Letters on Ike memorial, un-Christian nation, Trump, Clinton, Johnson

Memorial honors president, general

It takes an exceptional leader to be honored with a memorial in our nation’s capital, but it’s no surprise that Congress bestowed that honor on Kansas’ favorite son, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

As chairman of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, I am pleased that the Eisenhower family supports moving forward with a design that will honor Ike as both general and president. With this agreement, we are scheduled to dedicate the site on the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019.

The memorial will highlight the boy from Abilene who rose to accept the challenge of his time, becoming supreme Allied commander, defeating Nazi tyranny in World War II, and becoming president, affording our nation eight years of peace and prosperity. The memorial will bear Ike’s humble words: “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.”

To learn more, visit eisenhowermemorial.org.

Christian nation?

Many say we are a Christian nation, but I am seeing some very un-Christian behavior in this election process, even from those professing to be Christian. It is bringing out the worst in people.

Belittling, derogatory, hateful, spiteful things are being said. Innuendos are being made. Misinformation, half truths, and lies are being spread on all the media sources, some of the worst of it on Facebook. Bigotry/sexism is evident. Emotion-filled, angry mudslinging seems to carry the day. People are believing outlandish promises, and very little fact-checking and rational thinking seems to be taking place.

Read your history. Nations have been led into chaos and eventual ruin in this manner.

Christians are supposed to be followers of Jesus, but I don’t see him promoting or participating in much of what is going on. He valued everyone and treated them with respect.

He did not advocate hate and violence. Part of his greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself.

Are we really a Christian nation? A large number of us aren’t even being respectful, rational-thinking people at this time.

I truly fear the direction our nation is headed – and the thinking of some who profess to be Christian.

Clinton elitist

I am an American. I am also a veteran and a taxpayer. In my career I have started two successful businesses and created a lot of jobs. The year I sold my businesses, I paid more income taxes at both state and federal level than the average taxpayer will pay in their entire lives. I support Donald Trump.

Hillary Clinton labeled half of Trump’s supporters as racist, sexist, xenophobic, Islamophobic and homophobic. I am is sick and tired of lying career politicians whose sole priority is to amass as much personal wealth and power and who are willing to say and do anything to get it. I am also sick and tired of Washington insiders who think they are above the law.

Clinton is the poster child of elitism and divisive politics. In one hate-filled speech, she stereotyped tens of millions of hardworking Americans in the most despicable terms. What is sad is that her speech was met with laughter and applause from liberal elites who hold the same opinions of anyone who dares to have a different opinion. That is why I support Trump.

Once again, Clinton sees the presidency slipping from her grasp. She will grow increasingly desperate, and we will see even more hate and divisiveness from her between now and November.

Clinton qualified

When hiring an employee for an important position, an employer looks for the person with the best qualifications, such as relevant experience and leadership ability. Among our presidential candidates, it’s obvious whom we should hire to lead our country.

Hillary Clinton not only knows what it’s like to be in the White House, her experience in the U.S. Senate and her knowledge of world affairs and network of global leaders will be invaluable in preparing her to immediately jump into the presidency and do the most effective job.

In contrast, Donald Trump only knows what it’s like to be in the casino-buying business, and Libertarian Gary Johnson can’t even tell us what Aleppo is.

While Clinton needs to come clean on her egregious mishandling of classified information, she is still far and away the most qualified for the job.

Although I wouldn’t vote for a female candidate just because she’s a woman, it is another reason that I will vote for her. While women make up half of our population, it’s inexcusable that in the 240 years since our government was established, we have yet to have a female president.

Third option

This year, many voters think they have to choose between the two most-disliked presidential candidates in history. They are wrong.

I am supporting two former governors who will be on the ballot in all 50 states: Libertarians Gary Johnson and William Weld.

Johnson and Weld were successful governors, balancing the budget and overseeing economic booms. In foreign policy, they want to engage the world through trade and diplomacy, rather than bombs and bullets.

They are socially tolerant but fiscally prudent. Weld was an early supporter of gay rights in the 1990s, and Johnson was the first governor to call for legalizing marijuana.

I had the privilege to meet Johnson. What struck me was how willing he was to listen to my ideas. He illustrated his genuineness and strong character, which he continues to display while campaigning.

As I study abroad in Taiwan, I want to declare the health of America’s democracy. And that is why I am proud to support Johnson and Weld.

Politics in Kansas

Thinking of current Kansas governmental figures brings to mind a quote often attributed to Groucho Marx: “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

This story was originally published September 25, 2016 at 5:03 AM with the headline "Letters on Ike memorial, un-Christian nation, Trump, Clinton, Johnson."