Letters to the editor (Sept. 15, 2020)
Friends University music
I appreciated the interesting article about about the new conductor, Rayvon Moore, of Friends University Singing Quakers (“Friends University’s new director of choral studies appeared on ‘Glee,’ Aug. 30, 2020). I have been blessed to be able to work as the collaborative pianist for this amazing choir the past 15 years and now with Dr. Moore in his first year.
Many years ago, I was a student at Friends University and had the privilege of singing in and occasionally accompanying the Singing Quakers under Cecil Riney. Twenty-three years ago he hired me to teach at Friends. I also had the pleasure of working with him several years as the accompanist while he directed the Singing Quaker Alumni Choir. When Dr. Riney retired from Friends, his successor was Mark Bartel, who was there for 14 years. He continued the tradition of excellence with the choral program there, and was also the director of the Wichita Chamber Chorale. Besides the connection of that choir, Dr. Bartel and Dr. Moore share a connection in their education before coming to Friends. They both received their doctorates from Eastman in Rochester, N.Y., and had the same mentor. I was sorry to see that you completely missed that connection and skipped 14 years of history of this great choir.
I am excited to be a part of the continued tradition this choir has enjoyed for many decades.
November election
Our elected officials are a reflection of our society since we, the people, vote them into office. I believe the November election (all offices) is a true pivot point that will define what kind of society we are and will become for many years to come.
Are we going to be a society that values: hate or compassion, division or unity, fear of others or acceptance and respect, selfishness or the common good, power over others or service to others, greed or generosity, lying or honesty, discrimination or equality, narcissism or humility and integrity? As we all ponder our choices, I caution those that are single-issue or party-line voters. You elect the entire person and all that they are.
Voting for a truly bad person only because he or she will increase your 401k balance or get you a desirable Supreme Court justice or belongs to a particular party is irrational and, frankly, wrong. The choice in candidates could not be more clear this time and the kind of society they represent. What kind of a society do you want?
Pro-life?
Just some random thoughts here. If people contend they are pro-life, then why don’t they wear a mask? Wouldn’t wearing a mask save a life?
Likewise, when I see protesters on the steps of City Hall with “My body, my choice” signs, I just have to wonder if their pro-choice stance extends to a woman’s right to control what happens to her own body. My guess is that it does not.
Last, people saying that same-sex marriage is against God’s word are probably the same people who cut their hair, shave their beards, eat lobster, shrimp, clams and crabs, may have had premarital sex, may be divorced and remarried (it’s called adultery in the Bible), and love their pulled pork sandwiches and bacon. I just hope the word hypocrite comes in more than one size.
Love of country
Why do they do it? A puzzling question from a Commander in Chief, indeed. Having served a career in the Marines (three combat tours), including as a infantry platoon sergeant, recruiter, and Embassy Marine, I will answer his question from my perspective.
Every member of the armed forces will tell you they didn’t join to get rich. For me, it was simple: love of my country and its way of life and a sense of duty. This is a question you can ask firefighters, police officers and citizens that march for justice, even though it doesn’t involve a family member or their race, religion or nationality. There is something greater than the love of money or recognition.
Why did those Marines who deployed to France and fought and died at Belleau Wood in June 1918 do it? I am sure there are reams of personal accounts throughout our history of why men and women join, and most will be the same story: honor, country, duty, love. If a Commander in Chief doesn’t understand the why, then he probably just doesn’t care nor have the honor, respect, sense of duty or love to find out why.