Kentucky’s Kingdom
Perhaps the way to secure state funding for our beloved Kentucky Kingdom is to add a ride that takes you up a mountain where there would be thunder, lightning and fire. Suddenly, two stone tablets would be placed in the hands of riders, and then the ride would return to the ground. The ride would be called Mt. Sinai, the Holy Mount. Just maybe our state lords would then be interested. The park could be named Commandments Over Kentucky. One moment while I get my tongue out of my cheek.
Allen Canterbury, South End
Don’t Weep for Me, Kentucky
I am a native son of Kentucky, and I feel nothing but shame about it. I am embarrassed that my people have become afflicted with the mental infirmity called Republicanism — a tried and failed obsolete political philosophy that preaches the wonder of self-reliance and rails against “big government” spending while greedily devouring the $1.52 we get back from “big government” for every dollar we send to Washington. I am ashamed that my people sent two obstructionists to represent them in the Senate whose primary goal is to filibuster every single piece of pertinent legislation that will help them. I am revolted that our elected officials are more than willing to slash spending on education while precious tax money is given to outrageous religious endeavors like the Ark Encounter. I am ashamed that we have turned into the proverbial red state behind the curve in every conceivable way.
I sat watching the second debate knowing that charlatan Mitt Romney could say “rubber baby buggy bumpers” for the entire program, and he would still get the support of my fellow Kentuckians. It does not matter to them how many vulgar lies he speaks. It does not matter that he carried signs supporting the Vietnam War and then cowardly went to France for 30 months while his American brothers were fighting and dying. It does not matter that he is one of those corporate raiders who destroyed companies that destroyed the lives and pensions of their fellow Americans. It does not matter that it was people like him who brought this country to the brink of financial ruin. My people don’t remember what it was like when we put another Republican businessman in the White House. The sad and embarrassing truth is that my people just want to put the “white” back into the White House.
I hoped to live long enough to see the good people of my state prize education and innovation above religion and basketball, but as our budgetary expenditures prove, basketball is our new religion, and like all other religions, it constantly needs more money. On election night when Obama gives his victory speech, I will weep for my old Kentucky home, my old Kentucky home far away.
Thomas Clay Jr., Jeffersonville
Wet Writer
The letter writer who recently “rebutted” Paul L. Whiteley Sr.’s previous letter of support for President Obama (LEO Weekly, Oct. 24) is all wet, in my personal opinion. It appears to me that he doesn’t know much of anything about the Christian religion, or Obama, or Whiteley, who just happens to be a practicing Christian himself. As Whiteley wrote in one of his letters a few years ago, “I am a regular person who tries to incorporate justice, kindness and walking humbly with God in my letter writing.” I’ve enjoyed his writing in LEO and other newspapers for many years.
The letter writer’s characterization of Obama’s policies as “aggressively anti-Christian” is itself anti-Christian if you think about it. Many of those who say such things are also big fans of Ayn Rand’s extremist books and notably unenthusiastic about the Bible’s 300-plus scriptures concerning our obligations to help the poor and oppressed. How they bridge the yawning gap between the cold-hearted materialism of Rand and scriptures like Amos 5:21 to 24, I’ll never understand.
Tom Louderback, Highlands
