Print edition: 
Marchers heeded King's words
I and hundreds of others marched recently to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at his memorial. In the past, he was vilified; now he's hailed as a hero. He and his supporters were described much as many pundits have described us — as a mob, hippies, misfits, even potential killers, according to Glenn Beck.
Who are we in reality? We are those who take King's words to heart about there being a time to break the silence, a time when silence is betrayal, and we may be "mesmerized by uncertainty; but we must move on."
The multitudes protesting are moving on. No longer content to remain mesmerized, they are exercising their democratic imperative to participate, speaking up, getting up, standing up.
Those who oppose us cannot dispense with us by hurling epithets.
What would King do and say? Although his words quoted here were spoken during the Vietnam era, they apply today: "We must speak with all the humility . . . , but we must speak." He would call for rejoicing that so many are dissenting based "upon the mandates of conscience."
We marched; we occupied with full conscience that we did so in the name of morality, nonviolence, peace, justice and equality.
ALICE POWELL
Wichita
Brainless mob
The brainless mob engaged in Occupy Wall Street is outraged at the gaping inequality of income between investment bankers and factory workers. Perhaps the protesters should travel west and "occupy Hollywood." An A-list movie actor makes millions starring in a motion picture.
Or maybe they should occupy the NFL, where the lowliest benchwarmer earns more per game than the protesters do in a year.
Why not occupy Washington, D.C.? President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., rake in the money. Apparently it's OK for liberals to be filthy rich.
MIKE MACKAY
Mulvane
Promoting religion
In his commentary "Brownback correct to seek churches' help" (Sept. 20 Opinion), Michael O'Donnell asserted that churches providing services to the community do not ask anything in return. Except he then asked for the opportunity to share what he believes with those housed in taxpayer-funded institutions. No restrictions bar O'Donnell from sharing his beliefs with the public at large. However, it is not the role of the government to provide a captive audience to which he can espouse his platform.
Churches have always played an important part in assisting those in need and are aided in this task by remaining free from the undue burden of taxation. Should taxpayers then provide even more dollars to organizations that might lack oversight and accounting and end in sectarian promotion?
The principles upon which our Founding Fathers based our guiding legal document, the Constitution, were secular. This is why the state may not promote one form of religion over another, or promote religion over no religion.
The new Out4Life prison program that Gov. Sam Brownback is promoting is clearly Christian-only, and its main goal of conversion is thinly veiled behind the cloak of reducing recidivism. The governor and his secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services should understand that a partnership between religion and government imperils both.
PEGGY COBB KNUDTSON
Wichita
Ax agencies
Hurrah for Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita ("Pompeo wants to ax econ agency," Oct. 16 Local & State). Americans should wish that more of our congressmen and presidents would have the courage to abolish agencies and departments that are spending us into oblivion.
The United States in on the brink of economic disaster. One of the first of many agencies to be axed should be the Environmental Protection Agency, one of the most egregious, intrusive and expensive agencies in government. It issues rules and regulations that cost people and businesses money and time while adding to the nation's debt. We have got to downsize our government to align it with our income.
We have whole departments that should go. Instead, our present administration is creating new ones. This is an issue that must be resolved if we are to remain an exceptional nation.
ART CHANDLER
Lyons
Business help
National Minority Enterprise Development Week occurred earlier this month. As part of the celebration, the Kansas Department of Commerce named Wichita's JR Custom Metal Products as a 2011 minority- owned business of the year, while Hawker Beechcraft's Bonnie Fullinwider won minority business advocate of the year.
Kansas' 74,000 female- and minority-owned businesses can find resources through the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, which provides information, referrals and training to current and potential business owners.
The Kansas Statewide Certification Program also offers eligible businesses certification as minority business enterprises or women business enterprises. This free service helps women and minority business owners procure contracts and subcontracts from government and private entities.
I encourage anyone interested in business ownership to see what services are available.
Sen. OLETHA FAUST-GOUDEAU
District 29, Kansas Senate
Wichita
