From Jan. 6 riot to Lee’s Summit school board? Voters need a candidate they can trust | Opinion
Confidence needed
Communities across the country are engaged in discussions about the future of our K-12 public school systems. A commitment to free speech is the bedrock of a liberal democracy, but what happens when a representative rejects the will of the people?
David Grady is a candidate for a seat on the Lee’s Summit R-7 Board of Education. In January 2021, Grady traveled to Washington, D.C., to the pro-Donald Trump protest that resulted in insurrectionists storming the U.S. Capitol. (March 2, 8A, “Would schools candidate follow democratic norms?”) Grady has attempted to minimize his participation by noting he broke no laws.
No rational person would question the right of an American citizen to protest peacefully. It’s entirely reasonable to note, however, that a participant in an authoritarian-leaning demonstration has no business setting policy that will affect the educational development of our children. Such a position is not a question of ideological differences. Rather, it’s about being certain voters elect representatives with a clear commitment to liberal democratic processes.
Defenders of Grady’s candidacy say we should stick to the issues. Nonsense. How can Lee’s Summit residents focus on the issues when we can’t be confident Grady will enforce the will of the people when the debate is over?
- Jay Steinkruger, Lee’s Summit
Personal matter
The Missouri legislature is sitting on a dangerous precedent, advancing legislation that would ban transgender youth from receiving medically appropriate, gender-affirming care. (March 21, KansasCity.com, “Missouri Senate advances bans on gender-affirming care, transgender student athletes”) It is sad and disheartening that politicians are laser focused on a group of people who represent less than 1% of the population of the world and who are already marginalized in so many ways.
According to numerous studies, gender-affirming health care is not only safe, but it is supported by the American Medical Association and American Association of Pediatrics. Missouri’s so-called “SAFE Act” further endangers trans youth who are already at a higher risk of suicide, suffer higher rates of anxiety and depression, and experience greater difficulty accessing health care without bills like this.
More than 50% of young people who identify as transgender or nonbinary reported having seriously considered suicide in the last year. Gender-affirming interventions have been found to lower the rates of depression and anxiety in trans and gender non-confirming children.
What happened to personal freedoms? I urge you to contact your legislators and ask them to oppose this cruel, unnecessary legislation.
- Tammy Luke, Kansas City
Asymmetric prize
Congratulations to the Blue Valley student who won an award of $250,000 for her 1-minute, 30-second video on the dangers to your eyes of using your phone. And kudos to her teacher for getting $50,000. (March 19, 4A, “Blue Valley High student wins science video contest”)
However, I would implore the company sponsoring the Breakthrough Junior Challenge that the award is not proportional to effort and the product. Wouldn’t it be better to give 100 awards of $2,500 to others among the 2,400 students who also entered the contest?
And, as a teacher myself, I would certainly appreciate being included in an award, but $50,000 is not commensurate to any amount of work a teacher might have done. There, too, it would be far better to award $500 each to 100 teachers.
- Dan O’Connell, Fairway
Dead letters
I wonder whether the U.S. Postal Service has a contingency plan for assisting people who only occasionally receive their mail deliveries. I’m curious if it’s willing to give me an excuse note for renewing insurance, paying bills and especially for being late with taxes.
- Andrea Hickerson, Leawood
