Letters to the Editor (Jan. 18)

Hawaii alert should awaken leaders

We have family who live in Hawaii. They called Saturday to say they love us. It was a very short call because they wanted to call other family members to tell them the same. The reason? They had just gotten an alert that there was a ballistic missile headed for Hawaii. They thought that they were going to die very soon. How fortunate that the alert was a mistake.

In the world today, this would be not only possible but probable. We as humans have the ability to terrorize and kill. We also have the ability to show compassion and caring for each other. Leaders can choose to think of themselves as supreme beings in a superior nation and shun all those who don't measure up to their standards. It seems more countries are moving in that direction; who knows if the world will even exist in 10 years.

Instead, forward-thinking leaders could see the world and everything within as fragile and worthy of the gentlest of loving kindness. This way of thinking could take us back to a simpler world, but would it be too high a price to pay for world peace? I think not.

Realize marijuana’s benefits

Barry Grissom’s Jan. 12 guest column, “There’s a new source of state revenue ready for debate,” was a welcome nod of support to Kansas cannabis activists and voters, who for years have been screaming the same things. It is beyond time for a common-sense approach to cannabis in Kansas.

Sixty-eight percent of Kansans support medical marijuana, yet the state of Kansas chooses to criminalize the sick while denying patients access to this life-saving medicine. Year after year, Topeka lawmakers listen to desperate patients, crying mothers and advocates, and they do nothing. This inaction is morally wrong.

In 2015, Wichita voted in support of a city ordinance that lessened penalties for small amounts of marijuana. It sent a clear message to the city and Topeka legislators that voters want change on this issue. Yet, the state of Kansas fought hard to have the voices of voters stifled by having the vote thrown out through the courts.

Enough is enough. If legislators in Topeka continue to promote 1920s-style propaganda of misinformation about marijuana, perhaps it’s time we fill Topeka with 21st Century representatives more in the mindset of Mr. Grissom.

A&E put students at risk

I’m writing in regard to the article “Undercover adults at high school bring mixed emotions.” I applaud the A&E Network for addressing the issues of cyber-bullying, sexual threats and other struggles high schoolers are faced with, but the risks involved after learning the true purpose of the series are greater than the reward.

The deception that the Topeka school district engaged in at Highland Park High School put students at risk and I believe that the school administrators sold their soul for scholarship dollars that were not announced.

A&E and the Topeka school district are teaching that deception is OK. In addition, even though there was a vetting process for the seven 20-somethings, the high school students, most of whom are underage, were put in jeopardy. The Highland Park students’ privacy was put in jeopardy by airing this show.

Approaching a police state

A wave of needed conversation has come from the incident where an officer shot and killed an unarmed man as the result of a swatting incident.

I respect the Wichita police and will wait for the investigation to cast judgment. I trust our very respected police chief to lead his department and Wichita through this tragic event.

I feel terribly sorry that this family has lost a son, a father and an innocent citizen. I cannot imagine their loss.

I wish to address Douglas Simpson’s letter to the editor that referred to the police as “soldiers at home.” The mindset of war within our civilization is a perpetuating theme spread by media, gun culture in television, and nefarious representations by those who wish to use fear for their cause.

We cannot place our heads in the sand and believe that society is not more armed and arguably more violent. The militarization of our police seems to be getting close to standard. The blackout combat gear, armored vehicles and SWAT tactics seem all too common.

And again. I get the measures needed for protection of the officers, but we need protection of the citizenry first.

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 4:02 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Jan. 18)."