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Phone calls like the one to the Newton Kansan Friday are not new, nor, honestly rare or unique. Calls to local newspaper offices often allege nefarious activity by local leaders and corruption in local law enforcement departments.

Regarding Beth Vannatta’s letter in Tuesday’s Kansan (Let teachers teach), which appears to be a veiled reference to the teaching of Critical Race Theory, no one is opposed to teaching the facts of America’s history. However, we do object to the claim of some that the central event in the founding of America was not the Declaration of Independence, but rather the importation of slaves from Africa in 1619, and America is responsible for the institution of slavery. The truth is slavery has existed since the appearance of man on earth and unfortunately persists today in some parts of Africa and Asia. We object to teaching that white people are bigots and racists and oppressors, and all people of color are victims. The quote at the end should be: “The truth shall set us free from the false teachings of Critical Race Theory and other false teachings.”

Amidst pictures of the new war in Ukraine, the U.S. is anticipating photos of truck convoys arriving in the Washington D.C. area, protesting many issues including vaccine mandates. Ukraine’s democracy is under assault just as in the U.S., we are seeing democracy in action: people organizing to use their voices.