1.2 million home in Florida.
Before you consider voting for Marshall in November because of the R behind his name, please weigh these realities and consider alternative candidates.
- Michelle Bridges, Kansas City, Kansas
Failing schools
As an upper-middle-class white child, I loved my wonderful social education getting to know the diverse students at my inner-city high school. I agree with Mike Bannen, who wrote in his commentary that it is good that public high schools bring together “large numbers of teens from different backgrounds, nationalities, competencies and social classes” (even though many children don’t take advantage of that opportunity). (March 30, 7A, “When I look at my Kansas City high school graduates, I see the future”).
Alas, the social education is not complemented by strong academic education. My high school lost accreditation. I later taught in inner-city Los Angeles, where I observed the failure of our public school system.
Mr. Bannen acknowledges that “our high schools lag behind other countries,” “our test scores are low” and “perhaps” our high schools have become “too easy.” Yet, he shockingly calls our public school system “one of America’s most successful institutions.”
Public charter schools prove students can succeed academically despite having impoverished families and parents who lack advanced education. It is unconscionable that teachers’ unions insist on trapping inner-city children in underperforming schools. Rather than being successful, our public school system is our most systematically racist institutions.
- Claude Thau, Overland Park
Royals solution
Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas have committed to building a stadium and training facility for the Chiefs.
I suggest that representatives from Clay, Jackson and Platte counties, along with city officials in Missouri, discuss cooperating on building and maintaining a baseball stadium for the Royals.
Any sales-tax increase could be spread over the 1 million-plus residents of the three counties and would supplement funding from Missouri. All three counties and the Royals would have to agree on a location, preferably one convenient for residents of all three counties.
- Phil Summers, North Kansas City
This story was originally published April 5, 2026 at 5:04 AM.