Aaron Rodgers earned his lumps for bonehead idea to ‘debate’ vaccines with Travis Kelce | Opinion

Watch the skies

The old-fashioned drop-kick is a rarity in modern football, but Sam McDowell certainly punted Aaron Rodgers into the stratosphere with his recent column about the Jets quarterback’s ridiculous suggestion that he and Travis Kelce debate the pros and supposed “cons” of vaccination. (Oct. 12, 1B, “Rodgers reveals hypocrisy in challenging Kelce to ‘debate’”)

Passengers departing Kansas City International Airport might look out their windows after takeoff. They may yet see that ball still in flight.

- Glenn McDonald, Lee’s Summit

Idea ignored

Based on media information and our elected officials’ responses (or lack thereof), I’m not convinced there is actually a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, or that they really even care.

I’ve had an idea — a solution, followed by a plan that if enacted, could end the so-called border crisis within 90 days. I’ve written about it to my U.S. representative and received a canned response that failed to address the issue.

Then I wrote the same letter to one of my U.S. senators, and his response was that he was in favor of securing our border and continues to fight for resuming building a wall (although that idea didn’t help the Chinese in ancient times).

Disappointed with my local officials, I wrote directly to the White House, and again, received a canned response.

Not one — not one — government official responded with something along the lines of, “We know good leadership always needs ideas and input on how we could improve our response to addressing current issues. Your ideas and suggestions are always an important part of good government. Thank you!“

So either we don’t have a border crisis or our elected officials couldn’t care less what their constituents think.

They must have all the answers. They apparently don’t need ours.

- Ric Novak, Shawnee

Hamas’ horrors

I am highly disappointed about The Kansas City Star Editorial Board’s position and wording on the conflict in the Middle East. (Oct. 13, 6A, “We denounce violent attack on Israel but must find way to coexist”) Calling Hamas a “pro-Palestine organization” and neglecting to state that the United States officially recognizes it as a terrorist group is disgusting and misleading to readers unfamiliar with the situation.

Additionally, by leaving out information about Hamas’ kidnappings, rapes, beheadings and pure unadulterated destruction paints this terrorist organization as something readers should sympathize with instead of something they should abhor. Unfortunately, the board has not gone on a fact-finding mission (aka, a simple Google search) to realize how unfairly Israel, the only democracy in the Mideast, is treated at the United Nations when targeted routinely by many antisemitic countries. There is an outstanding agenda item to discuss these “violations” in Israel, but the UN conveniently ignores China (Muslim Uyghurs in concentration camps), Syria (gassing its own citizens) and more atrocities.

Instead, The Star should take the position that Israel and the Jews have a right to defend themselves from thousands of rockets meant to kill them because of their religion and to instead live in peace from their enemies. Period.

- Zachary Ruben, Overland Park

TB realities

As an active pulmonary tuberculosis survivor, I want to applaud the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and spokesperson Jennifer Dunlay for being thorough in their testing after TB was detected in local schools, and for publicly stressing both the seriousness of the disease and the fact that it’s not easily transmittable. (Oct. 12, KansasCity.com, “Olathe high school tests hundreds for tuberculosis after student tests positive”)

What everyone can do to help — besides not giving into fear or fearmongering — is to call their senators and representatives and urge passage of the historically bipartisan End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023, currently in Congress, as soon possible.

- David Moskowitz, Contributing board member, Stop TB USA, Playa del Rey, California