Jackson Mahomes is immature, but he isn’t a kid. Now, can he learn responsibility? | Opinion

Not a child

No, Toriano Porter, Jackson Mahomes is not a kid. (May 5, 8A, “Jackson Mahomes deserves grace, but justice must rule”) At 22, he is an adult. If his case goes to trial, he will be tried as an adult.

Most 22-year-olds have graduated from college or are otherwise embarking on a career. Many are married and have kids. Mahomes is immature and does not seem motivated to be a contributing member of society, but he is not a child.

Maybe this incident will bring with it some maturity and sense of responsibility. I don’t take any pleasure in saying this, but I doubt his behavior will improve. I hope he proves me wrong.

- Janet Mays, Kansas City

Screen time

I always enjoy reading Dion Lefler’s opinion pieces. In his April 20 “Why can’t we have mini pickups like the Taliban?” (17A) he cites recent figures indicating that pedestrian deaths have risen 70% in the last 10 years, pinning most of the blame on pickup trucks.

He points out how pickups have “morphed into monsters.” The hoods of these macho vehicles are hard for drivers to see over, thereby putting pedestrians at risk. And I’m sure the behemoths are to blame for many accidents.

However, I’d like to point out that so many pedestrians these days have their faces glued to their mini-screens and are not watching for oncoming traffic. So let’s give these people oblivious to their surroundings some of the blame for the rise in these accidents.

The truck drivers are likely distracted, too — for the same reason — adding another dimension to the problem.

- Diane Capps, Kansas City

Want to help?

I was in a garden center the other day when I got a text message from my son. It read: “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I went by and ran the weed eater and cut your yard.”

Last year, my sister’s husband came in with happy Mother’s Day wishes, followed by, “I weeded your garden!”

One thing these men have in common: good intentions.

But in reality, they don’t have any idea what is a flower, vegetable or weed. They are all babies on Mother’s Day. They have no idea what we have planted and where we planted it.

There are dozens of other manly activities we’d love you to participate in:

• Change the car’s oil.

• Check the tire pressure.

• Run the dang vacuum.

I could go all the way to Little Cat Z with this list.

Do something this Mother’s Day that will elevate you forever in the eyes of your mother. Ask her if there is any yard work she would like you to do. That would be the best Mother’s Day gift ever.

- Dolores Halbin, Louisburg

Look for heaven

Dear Ralph Yarl,

Your shooting was horrible, but I am consoled that you are improving. From what I have read, you are a fine young man on a trajectory for success.

Many people have contributed to your GoFundMe page. We might assume that many of the donors are wealthy. But there are probably others. I can imagine a Black mother whose son was shot and killed sent you $5, all she could afford.

You have every right to be angry about the violence and ignorance directed at you. Maybe you can redirect that darkness into something positive, a la Jackie Robinson. And way down the road, maybe you could even forgive and find compassion for the man who shot you.

Some people believe that heaven and hell are here right now. Well, you have experienced hell, so let’s look for heaven wherever we can find it. Kick butt on a calculus text. Do your own improvisation on some jazz standards. Paint a dazzling sunrise.

Black lives do matter. Be nourished by the lives of Robinson, Gordon Parks, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosa Parks, Barack Obama and Charlie “Bird” Parker.

Look for heaven every day of your life. You go fly, brother.

- Kent Higman, Kansas City

Parents needed

Missouri’s “parents bill of rights” (like its cousins in other states) is a solution in search of a problem, and it might stress our educational system even more. (April 21, 7A, “Missouri House passes ‘parents bill of rights’”)

To begin with, the notion that this legislation finally makes curriculum, reading lists, library books and so on available to parents is nonsense. Every school I taught at for more than 30 years, plus any of the schools my own children attended, begged parents to serve on district committees to select instructional materials, to attend curriculum nights and — most important — to be active in the parent-teacher organization that helps set school priorities. This begging has fallen on deaf ears far too often.

Yet, rather than support the opportunities for parent involvement that are already encouraged, the bill of rights creates a bureaucratic structure of spreadsheets and boxes to check off, none of which necessarily increases parental participation.

This legislation is yet another salvo in today’s culture wars, purportedly compelling educators to do what most have tried for decades to accomplish. Unfortunately, its broadly worded punitive provisions and informant-type complaint process pile on to the profession’s demands, threatening to exacerbate the state’s teacher shortage.

Missouri needs student-focused teachers, welcoming schools and engaged parents. Those can’t be forced.

- John McDonald, Ferguson, Missouri

Big leaguer

Poor Salvador Perez: a Hall of Fame-worthy catcher stuck with a Triple-A team. Hang in there, Salvy.

- Larry Schaffer, Kansas City

Feed the hungry

As the second-largest egg producer in the United States, the Good Egg People team at Rose Acre Farms Inc. is firmly committed to producing excellent products for our customers and to giving back to our local communities.

The only thing you leave on this earth is what you do for someone else, and the rest of it is just stuff. We want to do our part to help ensure that everyone has access to fresh eggs. We are honored to join the American Egg Board and egg producers nationwide in donating millions of eggs to hunger-relief organizations.

We would like to thank the Harvesters Community Food Network for being a vital resource for food-insecure families in Kansas City and for assisting in distributing 86,400 RAF eggs to people who need them most.

Thank you to all who work in and support hunger relief. We appreciate your dedication and service. We are proud to have partnered with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Hatch for Hunger since its beginnings, and are glad to do our part by sharing eggs with those in our communities who are food insecure.

- Tony Wesner, Chief operating officer, Rose Acre Farms, Knob Noster, Missouri

Set for success

Good Luck to Justin Cooley, the young local actor who has been nominated for a 2023 Tony Award. (May 4, 4B, “Overland Park teen actor nominated for a Tony Award”) Justin won a Blue Star Award from Starlight Theatre, and the rest of his rise to stardom is a great story. His Broadway debut is in the current hit show “Kimberly Akimbo,” which is nominated for eight Tonys, including best musical.

Kudos to all the high school theater teachers who guide, teach and encourage young thespians.

Break a leg, Justin.

- Bruce Koenig, Olathe