Opinion

The Church: its true character

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

We just returned home from a trip where we spent 11 days with family members in their RV, then ended with a cousins' reunion. Each of those had the potential for an unpleasant outcome, but instead they resulted in fun memories and a deeper appreciation for those who made it all happen.

Last week we looked at some metaphors used to describe the church, including a family, a body, a vine and branches, and a spiritual house made of living stones. Today, using 1 Corinthians 12, we'll focus on the character of the Church, with a key component of unity. Jesus prayed shortly before His death, "'...that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me'" (John 17:21). Before that, He told the disciples, "'By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another'" (John 13:35).

OPINION — Differences of opinion are not automatically racist

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Haden Olive, Liberal

In response to the attack Commissioner Janeth Vazquez made on me, she was wrong when she stated my float was racist and not about democracy. It was 100 percent democracy. My freedom of speech is a right the radical left wing hasn’t been able to take away from American citizens, much to their chagrin. No bullying, no intimidation, just my personal opinion.

She had the right to have an entry in the parade, which she did the first time she ran for office, asking for votes. Perhaps with three positions open and three candidates running it wasn’t worth her time to enter.

OPINION — Driving for the future

GUEST COLUMN, Glenn Brunkow, Kansas Farm Bureau

I love a good road trip, especially one around Kansas. That is why I am so excited about the listening tour Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) President Joe Newland and I will be embarking on July 21-23 and 30-31. Tour stops are listed at www.kfb.org, and you can register there also. Joe and I along with district directors will be at every stop.

This is truly a listening tour, and we want to hear what is on your mind. Your board of directors has spent the last year going over the organization’s strategic plan and we would like to present it to all our members for their input also.

OPINION — If immigration reform is going to happen, it starts here

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Ernie Schaffer and I worked together several years ago to try to come up with a plan to help revise the broken immigration system. And when I say several years ago, I’m talking about 2010, which is 15 years ago. We submitted the plan to Senator Jerry Moran’s office on his web site in 2001 and never heard back — good, bad or indifferent.

Immigration policy has not improved or even been adjusted since. That has left a variety of presidents to address the issue in different ways. Barack Obama became the Deporter in Chief, and Donald Trump’s first term was focused on creating a “big beautiful wall.”

OPINION — To those attacking me for standing up for immigrants: Enough is enough

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Janeth Vazquez, Liberal City Commissioner

To the racist individuals who continue writing articles about me simply because I stand up for immigrant families — enough is enough.

During our town’s 4th of July parade — a celebration meant to honor freedom and unity — a local Republican used their float to display a massive sign calling for me and Mayor Lara to resign. That wasn’t about democracy. It was public bullying. It was racist.