Readers react to abortion column and school choice proposal | Opinion

Pro-life or anti-abortion?

For years it has become apparent that Dion Lefler, and the Wichita Eagle have no clue about the truth of abortion.

They use the power of words to shift or alter the narrative about the issue, often ignoring the elephant in the room. In an attempt to paint the pro-life community in a negative light, they label prolifers as anti-abortion.

Sure we are against abortion, but we are pro-life because we believe in the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. We are also against euthanasia, IVF, the death penalty, and unjust wars.

They call themselves pro-choice, but if one of those choices is abortion then shouldn’t they be labeled as pro-abortion? They tell us that when we attempt to pass pro-life legislation, we are violating the rights of women.

My question is the right to do what? We all know that it’s abortion, but they never answer the question of what’s in the womb. What exactly is an abortion?

Just this weekend Lefler avoided the issue again with a column about bloody fetus pictures. The elephant in the room is that sure this is a fetus, but fetus is a stage of development for human beings.

The reason that these pro-lifers are distributing these pictures is the same reason that the mother of Emitt Till in 1955 had an open casket funeral for her 14 year old son — to call attention to something that is unjust — in this case the decapitation, dismemberment, and ripping an innocent human being from its womb.

And you have the nerve call us extreme? When has it ever been okay to kill any human being?

Slap to teachers

The March 2 Renee Erickson column with its cherry-picked data and bizarre testimony from one unidentified source gives the impression that a failed Kansas public education system should be turned over to parent-directed instructional venues.

There is so much wrong with Ms. Erickson’s arguments and conclusions, not the least of which is context. After years of underfunding, low pay and lack of respect for teachers along with intrusive legislative micromanagement, the best and brightest have left and the bar for new hires continues to lower.

The biggest slap in the face is the “big lie,” that teachers indoctrinate students.

Supposedly, we should hue to white Christian nationalism and gloss over the centuries of harm done to a host of outliers.

It’s a hard truth for many to accept but we were founded as a nation of laws, equality, and inclusiveness, and not for the benefit of a favored few.

American history is the story of triumph and tragedy in the quest for a more perfect union, lessons that enlighten and liberate our young people as they take their place in an open civil society. The Erickson proposal can only prolong the abuse Kansas public education has suffered.

School choice and ‘Lord of the Flies’

The article in the Eagle is a remarkable letter written by legislators using all the propaganda skills they know.

1) “School choice” is not a “first innovative approach that trusts parents to direct the education for their child.” This attempt is a pat to parents’ backs for the obvious: parents are the first teachers. But what are they teaching?

2) Goal: “to have proficient graduates who can read, write, and do math.” The authors want to drill down on competencies limited to basics of a sixth-grade curriculum.

3) Testimonial of teacher with broad goals: taught so that students know when and where they are led. Most parents cannot or will not do this.

4) Hail freedom (always a good exit): “education freedom” does not occur when the stated goal is to teach only the basics.

5) Freeing children is the theme of “Lord of the Flies,” not the road to a 4.0 GPA or equivalent.

The authors of this article need to research other innovative approaches that have succeeded or failed.

This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 5:15 PM.