Chipotle’s gun policy, genetically modified foods, corporations as people

No guns at Chipotle

I want to compliment Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants for implementing a no-firearms policy when harassed by gun-toting National Rifle Association-type patrons who were intimidating patrons on the premises (5-21, A15, “No guns, please”).

Three cheers to a successful business standing up to the NRA.

Marlene Shulkin

Overland Park

Genetic modifications

The May 21 “As I See It” column, “Modern technology helps farmers,” was a well-written article in support of genetically modified farming and “modern” methods.

But it was filled with misinformation.

After I read the whole thing, my first thoughts were:

What about the growing number of pesticides that are now being found in the bodies of every American as well as their newborns? What about the disappearing bees and butterflies? What about other countries that are banning genetically modified foods? What about China refusing shipments of our genetically modified corn?

One of the affiliations the writer lists is his board membership with Land O’Lakes.

He should also state that Land O’Lakes is one of the large contributors to the fight against food safety, the fight against the labeling of our foods.

We have a right to know what is in our foods.

Judy Kirkpatrick

Shawnee

Corporations, people

Because our Supreme Court has decided that corporations are people, should they not be treated as people?

Many corporations have committed egregious acts that have hurt the environment and the American people. They have paid some nominal fines. However, when people commit these acts they are sent to jail.

Because corporations are people, should they not be treated in the same way? Whom would they send, you might ask.

Obviously, the government cannot jail the whole corporation, but it can jail the heads of the body — the decision-makers. I highly, seriously, recommend this.

Jail a few of them. They deserve it, and I’ll bet they won’t want corporations to be people anymore.

Louann Stahl

Prairie Village

Managing aquifer

Gov. Sam Brownback’s 50-year vision for the future of water in Kansas must be expanded beyond Kansas.

Eight states overlie the Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer. The effects of water flow and use cross the boundaries of these states because of the location, size, depth, thickness and slope of the aquifer.

Other considerations are quantity and quality of aquifer water and interconnections between the aquifer and surface water.

The governor or his successor should call for key elected officials from the eight states to convene as soon as possible a meeting of themselves, aquifer user representatives, and natural and social scientists. They would share facts about the current and probable future trends about the quantity and quality of water in the aquifer, and arrange to collect and study additional needed evidence.

They would also ascertain the likely economic, ecological and social impacts of the trends. The evidence would support the findings and conclusions that would aid officials in discussing and negotiating an enforceable interstate policy agreement for the future management of the whole aquifer.

Allyn O. Lockner

Topeka

Transition at KCI

Rather than building a new $1.2 billion terminal for Kansas City International Airport, here’s an idea: Why not revamp Terminal A, which is currently closed? Do whatever infrastructure improvements are needed.

With a bit of ingenuity, I’d bet the entire terminal could be inside security. It could be similar to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on a smaller scale. Maybe have three security checkpoints, one at each end and one in the middle. When it’s done, move operations from Terminal B to Terminal A and then do the same to Terminal B. Then move Terminal C operations to Terminal B.

If it ever looks like we need more capacity, do the same to Terminal C. It’s a win-win.

We would have fewer security checkpoints, which would reduce costs. There could be more retail revenue because the businesses would all be inside security.

Although the walk to the gate wouldn’t be as short as it currently is, it would still be reasonable. We’re actually lucky to have this excess capacity, which would allow this type of transition.

Dale Willer

Shawnee

U.S. damage in Iraq

I wonder whether the Iraqis are thanking us for our war to free them from tyranny and give them freedom. I am obviously not serious.

The destruction we unleashed is still a daily horror story for the people of Iraq. The bombings are a seeming daily occurrence.

I cannot imagine the hatred these poor people must feel for us. And we deserve it.

We decided what was best for them. In reality, it was part of international politics, and what was best for them had nothing to do with it.

Shame on us. The world begged us not to do it.

But the Western powers know what’s best, don’t we?

Fred Slough

Kansas City

Resistance to peace

In 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt proposed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the United Nations General Assembly. Forty-eight countries favored it; 10 did not. Those 10, along with hundreds of other countries, still have human rights corruption.

Rick Gladstone of The New York Times covered the U.N.’s accusation of North Korea’s human rights abuses. North Korea has many prison-like camps.

One punishment includes prisoners choosing between no food and a beating. Michael D. Kirby, head of the U.N. investigation, said that action must be taken. However, given North Korea’s isolation, the U.N. is unsure what that action must be.

From here we must turn to see progress in our own country. Hallmark Cards headquarters recently recognized 25 employers committed to human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. Each employer has non-bias policies, benefits, training and more for the LGBT community.

We have to start somewhere.

We may not be able to cease gunfire among Syrian citizens.

We may not be able to halt Russian troops marching toward Ukrainian borders.

But we can start in neighborhoods.

And maybe that’s where peace begins.

Luke Harbur

Overland Park

Fragile Obamacare

See how the Republicans dance with glee at the prospect of taking away my and millions of others’ health care after the midterm elections in the fall.

Think of the many thousands of people with pre-existing conditions.

Oh, with what delight the Republicans will toast the end of people’s medical care under the Affordable Care Act.

And if these things should come to pass, shouts of joy and hallelujahs will surely ring out across the land from the pulpits of the Republican base.

And, yea, even on high, Jesus and the angels will be shooting their Glock 9mms into the air in holy celebration. How dare the poor think they deserve health care.

Praise guns almighty. I mean God.

Amen.

Greg Brown

Raymore

Closed captioning

My wife has some hearing loss, so we turn on closed captioning when we’re watching television. I’ve seen captioning that can only be described as gibberish or the sound of a wildebeest being taken down by a lion.

But the one that took the cake was a show about Mohandas Gandhi in South Africa before and during his social activism there.

A reference was made to the “white” newspaper’s coverage of Mr. Gandhi’s activities. Closed captioning referred to the newspapers as the “Whitey Bulger” newspapers. I’m sure the hearing-impaired audience was stunned to find out that in addition to Whitey’s criminal activities in and around Boston, he had a second career as respectable newspaper man in South Africa.

Computers have a long way to go before they will replace the human brain.

Dennis Stratton