TV news, white supremacists, Easter gifts

I am shocked by the April 13 shootings at the Jewish Community Center and am further saddened that they took place in our community. My condolences go to the families affected.

Of additional note is the manner in which the local media reported the events as they unfolded, or rather the manner in which they didn’t report.

All of the local television stations constantly brag and promote their “breaking news” capabilities. Yet when a local event occurs that garners world attention, it was CNN that aired the first reports.

Only one local station, KSHB-NBC, Channel 41, mentioned the event before its regularly scheduled newscast.

Where were WDAF-TV, Channel 4; KCTV, Channel 5; and KMBC-TV, Channel 9? What part of your charter and license to provide service in the “public interest” don’t you understand?

It was indeed Black Sunday in for the entire Kansas City community but one that the city’s local media apparently didn’t feel the need to cover in a timely manner.

I have never understood how white supremacists define their goals (4-15, A1, “Hate-crime charges likely in federal case”).

First, they want to preserve the white race and keep it pure. Albinos are not a race, and I’ve never seen an albino protesting against others not like them.

Supremacists are against people of color. Yet, their deity is Jesus Christ of the Middle East, thus a man of color.

Supremacists are anti-Semitic, yet they go to church and pray to Jesus Christ, who was a Jew.

Am I just a confused old man, or what?

How dare rational people take a stand against bunk from groups contending that climate change is a hoax (4-15, Commentary, “Thought police killing debate on key concerns”)?

Charles Krauthammer’s comments become rather amusing as he attempts to represent a wing of the most intolerant faction of America in many years.

I ask, is it intolerant to not give equal time and coverage to cranks supported by special interests as the time allotted for those with a clear and reasoned science background?

Mr. Krauthammer’s position has become tiresome, and like a broken record — repeating over and over.

I would like to thank The Star for exposing conservative/libertarian billionaire Charles Koch for his hypocrisy and dishonesty (4-13, Editorial, “How Charles Koch distorts what’s ‘truly free’ 

”). I am eagerly looking forward to a similar exposure editorial on George Soros, liberal billionaire contributor to the Democratic Party.

Should I hold my breath?

Every year, many people buy an adorable baby chick, duck or bunny as an Easter basket adornment.

These animals are, without a doubt, hard to resist. However, they grow up to be adults, and most of the new owners are not willing or able to provide for the needs of these larger, less adorable living beings.

Many times these animals are released into the wild to fend for themselves. This always ends badly for the animals.

Domestic ducks cannot fly, so they are unable to escape predators and do not survive the harsh winters. Domestic rabbits do not have the survival skills of their wild cousins.

Chickens wandering loose are often killed by wild predators or domestic dogs.

Please consider limiting Easter animal purchases to the chocolate variety and spare the real animals the inevitable suffering associated with poorly thought-out buying decision.

Hate crimes thrive on publicity. The perpetrators desperately want publicity, whether it is in print or on the airwaves.

If we deny them this notoriety, then we can punch them where it hurts the most. The best thing to do after they are justly convicted in a court of law and sentenced to death is for them to be burned and buried in an unmarked grave.

Knowing this is their final outcome might have some effect.

Our society seems to remember the perpetrators more than the victims.

What a terrible shame.

Although we face danger from outside our country, I’m more concerned about the danger inside, namely ignorance of how our democracy is supposed to work.

Divisiveness and rancor have always been part of our politics but so have reasoned debate and compromise. For too long we’ve seen too much of the former and too little of the latter.

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said we can’t be good citizens if we don’t know how government is supposed to work. She has made it her mission in retirement to see that civics returns to our schools because she believes the future of our democracy depends on it.

Her concerns echo those of Thomas Jefferson, who believed in an educated electorate, people who think for themselves, people who cannot be swayed by demagogues like Rush Limbaugh.

Why would otherwise decent people support policies that, for example, would deny anyone basic health care?

Listen to conservative talk radio/TV for five minutes and you will see how easy it is to incite people to vote against their own best interests.

Every issue deserves debate and compromise, or we are in danger of destroying ourselves from within.

Hobby Lobby objects on religious grounds in its case against the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that employers provide health insurance that covers contraceptives. That the Supreme Court would even hear this case is cause for concern.

What if a corporation believes that its religion condemns blood transfusions or immunizations? Is that something the corporation could exclude from its health care?

The Bible states, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet” (1 Timothy 2:12). Does that mean a corporation can deny women managerial positions or jobs because she is a woman and cite religious reasons?

Whose religion does the corporation follow — the religion of the majority of the board of directors, the CEO’s religion, the religion of the majority of workers?

This is a very dangerous and slippery slope.

Women, this affects us all. Men, this affects your mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. And who is the major customer base of Hobby Lobby? I would suppose women, who are doing crafts and decorating their homes.

Let me suggest that women refrain from patronizing Hobby Lobby. It doesn’t deserve our business.

I read Dave Eames’ article on April 14 on “Unwanted house guests” with particular interest.

I always thought squirrels were such cute and entertaining little animals. Until my house was invaded by those loathsome creatures.

For months, I could hear them chewing and gnawing on things.

Fearing my house would sustain damage from the intruders, I called an exterminator. He explained that one can’t put out poison because the squirrels would die and rot.

Smelling their rotting carcasses would be overwhelming.

The exterminator could set traps, but it would be expensive to have the workers come out every day to check the traps.

They could sell me a trap, but he explained that when the squirrels are caught, I’d have to drive about five miles from the home to release them.

Apparently, squirrels can easily find their way back.

Because it was considerably cheaper, I went with that plan.

To be on the safe side, I drove six miles from my house to release them. I wanted to be positive that they would not return.

Finally, after 20 squirrels and no end in sight, I gave up.

I sold my house and moved 15 miles away.

This story was originally published April 17, 2014 at 4:41 PM with the headline "TV news, white supremacists, Easter gifts."