Education isn’t manly enough for Josh Hawley? He should tell his Rockhurst High teachers | Opinion

Hawley’s view

Trying to understand Sen. Josh Hawley’s political strategy of making himself the spokesman for the supposed “masculinity crisis” gives me a headache. (April 2, 1A, “Politics of manhood”) Hawley runs from interviews like he ran from Donald Trump’s supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Not very masculine.

As for his policy ideas, they are misguided and sexist. The Star’s Daniel Desrochers reports that Hawley “dismisses ideas that men should attempt to find work in professions that are growing — like health care and education — saying it would require ‘propagandizing’ men to be interested in a new field.”

Hawley went to the all-boys Rockhurst High School, which no doubt valued the influence of male teachers and coaches, and has a mostly male faculty today. Boys need positive role models wherever they can get them, and finding them in their classrooms is a good start.

Schools are desperate for teachers, yet Hawley apparently believes that men’s fragile egos require that they be directed to more manly professions. Hawley’s fellow Ivy Leaguers would probably consider any profession manly enough if it paid well, so why don’t we start by compensating teachers at the level they deserve?

In the meantime, male politicians who think they can solve our nation’s problems in Washington should consider how much more good they could do teaching high school.

- Barbara Foster, Leawood

Eye on the ball

Over the last year or two, it seems that our Kansas City government has spent a great deal of time — and tax revenue — on the design, creation and promotion of a 26-block streetcar extension, the 2023 NFL Draft and hosting several games in the upcoming World Cup. Local government frequently promotes these events on the debatable premise that such events boost the local economy.

I’m here to suggest that, after these events, we study what percentage of the boost to the local economy went to wheel alignment, auto repair and tire shops. Because that segment of our local economy will surely realize a boost from those unfortunate people who drive to these events and discover the crater-filled streets of Kansas City.

While these occasions may arguably be important to the city and its economy, they are less important than safe and usable streets. I encourage city leaders to remember one of the fundamentals of city government: Take care of our streets. Stop the Band-Aid fixes and do it right once and for all.

- John Torrence, Kansas City

Talk about ironic

April 4 marked a historic and monumental day for our nation. Donald Trump was charged with felony criminal charges stemming from the illegal hush money paid to an adult film star.

Unprecedented is a word often associated with Trump. For example, he is the first president to be impeached twice, and the first to lose the popular vote twice since the 19th century. Also, he was the first president to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. Now he is the first former president to be indicted on criminal charges. (April 5, 10A, “Donald Trump arraigned; Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts”)

Trump has a long history of criminality and corruption, but he has evaded legal consequences for too long. It is long past time he be held accountable.

This indictment restored the rule of law and our Constitution and was a critical step in preserving our democracy. No one is above the law.

Do you remember Trump’s repeated “Lock her up!” 2016 campaign chant about Hillary Clinton?

Considering Trump’s indictment, what an ironic twist.

- Ann Geraughty, Overland Park

Not serious

What a ridiculous time in the United States’ history: a former president arrested for paying a pornography actress to remain quiet about a sexual encounter. Lowbrow tabloid garbage.

Maybe he can become president again if he avoids prison. What is wrong with the United States? Have the voters lost their minds again?

- David Whitlock, Kansas City