What's the matter with Missouri?

[proud2BlibKansan]

Embarrassed KC

What's the matter with Kansas? Perhaps the question should be what's the matter with the Midwest?

Every day, it seems, it becomes more humiliating to be a Kansan — and now, to be so closely affiliated with Missouri, where I work.

First it was Kansas' stunning protest against teaching evolution in our state's classrooms. Next came Phill Kline's McCarthyesque inquiry into state abortion records. Then it was the appalling vote to amend our state constitution to outlaw gay marriage, which our laws already prohibited.

Now we have Michael Dean Smith of Gladstone, who waited in line at Unity Temple to spit tobacco juice on Jane Fonda because 30 years ago she protested a war that he fought in — a war fought to further the ideals that made it possible for Fonda to protest a war she didn't believe in.

What's humiliating for those of us who have to claim him as our neighbor is that he could not raise his hand to speak his mind to her, or write a letter to her, her publisher or The Star. Nope. His big idea was to chew him up some tobacky and hawk the vile juice on her.

Lisa Tarry

Leawood

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/opinion/11496267.htm

[rurallib]

1. My daughter and her boyfriend lived in Mo.

for 2 years. They couldn't wait to get back to Iowa (note eastern Iowa). They lived in Springfield and St.Louis. They said it was like travelling back in time living there.
We have a western part of the Iowa that is, well, like Kansas.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I lived in Omaha for two years

and prefer Kansas.

[Murphy_]

3. Missouri got off to a rough start...

Those of you from Kansas may know about the role pro-slavery raiders from Missouri played in establishing Kansas's first state government. Or, more precisely, overthrowing their first government.

Kansas was originally going to form an anti-slavery government, siding with the Northern states. Well, the folks in Missouri didn't care much for the idea and lead a raid into Kansas, staging a shootout in the capital and leading the pro-slavery contingent in Kansas to take over the state government.

Nothing like overthrowing a popular government to establish your progressive credentials.

M. Murphy

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Murphy_!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: