Letters on education funding, same-sex marriage books, Williams, Israel, library

Only one shot at a good education

As long as legislators are toying with public school funding, perhaps they could come up with a way to explain it to my kids.

I have four boys. The older two are in middle and elementary schools, and they work hard. They have straight A’s to show for it. They’re involved in sports. They’re in honors classes where available. They understand that they only get one shot at a good education – a fact that seems to have escaped our representatives.

We make good money, and are not on any sort of government assistance, but there’s no way we could pay for private school for all four kids. Are we supposed to pick our favorite and fund one quality education? They’re lucky to have college funds, but they’ll need grants and scholarships, too. How will they qualify when their transcripts are lacking because of budget cuts?

It’s just numbers for politicians, but they’re shortchanging the future leaders of our state. Yes, education is expensive, but an intelligent population is priceless.

My kids are doing their part. The Legislature needs to do its part and fully fund public education.

Don’t restrict books

I oppose a recent call for a law to keep books on same-sex marriage out of children’s sections of libraries (“Relocate books,” March 13 Letters to the Editor). The letter writer fears such materials will “brainwash” children into accepting such marriages as “normal.”

Ignoring the problem of defining “normal,” this position would foster ugly prejudices against same-sex unions and encourage censorship of library holdings. Those familiar with censorship campaigns know that some people will be offended by almost any children’s book that treats substantive themes and social issues.

Certainly, parents have the right and responsibility to determine the appropriateness of their children’s reading materials. But they – and state legislators – do not have the right to restrict access to what other people want their children to read.

Books about same-sex marriage may encourage tolerance for diversity and an understanding that not all families are alike. Responsible parents will monitor what their children are reading instead of yanking offending books off public library shelves.

Elect Williams

Sam Williams last summer stepped away from a very successful 40-year career in financial and business management. His next career goal: to give back in a major way to the city of Wichita by bringing a positive, bold vision for our future prosperity, and a commitment to principled leadership as its mayor.

Williams has the proven business, civic engagement and people-skill credentials to be an outstanding mayor. And his enthusiasm and energy are boundless. (Unlike me, he runs several marathons every year.)

He is committed to helping lift Wichita out of its status quo “good-old-boy” environment to one that levels the playing field for all, making our city a locale where businesses want to locate and grow because they are treated equally and fairly, as are all citizens.

Our community needs and will greatly benefit by electing a leader like Sam Williams as mayor April 7.

Israel under siege

Here is a quote of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir that was not referred to in “Threatening words not mere rhetoric” (March 14 Letters to the Editor): “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

Israel lives in a very hostile neighborhood, with countries on all sides wanting its annihilation. Iran has publicly called for the destruction of Israel, and funds Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Hamas charter of 1988 states that it intends to establish an Islamic state in the area that is now Israel.

There is no ethnic cleansing of Arabs in Israel, where they vote, hold office and have the rights and privileges of all citizens. What is ethnic cleansing is the Arab Muslims not wanting a single Jew left in the Middle East and propagating war after war to try to make this happen.

When Israel unilaterally and forcefully evacuated its own citizens from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it left a large infrastructure of greenhouses for the residents of Gaza to use to enhance their economy. But Hamas used the area as a launching site for missiles into Israel. Despite the constant rocket fire, Israel continues to provide electricity, water, food and supplies into Gaza.

Israel treats Gaza residents in its hospitals. How many countries under siege would do this for those who swear to annihilate them?

Go to library

Spring break is here. If you are wondering what to do, I have a suggestion: Go to the library.

During a recent visit to Wichita’s Central Library, I picked up a program calendar and was impressed with the wide variety of spring break activities planned for area youths. Story programs, puppet shows, craft activities, nature and science sessions provide opportunities for fun and learning.

Wichita is lucky to have a public library that offers these services to area families. Think about how much more will be available when there is a new Central Library with an even larger children’s center, a new teen space, and state-of-the-art meeting and programming areas.

This story was originally published March 17, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on education funding, same-sex marriage books, Williams, Israel, library."