Why would ‘Kings’ be any better than ‘Chiefs’? Let’s just love our team, Kansas City | Opinion

No leaders?

Perhaps Kelly Ehrenreich, author of the Feb. 14 guest commentary “Now’s the best time to crown KC’s real Kings” (8A) should ponder more her suggestion of changing the name of the Kansas City Chiefs to the Kings.

Some version of “chief” has been used from the dawn of humanity to describe the leader of a group, usually a tribe. The word did not originate with native tribes in the Americas. The word “king” was used by much larger groups of native peoples as well, particularly in the south Americas.

A couple of side notes: We know the Shawnee tribe didn’t use the English “chief,” and the Aztecs didn’t use the English “king.” And drumming has been used by humanity from its dawning.

Most important, I’d encourage proponents of this name change to think about the symbol of the “king.” There may be no better representation of male domination across the span of human history.

So, gee: How about “Kansas City Herd,” referencing our cattle origins, or even the non-offensive “KC Group”? They’re both egalitarian symbols rather than of power-hungry men.

Alternatively, we could just keep loving our team, our brand and be nice fans to all people. Sure, maybe the “Arrowhead chop” could go without great upset. That’s more edgy than a generic word for “leader.”

- Michael Lubbers, Prairie Village

Keep the name

Thank you to the author of a Feb. 9 letter to the editor (8A) defending the names of the Chiefs and Arrowhead Stadium. I have always been in awe of Native traditions and I, too, think “Chiefs” and “Arrowhead” honor them.

I had been led to believe that the tribes were unanimous in opposition to using these images, but that isn’t the case. I enjoy the drumbeats at the beginning of the games, and I was disappointed when the Chiefs discontinued the practice of Warpaint the horse riding onto the field.

I hope people will stand together on this issue and we can continue to honor Native American heritage.

- Janice Meyers, Bucyrus, Kansas

Pat is a match

Patrick Mahomes’ appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday evening was as stellar as his Super Bowl-winning performance the night before. This Kansas City MVP matched wits and lines with Kimmel as if he were running through the Chiefs’ playbook.

Mahomes showed us again — on a completely different stage — why he is a most valuable player, dad, husband, friend and person. Touchdown — Kan-Sas-City!

- Richard F. Thomas Jr., Kansas City

Give it a rest

Am I the only person who is sick and tired of the endless, wall-to wall coverage of the Chiefs? Yes, I root for them and I am glad they won, but my life does not revolve around the Chiefs winning or losing. My self-esteem is not entrenched in the success or failures of any particular professional team.

Come on now, does a parade need 12 hours of coverage from all the local TV outlets in the area? Does a local newspaper need so many pages, day after day, to celebrate this event?

I did not watch the Super Bowl, and I did not watch the parade. There’s no need to see it live, as it will be replayed over and over again on all the TV stations for the next X number of days.

I will be glad when the local news media can move on to other, more important events happening around the world. My time is too important to be fixated on this one event.

- Paul S. Smith, Liberty

Time to act

I don’t won’t to hear that mental health is the only issue we must address to prevent mass shootings. Studies show mental health is not the primary cause for most mass shootings and murders.

I don’t want to hear, “Let’s pray.” Prayers are not going to eliminate senseless mass murders.

I don’t want to hear that some Americans demand the right to own guns with no restrictions or requirements. Recent polling shows that 68% of Americans support stricter gun laws.

I don’t want to hear that the U.S. Constitution supposedly gives citizens the right to own and carry any type of firearm. The Constitution does not state that anyone has the right to own a modern military-grade assault weapon.

What I want to hear is that our federal and state lawmakers will take action to stop senseless gun murders and suicides in our country.

I hope that the 67th mass shooting of 2023 at Michigan State University will be the one that finally forces our elected officials to act.

- Mary Coffman, Overland Park