Letters on uncivil candidates, abortion, neglecting ‘post-borns,’ social workers

Expect candidates to be civil human beings

I have raised three children and spent some 30 years as an educator in the secondary classroom and library. The last 10 were spent as a substitute teacher in the Wichita school district.

Children and young people sometimes forgot, or perhaps were never taught, how to be a civil human being. When they displayed anti-social behavior – such as name-calling, bullying, lying and generally being disrespectful of peers and adults – I have always made it a priority to show them the error of their ways.

That is why I am curious as to why thousands of people gather to hear adults behave in this fashion and cheer wildly when it occurs. These candidates are asking us to elect them to the highest office of the land; to represent us in foreign lands; to make tough, clear-headed decisions as to how the country should be governed; to be able to negotiate and to realize when negotiation is not possible – and the list goes on.

Quite frankly, I have seen no Republican candidates display credentials convincing me that they come close to being able to handle this most difficult job. The behavior I have seen at rallies and debates would earn them a stern lecture and, if it continued, a trip to time-out or the principal’s office.

Who decides fate?

I would like to offer a little bit different perspective on the “abortion debate.” Sometime I think the message gets lost in all of the hype, emotion and statistics.

When it comes down to it, isn’t the decision whether to sustain or end a life one of superiority? The idea is that one human being has the power (or right) to choose whether another person lives or dies. And yet is it ever asked in reverse?

If someone were deciding your fate, wouldn’t you at least want the chance to speak for yourself? Wouldn’t you like to say whether you would like to attempt to make a go of it, a chance to see if you could make a difference in the world?

Think of all the days you have had thus far. At what point might you say that you’ve had enough and are ready to die? Would you be 8 years old, or 20, or 70? Now imagine if someone else got to decide that for you.

If there is one human being who was never given that chance, then no one else deserves it either. What’s the difference – a person’s age? Why? Who gets to decide that?

Either we are all protected, or we are all vulnerable to the same fate. What makes you or me more valuable? Nothing.

If we can’t solve it another way, then we really haven’t come very far, have we?

Neglecting ‘post-born’

Abortion manipulators are at it again.

The political strategists appear to be igniting their trustworthy voting bloc, the folks who vote against the “post-born.”

As a practicing Catholic, I see many churchgoing folks do not connect “pro-life” to the cruelty of legislators and our governor who steal money from children’s health care and schools. These legislators and governor take public funds from youngsters who are handicapped, sick or even just alive.

This is the gap that the strategists exploit: incite about the pre-borns and neglect the post-borns.

The folks who benefit from controlling our legislators and governor successfully swerve from pesky realities such as autism, rape, fetal alcohol syndrome, poverty (20 percent of Kansas children), Zika virus birth anomalies and other inconvenient post-born problems that would suck up expensive medical and personal care.

Lots of Kansans adore young ones of all sizes and colors and abilities – but the funders do not. Big money aims to re-elect the folks who rip away money from children’s education and health care. That’s worked for them in the past: Many years and many dollars have been spent on those caring Catholics and other good religious folks. This short-term message – “pro-life” – works to supersede caring for our future, the post-borns.

This is politics, not compassion. Mind the gap: “Pro-life” means “neglect the post-borns.”

Value social workers

It is with much gratitude that the Kansas Food Bank acknowledges social workers as we celebrate National Social Work Month in March. Whether you are an LBSW, LMSW, LSCSW or a Ph.D. social worker, the Kansas Food Bank appreciates you and honors your profession, ethical commitment and calling to the people you serve.

Social work covers a broad assortment of socio-economic groups, from pediatrics to geriatrics. We want to acknowledge the hard work that social workers do to support people who are in life-altering situations, discovering interventions and goals to find resolutions with positive outcomes.

The Kansas Food Bank provides comprehensive and compassionate hunger care to 85 Kansas counties, covering 73,000 square miles, with 650 Hunger Care partners. We network with many incredible social workers and continue to be amazed at how talented and resourceful this group is. Social workers are well-versed with the problems that food insecurity and food deserts bring.

Social workers are champions of humankind. We look forward to continuing a robust partnership with social workers, as no Kansan should go hungry.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Letters on uncivil candidates, abortion, neglecting ‘post-borns,’ social workers."