Letters on showing respect to workers, Eric Sexton, ugly rhetoric, Peterjohn, legislative pay raise

Show respect to those who assist us

In the routine of daily life, individuals assist us at the checkout line or serve us at a restaurant. Chances are that many are wearing name tags. They are real people engaged in helping others; it’s how they earn a paycheck.

I always try to call each by name out of respect, especially if their performance is exceptional.

During this holiday season, let’s stop long enough in the hustle and bustle to acknowledge those who help us by name. Let’s make these gestures a habit.

After all, there is a person behind that name tag who deserves respect. It just might make their day.

Grateful for Sexton

I would like to thank Eric Sexton, executive director of athletics at Wichita State University and vice president for student affairs, for everything he has done for WSU athletics. I can remember my first campout back in 2012, when an SUV pulled up and delivered us hot chocolate at 6 a.m. It is little things like this that have separated Sexton from any other athletic director.

Whether it was his passion for his student-athletes, or compassion for the students who supported his student-athletes, he is truly one of a kind. Even though I am not a student-athlete, I always felt like I could rely on him to be there for not only his students but our university as a whole.

As Sexton transitions out as athletic director (Nov. 18 Eagle), I want him to know he will be greatly missed on the courts and fields.

Not mainstream GOP

I found myself nodding in agreement with the Nov. 20 Eagle editorial castigating Sedgwick County Commissioner Karl Peterjohn for generalizing Islamic terrorist acts to the Muslim community. Every Muslim I have personally known could be characterized as kind, hardworking, friendly and respectful.

However, the editorial committed the same error of generalizing by asserting that “Peterjohn is in step with his party.” He may be in step with some Republicans, but he certainly does not represent the mainstream.

Ugly rhetoric

I have been angry and sadly ashamed of the recent rhetoric in the United States regarding refugees from Syria. The fearmongering for political gain by the Republican presidential candidates, 30 governors, the Sedgwick County Commission and now the U.S. House of Representatives is appalling. Americans are much more likely to die in a car accident than to be killed by a terrorist.

We are trying to build an illusion of safety. Most of the terrorists in the Paris attack were homegrown and not among the refugees. And agency heads signing off on refugee decisions? Really? Would anyone ask Charles Koch to personally sign off on all decisions made by his company?

There have been recent Christian atrocities against Muslims, including a 2014 attack in the Central African Republic; Amnesty International documented that 100 Muslims, including women and the elderly, were killed by Christian militias in one attack. Five towns were destroyed.

The true Christians here are those such as the Methodists who are volunteering to sponsor Syrian refugees (Nov. 21 Eagle). Let’s all do the same.

Knee-jerk ‘leadership’

Do I understand correctly? AK-47s for everybody at home, including my neighbor battling depression. But let’s make it really, really hard for good people fleeing the bad guys to come to America to raise their families and be hardworking, contributing members of a multicultural society. That is what fearmongering, knee-jerk “leadership” does for us.

Vote the bums out of office. Please.

Vote on pay raise

Regarding “Legislators get 8.5% raise in allowance” (Nov. 13 Eagle): No matter how they are spun, automatic pay increases set by lawmakers – for only the benefit of the lawmakers – stink.

I don’t get automatic pay increases. I have to justify my action.

Let lawmakers vote on whether or not they should get the salary increases. If they deserve it, so be it. If it is a defensible act, let them defend it. They should not hide behind automatic pay increases.

As it is, they merely need to be silent and the increases go into effect, regardless of the direction the state is going. This method is not transparent, authoritative or democratic. It is a bad use of taxpayer money. It is a method by which legislators do not need to be held accountable for an increase to their salaries. It is self-indulgence.

I urge the people of Kansas not to put up with the greed of the legislators and to demand that a vote be taken regarding salaries and all laws that are passed for the benefit of only the legislators (insurance, transportation, meals, etc.).

Write or e-mail your favorite legislators and ask what they think about the salary increases. I’ll bet they say something like, “I wouldn’t have taken any increase, but it’s out of my hands.”

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Letters on showing respect to workers, Eric Sexton, ugly rhetoric, Peterjohn, legislative pay raise."