Print edition: 
Student should not apologize for tweet
The young lady who is in trouble over the tweet about the governor should not be apologizing to anyone (“Student chastised after tweet insults governor,” Nov. 24 Eagle). It is her principal who should be apologizing to her, as should the governor’s staff and the governor himself.
The student has a right to speak her mind freely without fear of censorship. Many of us agree with her sentiments. But even if we do not, her right to voice them is protected by the United States Constitution.
As a veteran, I served so we could all state our feelings without fear of retaliation. The governor’s staff and this student’s principal seem to feel it is not proper to criticize the government. But it is not only proper that we do, it is necessary that we be aware of what our government is doing and let our leaders know so that they can then mend their policies to be more in keeping with the people’s wishes.
EDWARD EVERHART
Bel Aire
Lost opportunity
The upbraiding and chastisement should be directed to the school official who did not politely tell the governor’s aide that the student was exercising her free speech and free thought rights (Nov. 24 Eagle). What a lost opportunity to teach a basic civics lesson.
Shame on the school official. Shame on the governor’s aide.
The apologies should be from them to the student.
KEITH SANBORN
Wichita
Not bipartisan
A mass e-mail from Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, said that he was hopeful “up to the very end” that the supercommittee could reach a bipartisan agreement on reduced spending. He said the inability of the committee to do that was “unfortunate,” but he applauded the conservative appointees to the committee for “holding the line” against the “left.”
Just what exactly is Pompeo’s definition of “bipartisan”? He seems to be one of the most partisan politicians of whom I am aware.
Pompeo is welcome to his opinions, but he shouldn’t insult his constituency by draping his opinions in assertions of a desire for “bipartisanship” when apparently what that means to Pompeo is that “the other guys need to agree with 100 percent of what we want.”
WALTER COLVIN
Clearwater
Faulty reasoning
As an attendee at the governor’s Wichita town-hall meeting on reducing childhood poverty (Nov. 17 Eagle), I came away with more questions than answers as to what this series of meetings was meant to accomplish.
Gov. Sam Brownback’s concern about childhood poverty in Kansas is certainly warranted. It is unfortunate, however, that for a solution he has turned to Robert Rector and his paper “Marriage: America’s Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty,” which posits that poverty’s “principal cause is the absence of married fathers in the home.” In the 16-page paper, published by the Heritage Foundation, Rector cites U.S. Census Bureau statistics and research by a Harvard University sociologist in support and validation of his conclusion that marriage is the answer to childhood poverty.
However, Rector’s conclusion is flawed to the point of intellectual dishonesty. One serious error is his use of statistics and data to infer causation. Another red flag is his use of independent research. The findings and understandings of poverty to come out of the work of Harvard professor Kathryn Edin in no way posit marriage as the solution to poverty.
How sad, indeed alarming, that policy recommendations are being based on such faulty and dishonest reasoning. The people of Kansas deserve better than this.
BILLIE L. KNIGHTON
Wichita
Bigger picture
While members of the public are so concerned about the cuts in education, they are missing the bigger picture, which was aptly stated in “Speak English” (Nov. 18 Letters to the Editor). However, the problem exists far beyond just not speaking English in kindergarten. High school teachers complain that they are spending much of their time teaching reading rather than their subject. Though the rule is that only English can be spoken in the classroom, some students choose not to comply.
Also contributing are all the ways that keep immigrants from becoming truly “American,” provided for them by our schools. There are special programs, grants and scholarships for them, resulting in even more benefits directed their way. Other institutions follow suit — banks, universities, department stores, radio and TV stations, federal and local governments, etc. Under all these factors is the glue that holds it together, political correctness.
Let me be clear: The problem is not with legal immigration, which is great, but with the loss of law enforcement, resulting in our nation rapidly losing sovereignty status at the expense of American citizens. But, hey, we don’t want to stand up for what is right and just, lest we be called racist.
EVELYN DAMORE
Wichita
Nothing new
A letter writer said she was appalled that some kids don’t speak English when they enter kindergarten (“Speak English,” Nov. 18 Letters to the Editor). The writer should have visited some of the German, Czech, Polish and, yes, French towns in Kansas. She would have found out that teachers in the first part of the 20th century in such towns had to speak the language of the community, as well as English. Most of the students were older than kindergarten age; in some towns, business was even done in the old home language.
These young children, in many cases, then went home and taught their older relatives the English language. My wife’s grandmother was speaking as much German as she did English into the 1950s.
Yes, some people complained about these outsiders who didn’t speak the language of their new country. But I believe these immigrants are the reason that our country is the greatest in the world.
DICK RIDDLE
Wichita
Accept immigrants
As a recent “immigrant” to Kansas, having lived in several other states, I am pleased to see that Wichita honors the traditional American values that have long supported, honored and appreciated immigration from other countries. Congratulations to the teachers who add the English for Speakers of Other Languages endorsement, which gives teachers strategies to more effectively deliver content to all students.
Our community is enriched with a variety of cultures and languages. Our young people are better prepared to prosper in the 21st century as they learn by our example to accept immigrants and integrate them into our schools, businesses, churches and personal lives.
ROY E. HOWARD
Wichita
Get to zero
World AIDS Day is Thursday. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the AIDS pandemic: 30 years since the official start of the AIDS epidemic; 30 years since the first AIDS case reported in Kansas; 30 years since the first AIDS death was reported in Kansas.
This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero” — zero AIDS-related deaths, zero new infections and zero discrimination.
Wichita will commemorate this anniversary with an event centering on the history and stories of the impact of HIV on individuals, Wichita, the state and the nation. I urge the community to participate and show support for our local heroes who work tirelessly for AIDS education and care. Meet at the Wichita Art Museum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to join the candlelight vigil to the Mid-America All-Indian Center, where the program will be held. Please consider joining the effort to make “Getting to Zero” a reality.
JENNIFER EATON
Wichita
