Readers sound off on police deaths, Donald Trump, terrorism
Police deaths
On Monday morning (the day after the killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge, La.), I sat in the doctor’s office when I heard a woman say, “Another killing…ho hum” (7-18, A1, “KC man tied to Louisiana shooting”).
I was appalled. Something is significantly wrong with our society when we no longer are pained, angered or saddened by killings, when we take these deaths as mundane, ordinary or just another event of the day.
Phyllis Carlson
Overland Park
Trump, Reagan
Why are Republicans clutching their pearls over presidential candidate Donald Trump? He is walking the road that Ronald Reagan paved.
Trump is a creation of reality TV. Before Trump, Reagan merged movies and politics.
Trump says he can shoot someone and still retain his voters. Reagan was the Teflon president. He committed treason (Iran-Contra) and suffered no loss of allegiance.
Trump is a racist. Reagan kicked off his campaign and the “Southern strategy” in Mississippi.
Trump runs as an outsider, opposed to government (especially regulations). Reagan taught us that “government is the problem.”
Trump runs as a billionaire who embodies capitalist success. Reagan popularized trickle-down economics.
If Trump fails, it will be because he can’t do the one thing Reagan did well — read a teleprompter.
Clarence Thomson
Overland Park
Forging greatness
We live in a time when the voice of negativity frequently trumpets over the rhythmic hum of positivity, and divisiveness abounds. In President Barack Obama’s words, addressing our nation’s problems isn’t as much about creating policy as about forging consensus.
We need to seek Republican and Democratic leaders who embrace this wisdom and who will seek to forge consensus in a way that is just and inclusive and in the best interest of this country. That is what will make America great again.
Bias, hate and prejudice are not American values. The onus is on each of us as Americans to fix what our divisiveness has broken. The onus is on us to embrace our differences, support one another and stand united as one America.
Addressing the needs and concerns of one another is paramount. And when we hear or see elected leaders behave or speak in a way that is divisive or negative, we should not hesitate to respectfully contact them.
Clarence Frazee
Kansas City
Mercy over terror
After nearly 50 years of working to improve the status of children, I learned one important lesson — sometimes problems are too big to be addressed in their entirety. It takes patience and addressing the components of the problem.
We have been stunned by the horrific occurrences in Dallas, Baton Rouge, St. Paul, Orlando, Brussels, Nice, Paris and other places. We ask, “What can we do to build a more civilized society?”
Let me pose an achievable answer. Kansas City could be a model for the country. To paraphrase Sen. Robert Kennedy: What we need is not division. What we need isn’t hatred, violence or lawlessness. What we need is love, wisdom and compassion toward one another and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer in our community regardless of color.
Jesus told the Pharisees, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” The lack of compassion shown by the Pharisees reminds me of Pope Francis saying, “If our heart is closed, if our heart is made of stone, then the stones will end up in our hands, and then we will be ready to throw them at someone.”
Let us all commit to using the gift of mercy with one another.
Jim Caccamo
Kansas City
TV reception
A July 17 letter writer commenting on the Fox/Dish Network dispute wrote that she had heard of an antenna but that it was a poor option. She obviously hasn’t used an antenna.
We live in Topeka, which is farther from Kansas City than the writer’s location in Pleasant Hill, and use an antenna with great satisfaction. We receive more than 60 channels from stations in Topeka and Kansas City. In the digital era, reception via antennas, including HDTV, is great.
I watched the All-Star game and enjoyed seeing Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez and Kelvin Herrera star in the American League victory on WDAF-TV, Channel 4, without cable or satellite.
Charles Pomeroy
Topeka
Older Americans
Older Americans want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. The Older Americans Act helps them do just that.
Since 1965, the law has provided essential programs and services to our most vulnerable seniors, including Meals on Wheels, access to abuse-prevention services, transportation assistance, job training and support for family caregivers.
Older Americans Act programs save taxpayers money by keeping older Americans out of nursing homes and by reducing hospital admissions.
We applaud all members of Congress for their bipartisan support of the law. We appreciate their work to get the bill passed.
Since 2010, AARP has consistently supported congressional reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. The president signed the bill into law on April 19.
Reauthorizing the law will help thousands of older Americans in Kansas and Missouri who depend on the programs and services that the Older Americans Act helps fund.
Maren Turner
Director
AARP Kansas
Lawrence
Craig Eichelman
Director
AARP Missouri
Kansas City
This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers sound off on police deaths, Donald Trump, terrorism."