Into the light
Keep writing, Jeneé Osterheldt. Hate, like shame, thrives in secrecy. Your consistent messages of dignity, respect and honoring every individual flush out those frightened neighbors among us.
Responding in kind to their hate speech would provide justification for them to return to hiding. (Sept. 13, 2A, “‘Tar and feather them’: Marcus Peters’ anthem protests bring out the hate — and love”) Responding by exposing their own speech will relieve the festering shame and fear that underlies the hurtful words.
We, you and each of them are beloved children of God. Interacting with one another in that context allows us to be the best that we can be. I have great respect for your courage.
David P. Winans
Kansas City, Kan.
Royal inspiration
Hey, guys, I know this year has been a struggle. You all are tired from working so hard to move ahead in the standings.
I cheer and cry along with the other fans you gentlemen have cultivated in the last decade. I just wanted to tell you guys that you inspire me to keep going forward and to complete the jobs or trials in front of me.
I am a disabled Vietnam vet. I suffer from PTSD, and some days I question my life. When I am struggling, my wife says, “Baby, the Royals are playing tonight,” and we watch the game.
I see you guys play, and the amazing effort you put forth inspires me.
Your hard work and never-give-up attitude started me on the road to my own goals. I will graduate in December with my associate’s degree, and I owe it in large part to you gentlemen. Thank you.
Guy Lasley
Odessa
Editor conversation
On the front page of the Thursday sports section, there was a nice article about Alex Smith earning AFC offensive player of the week. I laughed when I saw the picture of Smith that The Star decided to run with the story.
I’m sure you had hundreds of photos to choose from and you decided to use one of him falling down. This looks like the play where he tripped over his own feet and took a 10-yard sack.
Nice choice. Nothing goes with a story of offensive excellence better than your quarterback on the ground.
How did that conversation go?
“Bring me a photo of Alex Smith.”
“Here’s one of Alex throwing a touchdown to Tyreek Hill. Or how about this one where’s he’s running for a first down?
“Not good enough. Don’t you have any of him in an awkward pose — something that has nothing to do with great play?”
“How about this one with him taking a sack?”
“Brilliant — let’s use that one.”
Brad Green
Olathe
Veterans event
This is the 19th year the Mid-Continent Public Library is presenting its Annual Veterans Salute to honor military veterans from all wars, all services. It will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence. The library won a national award four years ago partly for presenting this annual tribute to veterans.
The Star each week promotes events that cost a bundle, while this one is free to all who attend. The theme is the U.S. entry into World War I and withdrawal from the Vietnam War.
Those who attend can leave their politics and protests at home, and come to see 50 tables of historical military artifacts and lots of veterans, and listen to the award-winning American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City. And again, it’s free.
John Reichley
Leavenworth
Let us all vote
I enjoyed Dave Helling’s Sept. 13 commentary on Kris Kobach. (15A, “Why Kansas should abolish Kobach’s part-time job”)
Kobach fits in perfectly with the Trump administration’s fake news/war on facts perspective. It boggles the mind that anyone could defend, with a straight face, the time and money Kobach spends chasing a “problem” estimated to affect less than a thousandth of a percent of votes cast. And he pleads that he only wants to uphold the law, which is preposterous. Plain and simple, he wants to exclude citizens from voting.
Voting is a right. It should be easy and inclusive. Any secretary of state, especially Kobach, who works to make it more difficult and exclusive should be fired. Or, as Dave suggests, we should just abolish the job and let him get back to his other hobbies like writing for the Breitbart News site.
People such as Kobach, so eager to “make America great again” at the expense of our rights and freedoms, must be stopped.
If he is the Republican candidate for governor, we’ll do it then — emphatically.
Scott Roby
Lenexa