Letters on welders vs. philosophers, home-school sports, Veterans Memorial Park

Don’t pit groups against each other

In the most recent GOP presidential debate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., stated that “we need more welders and less philosophers.” This was part of a point he was attempting to make about the importance of vocational training and his wish that we not “stigmatize” that career path.

I agree with the concept of holding all work as worthy of respect. No one should be “stigmatized” for his or her career choice – and that includes those with a philosophy degree. Why did Rubio have to belittle one group to show support for another group?

One of the biggest problems we see in today’s political rhetoric is the disparaging of whole groups of people, and then pitting a certain group of people against another group of people in pursuit of scoring political points with a candidate’s base of support. What kind of society do we live in when a few people are deemed worthwhile and others are viewed as not worthy of dignity or respect?

This notion that some people are more important than others leads to discrimination and ill will among our citizens. The truth is we need a diverse population of people with a variety of skills to offer in order to maintain a well-balanced, open and free society. Those running for the highest office in the land ought to show support for us all.

Let play sports

The Kansas State Board of Education opposes a bill that would allow private- and home-school students to participate in public school athletics. But the Kansas State Department of Education’s own website says the board’s mission is “to prepare Kansas students for lifelong success through rigorous, quality academic instruction, career training and character development according to each student’s gifts and talents.” Nowhere does this define students as only those who participate in public school district curriculum. Furthermore, the website does not necessarily eliminate non-district curriculum students in its nondiscrimination notice.

Parents of students who are in private schools or home schools pay taxes that support the public schools. If their students are not allowed to participate in any school district’s athletic programs, then perhaps they should get a tax exemption from paying for the public schools. The state board’s position seems to preach tolerance except when tolerance does not fit its agenda.

Given the upstanding values taught to private- and home-school students, these students would stand out as examples of courteous sportsmanship. In much media news lately, some public school districts are measuring a bit short in this area of our culture today.

Grateful for park

As a fourth-generation Wichitan and a veteran of World War II in the Army Transport Service and the Merchant Marine, I am grateful for the lovely park that has been set aside to honor veterans of all of America’s wars. I am pleased that it is located almost next door to where my mother was born in 1895.

Recently, I found that the halyards on the flagpoles at the Merchant Marine Memorial needed to be replaced. I had no way to replace them, so I planned to call someone to find assistance. As it turned out, I met a member of the committee that oversees building and maintenance of the monuments when I attended the ceremony on Veterans Day, and learned that he had already replaced the halyards.

I want to thank him and the committee for the work that they are doing.

This story was originally published November 29, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on welders vs. philosophers, home-school sports, Veterans Memorial Park."