Letters on what’s the matter with Kansas, death penalty, piano, greatest race

What’s the matter with Kansas?

I am a divorced single mom, public school teacher and union member. I worked my way through college. I own my home and pay taxes. I do not qualify for government assistance, but I work a second job on the weekends. I drink an occasional glass of wine.

I am a Catholic and registered Republican. I did not vote for Gov. Sam Brownback.

For 42 years I have lived in Kansas. I no longer have job protection. My retirement, which I’ve been contributing to for 19 years, may not be there when I finally retire. Veterans may get preferential treatment during the hiring process, but I might not be able to negotiate the contract under which I work. I could lose my job because of budget cuts or because I teach “Huckleberry Finn.”

I have parented two sons and taught thousands of students, but I may not get to be a foster parent unless I get married, quit my job and dump that glass of wine.

Hey, that’s an idea. I could teach my foster kids “Huck Finn” in home school. I just hope my new husband doesn’t turn out to be gay and want a divorce.

Not a deterrent

Regarding “Need death penalty” (Jan. 24 Letters to the Editor): Numerous independent studies show that states without the death penalty have a record of lower murder rates. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 10 out of 12 states without the death penalty have homicide rates below the national average.

The death penalty doesn’t serve as a deterrent – a major underlying purpose behind criminal penalties. Texas has by far the most executions, but its homicide rate is twice that of Wisconsin, a state with no death penalty. The deterrence hypothesis has been discredited by several empirical research studies and proved to be a myth.

Former U.S. District Court Judge H. Lee Sarokin wrote: “Persons contemplating murder do not sit around the kitchen table and say, ‘I won’t commit this murder if I face the death penalty, but I will do it if the penalty is life without parole.’”

Abolition of the death penalty means saving millions of taxpayer dollars, which can be used on crime prevention, social and mental health programs. In the long run, these programs help reduce the number of violent crimes. Given the current fiscal condition, Kansas tax dollars are better spent on such programs.

Why credit piano?

My family was dirt poor when my sister and I were children. I do not remember hearing that the rich did not want the poor to have a piano, learn to sing in the church choir, or paint plaster of Paris that we made in rubber molds at home.

My sister learned to play on an old upright piano that my parents painted, replaced some key tops on and had tuned. She learned to play so well that at age 12 she auditioned at a Liberace-sponsored event where she first saw and played a grand piano. How excited she must have been to hear an instrument resonate with such clarity and intensity expressed by her understanding and feel of the keys.

Yes, that was a long time ago. Maybe so long ago that we have forgotten how to encourage people to start where they are with what they have and can afford.

Why credit the piano? My sister did the work and she, not the piano, earned the applause – heart and soul given freely through music. The arts are about creative activity, feeling the emotion and learning the discipline available to all.

The greatest race

The greatest race in Wichita’s history was held on Feb. 7. It was not a hyped-up marathon featuring famous runners from across the nation. Rather, it was a simple 4- and 1-mile run and walk with the start-finish line at the Riverlawn Christian Church, which graciously opened its doors for the event.

It was created, orchestrated, produced and directed by Tammy Ritchie and the “Cheeky Chicks,” Stephanie Griggs, Raquel Stucky, Kara McCluskey, Brynn Richardson, Heather Lewis, Mary Grene and Amanda Meyers. All technical help was donated by First Gear Running Co., a long-time supporter of our running community.

It was held to help defray medical expenses for Charlie and Molly Lavacek, long-standing Wichita runners. Charlie, Molly and their four daughters have lived under the shadow of Charlie’s malignant brain tumor, first diagnosed in 1996, three days after his 30th birthday. It’s now back. More than 500 runners and volunteers took part in the race with little advance publicity. More than $20,000 was raised.

For years we have had a wonderful and close running community here in Wichita. When you see people out running when it’s way too hot or way too cold, where no sensible person ought to be, be mindful of them and remember what all of them know: It’s more than just the running.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on what’s the matter with Kansas, death penalty, piano, greatest race."