Doesn’t Kris Kobach have more to do than attack the tiny minority of trans Kansans? | Opinion

Go after crime

Surely Kris Kobach, the very important attorney general of a very important state such as Kansas, has better things to do with his time than fishing in a big river for very small fish. (June 26, KansasCity.com, “Kobach contends that trans Kansans’ birth certificates, licenses must revert to sex at birth”)

C’mon, Kris. There are real criminals who need to be caught and prosecuted.

- Jeffrey Roitman, Overland Park

Education needed

Star reporter Katie Moore’s 2021 story “Sex trafficking survivors need more help escaping ‘the life,’ KC area advocates say,” was spot-on. It emphasized the lack of resources available to the increasing number of people who have been victims of human trafficking in the Kansas City area.

These individuals who manage to escape “the life” have complex needs that include housing and medical and mental health care — all of which require funding programs to help the victims.

The American Medical Women’s Association’s Physicians Against Trafficking of Humans project aims to increase awareness of the need to educate health care providers on identifying and aiding trafficked victims. However, critical gaps exist in the literature to educate these professionals specifically on human trafficking among their patients.

As a nurse, I believe that education is key to the prevention of diseases. Human trafficking is a disease upon society that can be fought by educating health care professionals, members of law enforcement, paramedics and firefighters on the red flags associated with victims of human trafficking.

I believe that promoting education among front-line responders is key to identifying these victims and providing them potentially lifesaving resources.

- Lynn Everman, Grain Valley

Beyond debate

After reading the June 15 story “Liberty mayor gets in fierce debate over Confederate statue” (2A) about the controversy over a monument to Confederate dead in a Liberty cemetery, we made a visit. Without stating a preference for a side, it is understandable why the issue is so contentious.

I write, however, to congratulate the attention paid to the historic, then-segregated, section of the cemetery dedicated to African American veterans and residents of Liberty. The displays and explanations of the history, paid in respect and reverence, are impressive.

- Randy Merker, Overland Park

Pox on both

I am appalled by the behavior by members of the U.S. House of Representatives from both parties. Mutual respect and common civility have apparently gone out the window as lawmakers call one another names and generally behave like petulant children. Neither group is willing to “go high” when their opponents “go low.” Rather, they just go tit for tat.

As a constituent, I expect better. These men and women are supposed to set an example because they are in the public eye and theoretically should behave like adults. Respect other views. Stand up for decency and fairness. Be kind.

Remember, we are watching you and won’t forget your behavior when you come up for reelection.

- Barbara Scott, Lenexa

KU and China

Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins is upset that the University of Kansas is planning to offer classes in China. (June 19, 1A, “Republican concerned after KU announces classes in China”).

Several years ago, the then-president of Fort Hays State University told those of us attending a meeting of the Olathe Rotary Club that for years, his school was second only to the Chinese government in the number of classes taught online to students in mainland China. The proceeds were instrumental in keeping in-state tuition affordable for Kansas students.

It sounds as if KU was paying attention. Too bad our speaker of the Kansas House wasn’t.

- Gerald K. Gentry, Olathe