Dear Editor,
Susan Lynn’s editorial in the Weekender was very much appreciated.
Now I have a few words to go along with it:
Mr. Rowe and Mr. Callahan need to take a few lessons from past city fathers and learn how to do good for Iola instead of taking advantage of “the power” that Mr. Rowe referred to in “feeling sorry for Mr. McRae.”
John McRae has integrity and honor from his years of service as mayor to Iola. Mr. Rowe is just beginning and is not making a very good start. As for Mr. Callahan, I’m wondering just where he comes from or thinks he is going.
Mr. McRae does not need to be felt sorry for because he did his stint. And, while there never once created an issue aimed at others. He conducted business as business should be conducted. As a group, mayor and council. Not one or two against the rest.
Mr. McRae never called (to my recollection) a “secret” meeting so to speak. He had it all out in the open and did not dig up information to surprise the council members.
Mr. Rowe, I ask you. Who is mayor? You or Mr. Shirley?
It seems in recent days, weeks, months and years, the assignment of power has been given to those who do not deserve such. We, the citizens, need to start investigating who we vote for. And, vote for the most qualified. Not the most liked.
We need to take a good long look at ourselves and once again ask the question John Fitzgerald Kennedy asked us when he was a very young president and when I was just a very young girl and Mr. Rowe and others were just very young people, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Not only what you can do for your country, but what you can do for your country with honesty, wisdom, knowledge and integrity. It seems elected officials have forgotten what that all means.
So sad that our country is in such a turmoil. So sad that the turmoil has trickled down to state, county and city governments as well.
Let us get together again. Let us be what our forefathers intended us to be. A democracy with pride and citizens who treasure it.
Thank you for your time.
Carolyn S. Mynatt
LaHarpe, Kan.
