Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reita Isaacs, Liberal

Here I am again with my feet up and phone in hand hearing about the sixth major fire in what seems to be targeting one huge incapacitating area of California.

Let’s go back a few years to the incident that destroyed Maui, remembering the unusual pattern of destruction: Nothing covered with that strange color of blue was burned, especially Oprah’s and Don Johnson’s properties; the cars not protected had pools of metal that could not be melted by anything; 10 out of 11 school buses burned, the 11th unaccounted for (used to transport the 1000 missing children possibly), and we’ve never heard about them since.

GUEST COLUMN, Glenn Brunkow, Kansas Farm Bureau

We are in the middle of what I call meeting season for Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB). The legislative process for both the state and federal governments are started. We have already had KFB Annual Meeting, the Young Farmers and Ranchers Leaders Conference, and by the time most of you read this, the County President’s Conference and Day at the Statehouse will also be in the books.

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

Last week in reviewing the childhood of Jesus, we looked at two themes: the freedom of simplicity revealed by the birth in Bethlehem and seemingly unremarkable boyhood; also, the challenge His parents faced in raising up such a child - human, but with divine implications.

We shared earlier how conditions were just right for the coming of the Messiah, with Hellenistic influences, Roman infrastructure and organization, and Jewish monotheistic heritage. God also chose faithful parents, Mary and Joseph, who would be responsible for nurturing Jesus, and a small town, Nazareth, where he would grow up. Let’s turn back to those simpler times and see other lessons learned.

GUEST COLUMN, Eric Ruark, Director of Research Numbers USA

Donald Trump won a convincing victory over Kamala Harris largely due to record support from Black and Latino men. Trump won these votes because of, not in spite of, his immigration policies.

These predominantly working-class men intuitively understand that mass migration depresses their wages, increases competition for jobs and housing, and overburdens their local communities.