Letters on refugees, Peterjohn and Ranzau, cutting sports, efficiency study

Should we give back Statue of Liberty?

Yes, this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Many years ago we accepted a gift from the French, a statue that we placed in the New York harbor with an engraving that reads, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Could it be that we are no longer brave enough? Should we give it back to the French, or perhaps to the Germans?

We are the gun-packin’ nation because we are so brave – or something. Our governor says he will protect us from those refugees (Nov. 17 Eagle). He also says he will protect the money of our business owners from the thousands of the poor among us yearning for health care.

There are some among us who have said the Christians among the refugees can come to the United States, but not the Muslims. That prejudice must not be allowed in the United States.

I am thankful for our president for his unwillingness to join those of hypocrisy and lack of bravery, and rather to act on the words from the Sermon on the Mount.

I am also thankful for his thoughtful handling of the terrorist calamity that threatens us from the Middle East, Europe and northern Africa.

Let refugees in

I am disappointed and disagree with Gov. Sam Brownback’s executive order that no state agency or organization that received grant money from the state may participate in or assist in any way the relocation of Syrian refugees in Kansas (Nov. 17 Eagle).

I understand his logic in wanting to keep Kansans safe. I appreciate his expressed desire, but I think his action may well have the opposite effect.

I suspect the reality is that there are Islamic State sympathizers and supporters already among us. I fear that a coldhearted response banning war refugees from living among us is just adding motivation for evil-hearted people to lash out with acts of killing and terror.

Brownback’s executive order is so different from the attitude and value that are expressed by America welcoming the tired and the weary. Any action or inaction carries risks. There are no guarantees that anyone will be safe from evil action.

I want to cast my vote for compassionate action, instead of coldhearted action. Let the refugees settle among us.

Can’t believe Obama

The liberal left is at it again. Republicans want to halt immigration of Syrian refugees until they can be properly vetted, and the left immediately calls all Republicans “heartless,” “cruel” and “un-American.” After all, they say, President Obama has repeatedly stated we already have the “most vigorous vetting process” in place.

Would that be the same Obama who stated that ISIS was contained – hours before ISIS unleashed a terror attack in Paris that left 129 people dead and more injured? Or the same Obama who chided Republicans that they were afraid of widows and orphans, on the same day a female terrorist blew herself up with a suicide vest?

The problem isn’t that Republicans aren’t compassionate or are anti-immigrant. The problem is that, at this point, very few people believe anything Obama says. How someone can be so consistently wrong when he has access to the best intelligence information available is almost mind-numbing.

Does anyone really believe that out of 10,000 (or more) Syrians, this imaginary “vigorous vetting process” could ensure that not a single ISIS terrorist would slip through? Only in fantasyland – which is where the left seems to be spending more and more of its time.

Brownback feeds fear

Gov. Sam Brownback’s words that admitting Syrian refugees is “an unacceptable risk” and ordering state agencies not to aid in their relocation is feeding fear (Nov. 17 Eagle). And as a person of faith, I am outraged.

There are often disagreements about the interpretation of Scripture. But in 25 years of being a denominational executive in the United Church of Christ, never have I heard a disagreement about these words of Jesus from Matthew 25:43-45:

“‘I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

Refuse to be silent. Let the governor know this is not who we are as Christians, or as people who care for all humanity.

Had it with commission

I’ve had it with the Sedgwick County Commission.

Commissioner Karl Peterjohn’s recent comments about terrorism were Islamophobic and intolerant. He attempted to make links between Islam, a peaceful religion, and terrorism carried out by extreme elements. The Ku Klux Klan is not Christian. Likewise, ISIS is not Muslim.

Moreover, making false sugges- tions about President Obama’s religion reflects on Peterjohn’s disregard for the facts. It’s shameful that an official elected to represent a community as diverse as Sedgwick County would utter such narrow-minded comments.

It’s bad enough that our county has one commissioner who doesn’t represent his constituents. However, we’re stuck with two commissioners of the sort.

Commission Chairman Richard Ranzau constantly shows his extremism. His move to cut Women, Infants and Children benefits based on the pretext of undocumented citizens getting benefits is an example of his dually anti-family and xenophobic views. Ranzau’s ill-fated 2006 Reform Party run for governor is often forgotten, but it should be mentioned that his platform consisted mainly of conspiracy theories involving the United Nations.

These actions and statements are inexcusable for officials elected to represent Sedgwick County. I sincerely hope constituents will make the right choice to recall Ranzau and defeat Peterjohn at the ballot box.

Save by cutting sports

The mission of our public school system is education. Currently, due to lower school funding (despite what “Sunshine Sam” says), we have lower test scores, increased teacher vacancies, schools closing early, larger class sizes, reduction in field trips, and generally a decrease in resources across the board.

Where can the schools find more funds and start a general revolution against Topeka? Cut sports.

How much money could schools save if they did not have to fund sports? No more uniforms, maintenance, transportation, insurance, coaches’ salaries, etc. The money saved could be used to educate all students and not just a chosen few.

Parents who couldn’t care less if their child’s field trip is canceled would be driving to Topeka to protest. Think about it.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on refugees, Peterjohn and Ranzau, cutting sports, efficiency study."