Letters to the editor (Oct. 31, 2018)

Veterans

As a non-partisan Vietnam War veteran, I’ve often lamented the scarcity of true leaders in our political system. I’ve wondered if some of my generation’s prospective leaders were KIA’s in that unfortunate war.

Our current “fortunate son” in the oval office was too busy inheriting daddy’s money, bullying, cheating people, and suffering bone spurs to serve his country. Men like Senators McCain and Kerry were willing to answer their country’s call in support of democracy and freedom.

Prior to the 1990s there were more veterans in our government; people trained in leadership skills, discipline and honor. Now, what we have is a socio-political conflagration that is threatening to burn down everything for which we stand. This administration is headed for nationalistic authoritarianism. Racism, anti-Semitism, hate crimes and white supremacy are dismissively emboldened. This corrupt and dangerous political environment is hauntingly familiar to many of us Vietnam vets. As veterans like Senators McCain and Kerry continue to fade, Afghan and Iraq veterans need to step up against what may well be an existential threat to our Democratic Republic. VOTE thoughtfully!

Friends of Felines

Would you take your car to an appliance place for repairs? No, you want car experts to work on it. Our organization, Friends of Feral Felines, is the area expert on community cats. We know cats and cat behavior and we have considerable interactions with cat caregivers.

Trap-Neuter-Return is the most effective way to halt the growth of cat populations. When cats are spayed and neutered they no longer have kittens. The cats that are altered stop roaming and stop the annoying behaviors associated with being in heat — and the strong urine smell diminishes.

The Wichita Audubon Society wants no changes to city ordinance on feral cats (Oct. 23 Eagle). So, they want more cats? More cats means more predators for birds. What humane, effective, realistic and affordable option do they have to control the cat population?

TNR does not create colonies of cats, the cats have already done that. They are a by-product of irresponsible people. People that don’t alter their pets, people that dump their pets, people that leave their pets when they move. It’s not the cats’ fault, they are doing what nature intended them to do. Yet the people that have compassion for the cats by providing food, water and shelter and getting them altered are the ones being persecuted. Makes absolutely no sense.

What’s going on?

What is going on in our country? So much hate and violence. Come on, people, this is not us.

Recently I experienced it first hand when I was at Dillions. I don’t normally use one of the battery operated carts, but my hip was really hurting. When finished, I drove the cart outside to my car, which was next to one of the cart storage areas in the parking lot. I unloaded the cart and started to park it in the storage area when a cart was slammed into the area next to my cart, catching my left hand between the two. A voice said “take that - - - - - thing back where it belongs.”

Let me set the stage, I am almost 85, 5 foot 3 inches and 135 pounds. I’m looking at a man 30 to 40, more than 6 feet tall, approximately 170 lbs. and very angry. I told him if I could walk that far with no problems, I wouldn’t have had to use the cart to start with. Right away I could tell he was going to take it to the next level, so I reached in my car and picked up a can of wasp spray and shook it a couple times. He looked at that and said “another freeloading old - - - - - - - !” and walked away. This is the United States; we are better then what has been going on in our country.

Respectable

Those of you in Washington may be tired of hearing from me, but it seems like Donald Trump does something each day that’s as bad, or worse, than the day before. There may be some temporary financial gains due to him, but in the long run we will have the devil to pay. World despots are "playing" him, and he is encouraging the unstable, dangerous, deadly fringe elements at home. If you don't think impeaching him is the answer, then do whatever you can to minimize the damage he is creating.

For the rest of us, it is going to take the people to let everyone, especially our politicians, know we are tired of the chaos. Tired of the disrespect. Tired of the hatred. Tired of the greed. Tired of the bigotry. Tired of the misleading half truths. Tired of the mudslinging lies.

Let's make America respectable again. We are already great. But it is going downhill very quickly. Please look at the big picture of what is decent, and if you are Christian, before you go to vote read the Sermon on the Mount and ask yourself what Jesus would do. Let your voices for respectful, humane, rational leadership be heard in whatever way you can.