Letters to the Editor (Aug. 11): Supporting presidents, World War II memorial, renewable energy
Support president on North Korea
Democrats remember President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis saying about Nikita Khrushchev, “He has an opportunity now to move the world back from the abyss of destruction.” With great pride, they recall how the president faced down a ruthless dictator armed with nuclear weapons. Too bad they cannot comprehend the current threat in North Korea.
Kim Jong Un has great destructive capability, thanks to eight years of kicking sand into President Obama’s face. Much like Neville Chamberlain allowed Adolph Hitler to flourish during years of western pacifism, our previous administration let North Korea acquire the means to destroy us.
If you cannot support our current president, then crawl into a bunker, place your head between your legs, and kiss the grass goodbye. Kennedy also said, “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”
Michael Mackay, Mulvane
What a degree gets you these days
The current educational system is all about money. It is an industry within itself. It should back up about 60 years and start over.
I am truly convinced that the reason this country doesn’t have the people required to take the available jobs and do the work is because they have been brainwashed into believing that if you get a college education, regardless of the major or cost to the parents, you’ll never have to work. Just sit at a desk.
James Petersen, Wichita
World War II memorial online
On May 28, we celebrated with the Wichita community the completion of the World War II Memorial in Veterans Memorial Park with the addition of a directory of the names of those honored and remembered at the memorial. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful celebration, fittingly capped off with a flyover by four Stearman planes from Benton.
We encourage readers to visit wichitaworldwariimemorial.com. It’s our hope and intention that the website be a living and active tribute to those who served America, and the world, so gallantly in World War II.
The heart of the memorial is the 1,511 bricks honoring those who served, in three distinct pathways with 175 rows. Every brick tells a significant and important story and we would like to share each one of those stories on the website. Visit the website make an addition about a WWII veteran, even if that veteran does not have a brick at the Memorial.
After visiting the website, please visit Veterans Memorial Park at 339 Veterans Parkway. It is truly one of our city’s hidden treasures.
Ted Ayres, board of directors president, World War II Memorial
Keep renewables rolling
The letter “Electric energy vs. fossil fuels” (Aug. 7) pointed out that in 2017 the United States derives 3.1 percent of its energy from wind and solar energy. However, in 2012 we were deriving 1.6 percent of our energy from renewable resources. If the contributions of wind and solar doubles every five years, how long will it take for it to replace most other forms of energy?
The letter also points out the Earth’s climate has been changing forever, which is true. However, the main factors in climate change are small, predictable changes in the Earth’s orbit, which changes the amount of sunlight striking the Earth, and the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The orbital changes predict the Earth should be slowly cooling over the next 20,000 years, yet the Earth’s temperature is rising. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air has risen by 40 percent in the last decade and is surely the cause of the observed global warming.
The letter also says the climate will change until the sun is extinguished and all life on Earth will vanish. Life as we know it will vanish much sooner if we do not curb our carbon emissions.
JC Moore, Kechi
Trump had no cushion on health care
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s last-ditch health care initiative was the “skinny repeal.” Several Republican senators criticized it as a horribly flawed bill, saying they just wanted to use it as a vehicle to get the health care debate moved to reconciliation, where all the flaws would be fixed.
Some senators were skeptical about the process, expressing fears that the House would opt to pass the “skinny repeal” as is, disenfranchising millions of citizens from affordable health care, thus dooming the Republican Party to crushing defeat in 2018. It appears that Ryan was too cute by half, and failed to adequately address the senators’ concerns.
Had Trump not completely destroyed his credibility with his consistent history of distortions, half-lies, and complete fabrications, he could have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. He would’ve guaranteed senators who had concerns that he would veto the “skinny repeal” if it was sent to him by the House unmodified. This was not a viable strategy for a man who has repeatedly shown that his promises are empty, and that he has no moral commitment to dealing in good faith with anyone.
Joseph Kuttler, Wichita
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This story was originally published August 11, 2017 at 4:52 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Aug. 11): Supporting presidents, World War II memorial, renewable energy."