Letters to the editor on critical race theory, vaccine mandate and leadership

Critical race theory

The article about critical race theory harming mental health (“Kansas lawmaker says critical race theory harms mental health,” Oct. 29 Eagle) shows how low the culture wars have stooped.

Augusta Republican Rep. Kristey Williams makes the claim that critical thinking about racism may cause “manifest shame” in some students, even though there is no evidence it’s being taught in Kansas public schools.

My family has been in Augusta for seven generations. Rep. Williams may not know that Augusta was at one time a sundown town, and no Black people were allowed in town after dark. Perhaps she does not know that the Ku Klux Klan was very active in Augusta in the early part of the 20th century.

The culture wars keep us divided, when we should be concentrated on critical issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, nuclear proliferation, food and water security, and other geopolitical issues. We need to teach critical thinking to students on every issue, including race, so we can effectively address these issues.

Even though it’s 2021, fascism still festers in our society. The shame is in making this a political issue.

Vaccine mandate

I read with interest the article “Kansas AG Schmidt files lawsuit against Biden vaccine mandate for federal contractors” (Oct. 31 Eagle). I have great respect for Mr.Schmidt but I politely disagree with his decision.

We have seen many people dying who did not get the vaccine. Both Ascension Via Christi St.Francis and Wesley Medical Center had about 80 patients with COVID-19 on average. Out of 80 patients, 85% are not vaccinated. These unvaccinated patients are a great burden to the staff of the hospitals, especially nursing staff. We are seeing shortage of nurses because they don’t want to be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. I don’t blame them.

Dr. Stephen J. Grindel, president of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County also says ”the best thing is to get vaccinated — both for COVID-19 and for the flu” (Oct. 31 Eagle). I hope Attorney General Schmidt will withdraw his lawsuit against Biden vaccine mandate.

Leadership

The Kansas Leadership council equips people to lead. That idea is front and center on the website of the Kansas Leadership Center. So one could easily understand my astonishment when speaking to the Wichita City Council at the Oct. 12 meeting, I was rudely, unprofessionally and quite immaturely interrupted with a loud, verbal outburst from the audience.

This disturbing behavior was by a man who was identified as Dionae Gates, who is closely associated the KLC. His interruption caused a disruption of the council proceedings, causing he mayor to request a 10 minute break. The mayor called out the disruptor as being a member of the Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights advisory board who was violating the council decorum. About 20 minutes after the meeting resumed, this same person, without showing one bit of remorse, unleashed a second verbal outburst with another speaker at the podium.

This pattern of behavior is not that of a leader, but rather, the behavior of a candidate for professional services. He has embarrassed his fellow members of the Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights advisory board, the mayor, members of the City Council, and I would think, the Kansas Leadership Center. His actions have deemed him as unfit to serve on any public board. With that in mind, I have to wonder just how many other similar products of the KLC are lingering in our community.