Letters: Chicago, San Francisco, and New York bicker, Columbus' downtown grows
So-called 'cowtown' is on rise
"Grow Columbus grow" is the motto for downtown Columbus.
While Chicago, San Francisco, and New York bicker and complain about politics and what is best for their declining downtowns, our sweet downtown 'cowtown' is busy hosting the Arnold, the Blue Jackets, the Crew, and building, and while building, employing thousands in the building trades.
More:Arnold Sports Festival: What to know and what's new this year
Whether it is luck, design or both, Columbus is the gem of the Midwest and the shining city on the Scioto.
Michael Oser, Columbus
One bite at a time
I was struck by the columns in the March 2 Dispatch, "Is gun violence discrimination against Americans?" and "Gun safety starts at home; too many kids are dying."
Both were interesting and provided insight and thoughtfulness. I was particularly struck by Amber Estis' commentary about what she was doing as a principal of a small school. She was dealing with the prevention of one small part of gun violence - deaths/accidental shootings by children.
Colin Gabler:Expert: American are unfairly, unjustly subjected to gun violence. Is that discrimination?
It got me thinking that perhaps we are addressing gun violence incorrectly.
No one has a solution, other than legislation which is tricky at best and ineffective at worst.
There are many aspects of gun violence that factor into the death toll including suicide, carelessness of gun owners, disregard for human life. Perhaps dealing with gun deaths and the disregard for the power of guns should be attacked like eating an elephant: one bite at a time.
Holly Richard, Columbus
Recently, in a handful of change, I found a shiny new Maya Angelou quarter — one in a series of U.S. coins minted in tribute to remarkable women in American history, including this outstanding poet, author and activist.
More:Maya Angelou coins distributed by US Mint make her first Black woman to appear on quarters
That small quarter sends an enormous message to all Americans, but particularly to young women.
It’s a powerful reminder of everything we celebrate this March during Women’s History Month, shining a spotlight on the important role of women leaders in our lives and the need to encourage more to follow their lead.
That’s why I am so honored to serve as chair of the board for Western Governors University Ohio, a nonprofit online university helping adult learners achieve their goals. I’m inspired by the efforts of the many working women I see who juggle family responsibilities and jobs while studying to expand their horizons with careers in business, nursing, healthcare, I.T. and teaching.
WGU Ohio, like so many other fine colleges and universities in our state, is preparing Ohio’s women leaders of tomorrow. Not all may be destined to be honored on a quarter, but every one of them will be ready to claim their own place in Women’s History.
Barbara Smoot, Westerville
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Chicago, San Francisco, and New York bicker, Columbus' downtown grows