Letters to the Editor: Lexington has lost ‘one of its finest and best citizens’

Loss of a leader

Lexington lost one of its finest and best citizens with the death of Joe Graves, a civil rights leader and a former member of the Kentucky General Assembly who represented this community with high distinction in Frankfort.

Graves was one of several legislators from Lexington and Central Kentucky who stood tall — among them Shelby Kinkead, Foster Pettit, Don Ball and others — and helped former Gov. Ned Breathitt pass needed civil rights legislation to assure all Kentuckians the right to eat and sleep where they pleased, to seek employment wherever they desired to work, and to advance their economic well-being in 1966. They helped Kentucky pass the first civil rights legislation in the South.

But Graves, at age 90, was a leader in all phases of civil rights, serving on the city’s first commission to desegregate local movie theater seating and marching in Frankfort with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after the first state public accommodations bill failed in 1964. He came very close to crossing party lines in 1968 to support Robert F. Kennedy for president before the senator was assassinated.

With his death, Lexington has lost one of its outstanding leaders — a courageous man others should emulate when seeking public office.

Don Mills, Lexington

Explanation needed

I write to endorse Herald-Leader opinion columnist Linda Blackford’s analysis and commentary about the firing of Dean Mark Kornbluh. Through 40 years as a University of Kentucky faculty member, 13 years as a dean and one year as the provost, I have worked with many deans and academic leaders. Dean Kornbluh was among the very best in service to and leadership of his faculty and the whole university. The UK community deserves a better explanation for this decision and the way it was implemented.

M.Scott Smith, Lexington, retired dean, UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Praise for LFD

On the morning of Sept. 8, there was an automobile accident at the corner of High Street and Stone Avenue. The result was an upside down car with the driver trapped inside. Four units of the Lexington Fire Department arrived quickly. The personnel responded calmly with compassion and precision to free the driver and secure the situation. Myself and other observers were impressed with the obvious training and professionalism on display. Thank you, Lexington Fire Department first responders.

Carson Evans, Lexington

Tabloid fare

I am appalled and amazed that the Herald-Leader printed an article by contributing columnist Paul Prather earlier this month about Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr.

I have no interest in the sexual exploits of Falwell, his wife, Becki, and a much younger pool boy. I think this type of article should be in a tabloid, if anywhere, not in the Herald-Leader.

Harry Miller, Lexington

Woodward book

So President Donald Trump and his allies believe it was Bob Woodward’s job to inform the country about coronavirus? Funny, I don’t recall Woodward being elected president and accepting a salary to perform those functions. What I do recall is that in the fall of 1962 Russia sent nuclear weapons to its ally Cuba 90 miles from our country. Had these been launched in the midst of a Cold War many millions of Americans would have died. However instead of “being a cheerleader” and “not causing a panic” John Kennedy — displaying true presidential leadership — went on national television and alerted the nation to this very real and present danger. Perhaps now people will remove the rose-colored glasses from their eyes and recognize the threat this incompetent, dangerous coward poses to America.

Jay Hopkins, Frankfort

‘Wanton disregard’

We now know that President Donald Trump was not just naive and uninformed about the danger of COVID-19. At least by Feb. 7, he knew the seriousness of the disease, as evidenced by his conversation with Bob Woodward.

While I don’t think President Trump wanted his supporters to die or become sick when they attended his rallies, masks not required, social distancing not required; what happened to his supporters just wasn’t uppermost in his mind. His own self-aggrandizement was.

Insurance companies call that behavior “wanton disregard”.

Andrea Veach, Louisville

Which is worse?

I wonder how taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem is worse than calling our veterans who gave their lives in service to our country losers and suckers.

Richard Haley, Lexington