Letters on Williams’ CPA title, Common Core, Shocker pride, K-State photo

OK to mislead if ‘political speech’?

The article concerning the CPA status of Wichita mayoral candidate Sam Williams got my attention (“Candidate for mayor last held a CPA license in ’90,” Feb. 24 Local & State). Because Williams is presumably new to politics, I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt about his intentions in the use of the CPA title.

“CPA” has been in bold print on all the fliers that have arrived at our home. In addition, it was used by other individuals endorsing him. I think it is reasonable to assume that the state of Utah, like Kansas, has laws concerning the use of that terminology.

The thing that really turned on the flashing red lights was the brazen claim by Williams’ campaign manager, former state Rep. Jason Watkins, that this was political speech, not corporate speech, and that political speech has been very well protected by the courts. What he is saying is that if you are talking about a political issue, one that affects the ignorant, gullible public, it’s perfectly all right to twist the facts or use sleight of hand or tell little white lies to gain your goals.

Williams was looking like a very good candidate until his campaign manager threw a very rotten apple into the barrel. The question is: How much influence does Watkins have on Williams?

Williams qualified

Sam Williams’ use of the letters “CPA” in his mayoral campaign was not a commercial appeal for work as a CPA (Feb. 24 Local & State). His use of that title, as campaign manager Jason Watkins explained, was “political speech” describing one of his past professions that helped qualify him to now serve as mayor of Wichita.

My wife and I support Williams based on our personal knowledge of his superior character and abilities. We have known him since he first moved to Wichita, and consider him and his family personal friends. We have full confidence in his ability to govern Wichita in a positive and beneficial way.

We lived in Wichita 40 years before moving to Maize two years ago. Though we no longer live in Wichita, we live less than one mile from the city limit, and what happens in Wichita is still of vital importance to us and all in Maize. We do most of our shopping and living in Wichita and have very active interest in what the city does.

Not so bad

I don’t like the Common Core education standards (“House panel considers bill to repeal Common Core,” Feb. 24 Eagle). I don’t like what they teach about the Revolutionary War. What’s that? The Common Core standards have nothing about history?

Oh, well – I don’t like what Common Core says about global warming and evolution. What? It says nothing about global warming or evolution? In fact, there is no science at all in it?

Oh, anyway, we should not have to teach sex education. There is nothing about sex education in Common Core? The standards are only about reading and math?

Oh, well – I don’t like the way they tell the states how to teach the standards. Wait – Common Core doesn’t tell the states how to teach? Each state is to determine its own curriculum?

Oh. Maybe the Common Core standards are not so bad after all.

Shocker pride

Our proud yellow-and-black community has the opportunity to show the state and the nation how much our Shocker basketball team means to us this weekend. Fans and citizens of Wichita need to seize the moment to paint this city yellow and black. Shocker Nation needs to rise together, as we have the national spotlight in one of the biggest games in Wichita State University history.

We need all 10,506 strong on deck to rock the Roundhouse. Let the whole world hear our battle cry. For those who attend the game: No matter how young or old, make your voice heard on that court, especially for all of us who won’t be there.

I would love to see the Shockers defeat the University of Northern Iowa and win the conference title, but there is a bigger picture lying ahead – a national championship. We have the coaches and players to potentially pull this off. We have the best backcourt in the nation with Fred VanVleet, Tekele Cotton and Ron Baker. We have a great big man in Darius Carter and a ferocious and fiery player in Evan Wessel. Shaq Morris is on the horizon of breaking through to be an amazing player. There is also a young group of other players who flash an amazing and bright future for WSU basketball going forward.

Let us stand proudly on the hill, our hearts with praise we fill, long wave the yellow and the black. O’ Wichita, here’s to you!

Disgraceful photos

Why on Earth would The Eagle publish two photos (one on Wednesday’s front page and another on Tuesday’s Sports section) of the Kansas State University student rush after the basketball game with the University of Kansas in which you could see a large sign stating, “I hate you”? Both the sign and The Eagle’s decision to print the photos were disgraceful. Surely there were a few other photos from which to choose.

This story was originally published February 26, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Williams’ CPA title, Common Core, Shocker pride, K-State photo."