Church injustice, tax cuts, abortion bill
Injustice on Troost
I am upset and discouraged by what has happened to Colleen Simon. She lost her job feeding the hungry at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (5-15, A4, Commentary, “Church fumbles chance to change”).
The church is on Troost Avenue, a longtime dividing line between the hungry and not-so-hungry.
I prefer that “love one another as I have loved you” reverberate throughout this city instead of “fire everyone who doesn’t think like us.”
My family doctor, John T. Skinner, M.D., explained it to me years ago: “Quit giving them money, and they will listen to you.”
If you want them to listen to you, don’t give them money to build a new high school to teach this behavior. They will listen.
John J. Sheeley
Kansas City
Tax cuts someday
Missouri has a balanced budget amendment and a record of balancing budgets, even when revenues fell in recent years during the recession. This recession cycle will end someday, and revenues will increase.
When revenues have increased, then tax cuts can be considered.
Howard J. Flint
Kansas City
Nixon, abortion bill
The May 16 lead editorial, “Gov. Nixon must veto abortion bill,” insists that Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon must veto the abortion bill, which mandates a three-day cool-off period (the current limit is 24 hours) for a woman to consider whether to kill the newly formed baby in her womb.
This decision can affect the woman for the rest of her life. The time to consider the possibility of pregnancy is before the sexual act.
Jerry Fournier
Kansas City
Streetcars vs. buses
I see why Kansas City needs streetcars. Almost no one rides the buses so, of course, we need streetcars.
George McNarie
Kansas City
King Tut attraction
I have to disagree with the gentleman from Leawood who, in a May 19 letter, took issue with the use of replicas and the cost of the tickets for the King Tut exhibit at Union Station.
I have to wonder whether he has been to the exhibit.
I have, and this is one fabulous exhibit. For those who have an interest in ancient Egyptian art, culture and history, this exhibit provides a unique opportunity to know the past.
For the educational value, the audio tour, the exquisite replicas and the experience of feeling that you are there with archaeologist Howard Carter at the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, you will want to attend this exhibit.
The fact that replicas are used is really irrelevant compared with the immersion into ancient Egyptian culture this exhibit offers.
This exhibit is well worth the ticket price — replicas and all.
Kathleen Whitworth
Roeland Park
Climate change truth
Kansas City had a record cold winter, prompting many global-warming skeptics to rejoice. To climate-change cynics, cold temperatures somehow proved that our consistent exploitation of resources has no proven consequences.
Unable to see any immediate effect, the public quickly dismisses scientific information. Reporting on the government’s steps to inform the public gives me hope that our global climate problem will become an accepted scientific fact.
This can take place only when more people are educated about the negative consequences of our natural resource exploitation.
The Obama administration’s attempts to convey information on global change with models is a step in the right direction.
Robert Costanza, an ecological economist, proposes quantifying nature’s services to humans. Money is something that most people can grasp and citing it could quell many of the Republicans’ arguments against climate change action for economic reasons.
We use the free services of the ecosystem every day, yet it is not factored into the GNP.
We take for granted the services of animals that seem insignificant but provide billions in revenue.
The cost of replacement for important species is persuasive in getting the attention of the fiscally conservative.
Jenny Phillips
Leawood
Supreme knowledge
I have learned a great deal from decisions by this Supreme Court. Apparently, it’s not against the law to be stupid.
Richard Prewitt
Kansas City
Missed moon shot
As a retired science teacher, I was shocked when Rex Hudler, announcer for the Kansas City Royals, called the moon a planet. As far as I know, he never corrected himself either that night or later.
Perhaps someone should tell him there is a difference between a planet and a satellite, and the moon is certainly not a planet. Many of his comments are not what you would expect an announcer to say, such as, “What a knock.”
Sally Trendel
Burlington, Kan.
Distasteful KCI
My relationship with Kansas City International Airport is different from most of the readers who have shared their thoughts on the opinion page.
I do not live in the immediate area, so I will have no voice in deciding the future of the airport.
I travel strictly for pleasure not business. Being a leisure traveler may give me a slightly rosier view of the airline industry as a whole compared with someone for whom it is simply another day at work.
I have seen the inside of many airports throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. After visiting these modern, efficient facilities and then returning home to KCI, I have only one request.
Please build a new airport in Kansas City.
The main argument I hear to keep the airport as is involves the fact that it is a short walk from your car to the gate. I would argue that a short walk to nothing is worse than a longer walk to something.
KCI gives a lasting first impression to many visitors to your city. In its present state, that impression is not a good one.
Dallas Garr
Emporia, Kan.
Stern Brownback
Is it just me or is Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback acting like a cruel father? You know the kind.
When confronted by behavior he doesn’t approve of, rather than listen to a reasonable explanation, he beats you while saying, “This is for your own good.”
Teachers begging to be respected? Out comes the belt in the form of a school finance bill that fixes little in the public schools but takes our tax money to reward companies that give to private schools.
No more arbitration, teachers. Oh, take your whipping like a man.
Seniors begging the governor not to politicize their Medicaid by taking it over so if they get sick somewhere besides Kansas they can still be covered. Go pick out a switch, Grandpa. You’re headed for the woodshed.
Local governments don’t want guns everywhere? Forget the belt you namby-pambys, just meet me at the OK Corral.
Unfortunately, it is too late for Mom to divorce this man. The damage to the family will have already been done.
Kathleen C. Butler
Wichita
Good entertainment
We have always felt very lucky we live in a metropolitan area such as Kansas City, which has such a strong arts community.
If you are ever bored in this town, it’s your lack of knowledge of what is going on each week, not what the city offers.
Being season ticket holders of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Repertory Theatre and having a busy lifestyle, we don’t always think about the smaller venues.
Recognizing this recently, we decided to check out The Arts Asylum at 1000 E. Ninth St. to see “Flowers in the Wardrobe.”
A great thing about the smaller shows is it’s easy to sit up front, which is what we did. The play was really good, and the actors were great.
This was not surprising because of previous experiences at the Living Room and similar theaters around town.
My fellow Kansas City area residents, get out and support these fine shows.
You won’t be disappointed, and it’s cheap entertainment for the talent you get to experience.
In many cases, it’s not much more than going to see a movie.
Ken Bailey
Independence
This story was originally published May 22, 2014 at 6:57 PM with the headline "Church injustice, tax cuts, abortion bill."