Letters on flags at half-staff, Chicago gun deaths, abortion
Nation should use half-staff sparingly
Our practice of flying our nation’s magnificent flag at half-staff is a grand way of showing our respect and admiration to those who deserve it. It is also an area for which the road to error is routinely paved with good intentions.
The recent decision by our president to fly the flag at half-staff after the shootings in Orlando was an example of such an error. There is good reason why tragic deaths of a mass shooting are not found in the easily researched guidance on when to fly the flag at half-staff.
In the past year, our flag has been flown for victims of the Belgium terrorist bombing, for the passing of former first lady Nancy Reagan (loved her) and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (loved him), and for victims of the San Bernardino shootings, the Paris terrorist attack, the tragedy in Roseburg, Ore., and the tragedy in Chattanooga, Tenn. Two years ago in Oregon, flags were flown at half-staff for Don Kendall, a grader operator who was accidentally run over by a dump truck.
Not to minimize the sadness and loss of these people, but during a recent 10-year period there was an average of 100 people killed on American highways – daily. Were these lives not as precious as those who had a flag flown at half-staff on their behalf?
I fear that if we continue to recognize every tragedy, even those around the world that do not involve Americans, we risk diluting the special meaning of the flag at half-staff.
Steve West, Colwich
Why not reported?
The Chicago Tribune reported this week that Chicago recorded its 300th homicide of the year, with 13 homicides over Father’s Day weekend. Do you ever wonder why the national mainstream media, and our own Wichita Eagle, rarely report on these stories?
There has been no mention of this milestone from the president or any of the gun-grabbing liberals in Washington, D.C., either.
The reason you don’t hear about it is because it does not fit their made-up “more gun control” narrative.
Here are the facts, per the Tribune: Over Father’s Day weekend, 59 people were shot, 13 fatally. So far this year, nearly 1,800 people have been shot across Chicago and more than 200 of those wounded have died. A total of 306 people have been killed this year, by shooting, stabbing or other means.
Why has there been no national outrage? Why no candlelight ceremonies?
How about let’s just promise to tell, report, print and broadcast the truth, and nothing but the truth?
Michael Crabtree, Wichita
On side of choice
Abortion is an unfortunate alternative in many cases. However, sometimes it is desirable and even essential.
As one of God’s children, a woman has the right to make her own choice. Without that choice, a woman is relegated to the status of a brood animal, and that is akin to slavery.
What would Jesus say if he were alive today? I believe he would be on the side of choice.
Only people who consider themselves more important than God would deny the God-given right of choice for a woman.
Robert Phillip Bayer, Wichita
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This story was originally published June 25, 2016 at 12:03 AM with the headline "Letters on flags at half-staff, Chicago gun deaths, abortion."