Letters to the Editor (Aug. 18): Confederacy, Naftzger, NAFTA, school bus safety

Confederate soldiers weren’t patriots

In America’s quest to be conciliatory and reunite a broken nation, it failed to ensure that Southerners understood that they lost the Civil War. Some Americans continue to wave their surrendered flag and wage war to keep the statues of the southern traitors held high. This misunderstanding fueled the birth of the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and white supremacists. If America does not get a handle on these confused, misguided people, this country will never heal.

The Confederate leaders’ images have been memorialized and their flag has been allowed to fly as a symbol promoting heritage. That may be what the KKK told white people, but they told African American parents, grandparents and great-grandparents something different while lynching, burning and pillaging their communities. And we wonder why America is so slow to heal.

Thanks to the City Council for removing that heinous representation of evil and racism from the park in Wichita last year, and I ask you to never raise it again. Confederate soldiers were traitors and the flag that they fought under represents treason. Kansas soldiers gave their lives to keep our state a slave-free member of the United States.

Retain Naftzger’s charm

Thank you for printing Mr. Billingham’s history of Naftzger Park (Aug. 15). I did not know it. I did not expect to be writing to you so soon about retaining something important to Wichita’s history and architecture.

I assume that the NCAA was satisfied with Wichita when it awarded part of their March Madness. I’m glad the City Council wants to put our best foot forward, but Naftzger Park is part of our best foot.

I do not agree with (landscape architect) Mr. Balsley’s basic premise that people want “urban parks” with no grass, and places to recharge electronic devices. How can it be a park without nature? It needs water, grass, rocks, trees and other natural materials. People in Wichita expect a park to be a natural refuge from all the asphalt and brick we have surrounding us, and a natural place to enjoy when the batteries run down in our electronic devices.

In the past, I have heard people newly moved to Wichita say it is one of the best-kept secrets in the U.S. This was before acres of land on the river downtown were offered up to developers, or an unnatural park was proposed.

NAFTA negotiations important

President Trump promised to be the “greatest jobs producing president in history.” With NAFTA negotiations starting, it’s time he puts his money where his mouth is.

In the years since the treaty first was signed into law, jobs and wages in our communities took a hit. NAFTA killed approximately 700,000 jobs nationwide, and also made it easier for corporations to offshore. A new trade plan should push corporations to foster good, family-sustaining workplaces and higher pay for working people across North America.

As trade representatives and Congressional leaders come together to rework this treaty, we can’t hold our breath and hope for the best. We know what life has looked like living under NAFTA for nearly 25 years. A revised NAFTA must provide working families the freedom and opportunity to build better futures for themselves and our region. Anything less is a deal not worth taking.

Be aware of buses

It’s back-to-school time, which means yellow buses are back on the roads. According to government data, school buses are the safest way for students to get to and from school — 70 times safer than passenger cars and 10 times safer than walking.

There is an entire ecosystem of safety around school buses. This includes road signs, traffic laws, the size, weight and construction of the bus, and the skill of the driver. It also includes you.

Passing a stopped school bus while its lights are flashing is illegal in all 50 states. It’s estimated more than 78,000 drivers break this law every school day, causing close calls and injuries to children. Everyone in our community plays a crucial role in ensuring students get to school safely.

As we start the new school year, remember that we all must stay alert as students prepare to board or exit the bus. Be aware, be alert and be safe this school year.

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 4:30 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Aug. 18): Confederacy, Naftzger, NAFTA, school bus safety."