Letters on Trump’s ban, Obama’s caution, Ranzau, Watermark authors
Concerns are the same around the world
Donald Trump’s newest proposal to not let any people of the Muslim faith into our country has practical as well as constitutional implications. Here is an example.
In 2014, a student from Norway who is Muslim and a pre-med student, and who formerly lived for a year with our daughter and son-in-law, was critically injured in a car wreck and taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. Our daughter happened to be in Kansas City at a conference. She was able to be at his bedside in short order.
My wife and I also drove up to be by his side. His parents in Norway were frantic about their only son. In the time it took them to get here, the young man underwent major surgery to save his life.
When his parents finally arrived, they were so grateful that someone in a foreign land cared about their son. They are two of the most gracious, gentle and compassionate people I have ever met. It just shows that the concerns and aspirations for family are the same around the world.
What if, God forbid, under a President Trump the parents could not have entered this country to be by their son’s side? His mother had to stay for several months to care for him during his recovery. Are we to let our innermost demons be unleashed by hatred, fear, ignorance or politics?
William C. Skaer, Wichita
Blame Obama, not Trump
I don’t think Donald Trump said anything that bad; a moratorium on Muslim immigration is the prudent thing to do until we get control of this mess President Obama has created. This is Obama’s fault, not Trump’s.
Trump is not afraid to protect us from these terrorists, which is more than Obama or Hillary Clinton will do. I bet the Europeans wish they had never allowed the Muslims to settle in Europe in the first place; they have caused nothing but trouble. They will do the same thing here. We need a president who will put Americans first.
Gregory H. Bontrager, Hutchinson
Obama’s caution justified
The front-page article about President Obama’s speech Sunday, which was labeled “analysis,” missed the mark (Dec. 7 Eagle). Obama’s caution has kept America from the disastrous wars that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Obama deserves credit rather than criticism for that caution.
The Bush wars waged in Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with Sept. 11 and everything to do with oil. Further, these wars destabilized the Middle East, leaving groups like ISIS to fill the power vacuum.
Not only did Bush’s wars fail to bring democracy to the Middle East, they were responsible for the unnecessary loss of American lives and treasure. When Bush strutted onto the deck of an aircraft carrier under the sign that read “Mission Accomplished,” what mission did he have in mind? It certainly wasn’t any mission that resulted in victory for Americans.
Obama does not strut. He also does not want Americans fighting another pointless ground war in the Middle East.
Bombastic rhetoric from politicians looking to make points with voters may sway some people. As for those of us who think war is the worst solution to any problem, we are satisfied with Obama’s caution. He could go even further and stop dropping bombs in the Middle East.
Diane Wahto, Wichita
Ranzau represents me
Thank you, Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Richard Ranzau, for protecting my hard-earned tax dollars from being misspent by providing benefits for citizens of other countries. This type of “lure” needs to be eliminated.
Thank you also to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett for his ruling concerning the proposed recall of Ranzau (Nov. 24 Eagle). There are more important issues for our local government to deal with than this distraction of a second recall petition (Dec. 9 Eagle).
Ranzau represents my values and the values of the majority of my friends, family and co-workers. To the people who signed the petition: Please know there is nothing stopping you from creating (and funding) your own entity to provide this service.
Danny L. Lawson, Goddard
Watermark a gem
I recently attended an event held by Watermark Books at the Kansas Leadership Center featuring Jon Meacham, the author of the new book, “Destiny and Power,” about George H.W. Bush. It was an event that everyone would have enjoyed and learned from. What saddens me is that we had a very small representation of people from Wichita. To my knowledge, no one was there from The Eagle or our local government, though former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker was there.
Watermark Books is a gem in our city and is able to bring incredible authors to our town. It is our job to support those opportunities so they do not go away. We are all busy, but sometimes you have to make a choice, and I do hope people reconsider when Watermark hosts an author. Meacham was engaging and knowledgeable, and for those who came, a great learning experience.
Anna M. Flynn, Wichita
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This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Trump’s ban, Obama’s caution, Ranzau, Watermark authors."