Letters to the editor (Aug. 4, 2020)

NBC World Series safety

The safety plans for the NBC World Series are way out in left field.

The six-foot spacing recommendation of the CDC has been pretzel-twisted into a rule that requires “groups” of people to be six feet apart. What, dare I ask, is a group? Unlike the situation with Major League Baseball, NBC players will not be tested for COVID-19. Instead players will have symptom checks and temperatures taken, but this is ineffective since a fever often develops days after the infection is acquired, and many infected people never develop a fever.

I am an avid baseball fan, but I won’t be at Eck Stadium this year.

Negative campaigns

I would like to think that most of our parents instilled in each of us the old adage, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

But it seems that in the last 15-plus years, when it comes to election campaigns, all we seem to hear or read is about what the other candidate did wrong, said wrong, etc. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear advertisements stating only truthful things a candidate has done or said — not the opposing candidate saying derogatory statements about the opponent?

My parents and high school government class teacher taught me to be well informed by researching what a candidate has said, what actions a candidate took on certain issues, his background in education, work experience, and what makes him qualified to represent constituents. I do not recall any of these mentors ever telling me about looking at negative comments or propaganda.

It would be so great if people weren’t so negative or hateful, as many have become in recent years.

Demolishing Century II

I was aghast at a recent front-page headline and article: “Wichita in court to preserve right to demolish Century II” (July 30, 2020).

It is unconscionable that the Wichita City Council considers private gain over the care of the city its council members were elected to assume. Pardon me if I have judged wrongly the reason for their decision, but I can think of no other motive which would make them so eager to tear down Century II and other historic Wichita buildings (most recently Mead’s Corner). I for one say we need to throw the bums out.

North High’s mascot

Regarding the article by Bonnie Bing (“It’s time to change Wichita North High School’s mascot,” July 26, 2020): Changing the name of the North High mascot will be an adjustment, but it is an adjustment that can be made.

I went to South High in the 70s (class of 1978), just a few years after our mascot was changed from the South- and Civil-War-influenced “Colonels” to the “Titans,” a name voted on by the student body. From the stories I heard — my mom was on the faculty for years — the Colonels mascot caused some tensions during the already tense civil rights era, so the change was necessary, and the new mascot and sports theme was fully embraced by the time I came along.

The point is, the change of mascots can be made, and will be worth it. Leave it to the kids to pick a new mascot. Like the kids of my era, these students are pretty resilient.

Wichita State art

Here is a safe and free activity in Wichita: Enjoy art at Wichita State University by driving through the campus. The outdoor sculpture collection is outstanding. Who knew? There is a Salvador Dali and three Augustine Rodin pieces, as well as many well known modern artists.

Grownups, get out of the house while you give the kids an art lesson from the cool car. Not all pieces are visible from the car, but many are and many more are just a short walk. Maps are available online or by mail by calling WSU’s Ulrich Museum of Art.