Readers react to the police, Kansas zombies and Pope Francis
Unfair to police
The vast majority of police officers in this metropolitan area and throughout the country perform a difficult job in an admirable manner.
There are a small number who have not behaved correctly, and they should be held accountable. However, these individuals make up a very small percentage of the total police forces.
Enter the Black Lives Matter group and individuals such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and even President Barack Obama. They have criticized and demonized the police forces as a whole, with the message that the police can’t be trusted, are racist and are intent on killing young black men.
The fact is that over the last few years, the great majority of African American killings have come at the hands of other African Americans. This includes many children losing their lives.
Where is the outrage and moral indignation from black leaders?
Are the police really to blame?
Richard Macias
Merriam
Hocus-pocus
Surely this isn’t serious action by our governor of the state of the shining sun (9-29, A5, “Get ready, Kansans: It’s zombie preparedness time”).
Before we go hunting zombies, or defending against them, we need to be treated to some witch-doctoring, abracadabras, seances and the hanging of chicken entrails in paper bags around a goat’s neck and parading it three times counter-clockwise around the dome in Topeka.
Is this some kind of comic routine, or has our leader(?) and his band of merrymakers tramped this far into, and lost their way in, the wilderness of foolishness?
Don Rinck Sr.
Mission
Pope of surprises
Who was that unmasked man that sauntered into the world’s most powerful democracy calling on its governing body to return to its spiritual roots of people power?
It was reminiscent of a Galilean teacher’s Golden Rule in personal and social relations, the reversal of fortune of rich and poor, and of the social status of first and last.
Then, like a period piece from the Middle Ages came the pageantry of Catholic liturgy. Stepping from the celebration, a solitary figure in a white robe stood between the first century and today, calling on humanity to redeem itself spiritually and with action. He invoked the moral authority of President Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
But does not the pope hold positions on some human issues that many Americans consider unjust? Yes, but considering his surprises up to now, who knows where his thinking is going?
Temp Sparkman
Kansas City
Police inaction
A gun was pointed at me recently by a white man in a pickup with not one but two Confederate flags on his vehicle. I guess I cut him off in traffic, but so what?
There was no harm done. Unfortunately, we were headed in the same direction in the inner city.
I was able to get his vehicle information and his physical description, but, although I could have lost my life, the police officer who responded was even more offensive.
I made it to my job, which is at a school. Of course, my co-workers were concerned and had gathered around. What the officer said made everyone there feel unsafe when I asked when this person would be arrested.
Officer Harris said he did not know, maybe within a week. This stuff happens all the time, and they have a lot of work to do.
He said he really did not know how to classify it. Maybe an aggravated assault or showing a weapon.
Really?
I guess black lives really don’t matter.
Gloria Davis
Kansas City
City name change
Don’t be surprised when members of the Kansas tea party petition to change the name of Kansas’ largest city, Wichita, to Kochita (pronounced Coke-i-ta).
Walter Funderburke
Kansas City, Kan.
Keep parks open
Open and free access to parks in the city is a basic need. Yet the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department sells out to exclusivity.
Its latest move is to give GoApe, a for-profit company, permission to use the Swope Park forest for the company’s corporate endeavors.
It is shameful.
Do we really want our trails and open spaces given away to companies that charge fees to play?
City parks are public lands. Let’s keep it that way.
Matthew Browning
Kansas City
This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Readers react to the police, Kansas zombies and Pope Francis."