Letters to the Editor: Coach Cal, please take a tip from Coach Stoops

Take a tip from Stoops, Cal

Kudos to University of Kentucky football Coach Mark Stoops, not just for becoming bowl eligible, but for the way he coaches.

With a big lead, he played second and third stringers for most of the second half against UT Martin. That tells me he appreciates the work put in by non-starters. Great job.

Maybe Coach Stoops could talk to UK basketball Coach John Calipari and tell him it’s the nice, noble thing to do.

Let all the subs play longer than 40 seconds. In the game against Lamar, UK had a 20-point lead with three minutes to play. Put the subs in! They work hard in practice. Reward them. Is the other team going to hit seven threes in two or three minutes? Coach Cal does this consistently. Come on.

Lastly, I want to comment on the Herald-Leader sports staff. I’m sure you know there is another university about four blocks from Rupp Arena. In case you’ve forgotten, it’s Transylvania University and it’s been there for 240 years. They also have a pretty large number of athletic teams — men and women. I wonder why Transy gets no sports coverage. I think they deserve a little recognition. Please give them some coverage.

Bill Ward, Lexington

Renew VAWA

This is a plea for Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

One in four women in the United States experiences severe intimate partner physical violence. The goals of VAWA include making streets and homes safer and protection of civil rights. The act supports programs aimed at prevention, training advocates, funding shelters, initiatives that track violence against women and fights human and sex trafficking, and other necessary programs.

As a survivor, I know the need for this legislation. I still get flashbacks of watching out of our house window get beaten over the head with a brick, while we screamed, pleaded, cried. I remember running into the yard screaming for help. No one came.

As an adult, I earned a second-degree black belt. When we would spar, I would have anxiety attacks — I couldn’t breathe and had palpitations and anxiety. I finally linked these attacks to what I experienced as a child.

We must continue to fund and reauthorize the VAWA to give victims of domestic violence the needed resources to survive. We can all learn to live with scars. The VAWA gives victims the chance to live.

Teresa Villaran, Lexington

Vote on values

Honesty. Integrity. Fairness. Compassion. Kindness.

These are the virtues we strive to teach our children. It is time for our representatives in Washington to vote these virtues.

Lynn Thompson, Lexington

Flag stealing shameful

My father was a Korean War veteran. He died three years ago. He has always had a U.S. flag flying in his front yard, honoring this wonderful country of ours and his pride to have answered the call when drafted. Last month, some cowardly person stole the flagpole and flag out of my widowed mother’s front yard in the Waterford subdivision. My father, who was the kindest man you’ll meet, would have guided a healthy conversation about freedom of speech as a result, although I am very glad he was not alive to witness this level of disrespect, specifically toward his wife. I am not as kind, however. I find it despicable. This letter goes nowhere, because I seriously doubt a person who could steal from a neighbor spends any time doing anything as productive as reading the newspaper. This person knows nothing of honor, civility or bravery. Shame on them.

Kristin Gallagher, Lexington

Whittle bureaucracy

Our federal bureaucracy is too big. Just follow the current impeachment proceedings. Whether you are a Trumper, Never Trumper, Democrat, Republican, independent, liberal, conservative, religious, or non-believer, everyone should be able to agree that bureaucracy spread has become too big.

Are you listening? “I am the under secretary of state for political affairs”, “I am the deputy assistant to the secretary of state”, etc., etc.

If we can start to reduce bureaucracy, who knows what could be next — maybe even our national debt.

Ronald F. Balcom, Lexington