Opinion

OPINION – Living with Felix

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

My cat, Felix, is lying at the foot of the bed. I wiggle my toes. Felix puts his teeth around them and I can feel the little points of his incisors. He lets me know he could bite — but he does not. That’s because both Felix and I have learned a lot.

We have had Felix for almost two years. Before we adopted Felix, he lived for two years on the street — at least that is what the vet said. The vet said teeth do not lie, and Felix’s teeth were two years old. My husband, Peter, is convinced that Felix is much younger because he was so small when we adopted him. And it’s true, he became much bigger and more muscular once he started getting regular nutrition. But Felix knew nothing about living in houses or living with people and, to be honest, we knew nothing about living with Felix.

OPINION – Trump to detractors after ceasefire: ‘How do you like me now?’

GUEST COLUMN, Larry Elder

When President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran deal in his first term, The New York Times predicted catastrophe. Its editorial board wrote: “When it comes to the danger of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, there is no sign Iran or any of the other major powers in the existing and so far successful pact will simply fall in line with Mr. Trump’s notional new plan. More likely, his decision, announced on Tuesday, will allow Iran to resume a robust nuclear program, sour relations with close European allies, erode America’s credibility, lay conditions for a possible wider war in the Middle East ...”

But now, seven years later, Trump, in his second term, successfully negotiated with Hamas for the release of the remaining living hostages and the bodies of others kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 250 others. The ceasefire, hopefully just the first step for a broader, more lasting peace, was agreed to by the leaders of Qatar and Turkey, where leaders of Hamas reportedly live. The leader of Egypt signed and the Gulf states, as well as Iran, supported the deal. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin praised it.

OPINION – Kansas City’s stadium fumble: Denver shows how to play by free-market rules

GUEST COLUMN, Vance Ginn, Kansas Policy Institute

Jackson County residents voted overwhelmingly to recall County Executive Frank White Jr. in a historic election—the first successful recall in county history. The message was loud and clear: voters are tired of politicians wasting their money.

For months, Kansas City leaders have fought over who should pay for new stadiums for the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs. Taxpayers were supposed to pick up the tab through higher taxes or state-backed financing schemes. That’s what triggered the backlash—and it’s exactly what’s wrong with economic development in both Kansas and Missouri. Frank White also had to deal with the years-long fallout of property tax spikes.

OPINION – Why I’m voting NO on the Seward County half-cent sales tax

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Liberal’s 1-cent sales tax known as the Focus on the Future tax has provided the most positive impact in Liberal since 1994. It’s been renewed three times since its original passage in 1993, and it is important that the benefits of that very effective tax not be confused with this proposed half cent sales tax by the Seward County Commission.

While I have always voted yes for the 1-cent sales tax and continue to support the Focus on the Future tax, I will be voting no on the county’s proposal.

Advance voting begins Monday, and it is important that you know why I believe you should vote against this proposal.

OPINION – Luke's gospel: purpose of Jesus’ genealogy

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

We started this series by looking at the purpose of the gospel writers, which was to introduce us to Jesus. We began with John’s account of the pre-beginning, ever-existing person of Jesus. Last week, we researched Matthew's genealogy of His birth, tracing the lineage of "Jesus the Messiah" through His earthly father Joseph.

There's another genealogy recorded by Luke, but it is different in several ways. While Matthew began with Abraham and moved forward, the record in Luke chapter 3 traveled backward. It also started with Joseph, but commentator Adam Clarke explains that it appears instead to be Mary's line since her father Eli is listed. In this case, Luke used the term "son" to describe Jesus as the son-in-law of Eli. Both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David, with Mary's ancestry through David's son Nathan, and Joseph's from Solomon. [Thus, when the census was ordered, Mary and Joseph traveled to the homeland of their ancestors, to Bethlehem which was called the City of David.] And rather than stopping at Abraham, Luke's lineage goes as far back as "Adam, the son of God" (Luke 3:38).