Letters on book censorship, Williams’ CPA title, WSU best team, handicapped parking, quilts for veterans

Rationale is nothing more than censorship

Rep. Joseph Scapa, R-Wichita, chose an unfortunate example to explain his sponsorship of House Bill 2292, which would repeal the Common Core educational standards in Kansas (Feb. 24 Eagle).

When asked what book he considered pornographic, he singled out Toni Morrison’s novel “The Bluest Eye,” while admitting that he hadn’t even read the book. His rationale amounts to nothing more than censorship.

Morrison is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993. The best response to the ignorance of a censor was provided in Morrison’s own words as part of the speech she delivered upon receiving the Nobel Prize: “But who does not know of literature banned because it is interrogative; discredited because it is critical; erased because alternate? And how many are outraged by the thought of a self-ravaged tongue?”

City needs Williams

I’ve been more than a little perplexed at the recent allegations that Wichita mayoral candidate Sam Williams has no right to call himself a CPA simply because, no longer in public practice, he let his earned license lapse (Feb. 24 Local & State).

I practiced law for more than 35 years in Kansas, both in public practice and as a corporate attorney. On retirement, I elected to let my license lapse. Am I no longer an attorney? Have I forgotten everything I learned in law school and during four decades of working with clients?

I have not met Williams, but I very much like what I have read about his business experience, his civic engagement and his commitment to visionary leadership for city government. Friends who know him speak of his great work ethic and his high ethical standards.

It would be a shame if this baseless claim were to influence anyone from voting for a person who appears to be just who our city now needs as mayor. As a retired attorney, I’m voting for Sam Williams, a retired CPA.

Williams misled

Sam Williams chose to publicly identify himself as a CPA in campaigning for Wichita mayor, even though he hasn’t held a license since 1990, in Utah (Feb. 24 Local & State). I wonder what the Kansas Board of Accountancy plans to do about someone who publicly misstates his Kansas professional credentials.

I also wonder if voters will question what other misleading information Williams might impart to others as a Wichita mayor.

WSU has best team

Sunflower Showdown? Wrong. It’s the University of Kansas-Kansas State University showdown.

Wichita State University currently has better basketball and track programs. In 2014, WSU men and women won the track meet against Air Force, KSU and KU. The Lady Shockers have beaten K-State two years in a row in basketball, winning last year by 23 points at KSU.

Amazingly, though this year the WSU men have one of their shortest starting line-ups in 50 years and new players who are not yet ready, their lowest ranking has been No. 16 in the nation. And both WSU men and women are once again headed toward the NCAA basketball tournament. WSU is accomplishing this with no McDonald’s High School All-Americans (KU has four) and much smaller budgets and arena.

Something else I noticed: When WSU recently advanced to the Final Four, the players on the teams it beat cried at their news conferences. When the Shockers (narrowly) lost, they didn’t cry.

May be handicapped

Regarding “Not handicapped” (Feb. 18 Letters to the Editor): I am 80-plus and don’t use a handicapped-accessible parking space. I don’t need it yet, but I have an arthritic knee that causes erratic and stiff walking at first and straightens up after a few minutes.

The letter writer should give the person he witnessed a break. Regarding walking for two hours in a store after using a handicapped space: There are motorized wheelchairs that people use.

Granted, there are undoubtedly people who abuse the system, and they should quit. There aren’t that many available spaces for the handicapped.

Quilt honored vet

My sincere thanks to Quilts of Valor-Greater Wichita Area, for the quilt presentation it made recently to my daughter. Words cannot express how moving the experience was.

Help this organization and its dedicated volunteers honor other deserving veterans and combat service members through your time, talent, materials or donations. Contact the group on Facebook or visit the national website, QOVF.org. Send donations to Quilts of Valor Foundation, QOV-Greater Wichita Area, P.O. Box 771452, Wichita, KS 67277-1452.

This story was originally published February 27, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on book censorship, Williams’ CPA title, WSU best team, handicapped parking, quilts for veterans."