A one-man play about this great Eastern Kentuckian deserves a wider audience | Opinion

Rosenberg legacy

“To fight for the right, without question or pause, to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause” is a lyric from “The Impossible Dream.” Few people today make such a commitment. Yet, one who did lives in Prestonsburg: John Rosenberg.

Rosenberg’s story of his quest to “fight for the right” is acted out intelligently by Jeff Sherr in his one-man play, “Stumbling Stones.” It opens with the experiences and values that molded Rosenberg into a powerful force for change in Kentucky’s Appalachia — a change that was at the forefront of the legal battles over Kentucky’s broad form deed that treated Eastern Kentucky as a colony ruled by a Coal Combine of aloof landlords. It gave them the right to remove “by any means necessary” minerals below the ground’s surface. To them, “black coal,” was more important than people’s welfare.

Because “Stumbling Stones” transforms Rosenberg’s local fight against the Broad Form Deed into a nationwide theme—the individual against an unjust machine—and because Sherr’s performance is compelling, its moral urgency will grab audiences far beyond Appalachia by the lapels. This play demands staging in academic venues like UK’s Singletary Center to maximize its educational and civic impact.

James Kurz, Lexington

Liberal Kentuckian

I came to Kentucky as a liberal from Portland, Oregon, concerned about how I would survive the politics in a Red state.

I am flat gob smacked.

We have one of the best Democratic governors in the country. I wrote to Governor Andy Beshear’s office asking for help with the DMV challenges I was having. I got a response the next day.

I’ve never had a nice thing to say about Rand Paul, but damn, good job sir.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is the star of this show, though. I have no idea what his politics on everything else besides Epstein looks like, but I am so proud to be a Kentuckian right now. Some of our most powerful representatives are standing up with a full chest and barking the truth. And it appears they have even inspired U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., to get her integrity on.

I’m here for all of it as a proud Kentuckian.

Denise Martin, Lexington

Barr v. Massie

Congratulations to the Honorable U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky.! Congressman Barr, like all but four Republican members of Congress, did everything he could to prevent the release of the Epstein files, which is filled with a lot of insalubrious references to President Donald Trump and his alleged behavior. Barr even joined the entire House Republican Caucus in being absent most days since August, when House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent his cohort home to avoid talking about and especially voting on whether to release the files concerning one of the greatest pedophile rings ever. Thank you, Congressman Barr, for your vacation service!

But Barr flipped his vote at the last minute on Monday when it was obvious even to Trump that there would be a vote and that any Republicans voting against would land on the wrong side of history. Even a worm knows when to turn, so thank you for your expedience. Better late than never.

But we get it. The ever-ambitious Andy Barr really, really, REALLY needs that Trump endorsement for his upcoming race for U.S. Senate in what promises to be a crowded field. How could justice for these victims outweigh that need to put Trump first and foremost? Priorities, after all.

Ivonne Rovira , Louisville

Epstein vote

Because they didn’t buckle under pressure, Republican House members Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Thomas Massie of Kentucky all deserve to receive the next John F. Kennedy “Profile in Courage” award. If they hadn’t stuck to their principles, Tuesday’s vote to release the Epstein files -- which, as it turns out, was nearly unanimous -- might never have happened. Thanks for standing up for what’s right.

Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach, Cal.

Trump confusion

President Donald Trump is so clueless he doesn’t realize that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was ongoing during Trump’s entire first stint in the presidency. Trump probably missed that news because he was too busy working on his multi-tiered plan to rig the 2020 election - from fake electors to sleazy lawyers to organizing an insurrection on the U.S. Capital.

One of his schemes was to blackmail President Vlodomire Zelensky of Ukraine into starting an investigation of the then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden in exchange for Trump releasing the funds approved by the U.S. Congress for armaments for the Ukrainian Army. That scheme led to Trump’s first impeachment. Zelensky refused. Remarkably, months later, Trump finally released the funds anyway.

Now a seemingly senile, delusional Trump is claiming that Biden started the war between Russia and Ukraine. He has created a fantasy world that he firmly believes is fact. It’s time for all the MAGAs to finally concede that they have been conned.

Kevin Kline, Lexington

Nigeria conflict

President Donald Trump is considering sending American troops to Nigeria, a predominately Muslim nation, for its role in not stopping the indiscriminate killing of Christians there.

Wonder if Trump has ever considered sending American troops to Israel for Israel’s role in the indiscriminate killing of Muslims (67,000 to date) in that country?

Bob Sutton, Springfield

Oh, Canada!

To the citizens and government of Canada — I have spent much time in your great country and have always felt welcomed by your gracious and friendly people. We share a common heritage, language and culture that reaches back about 400 years. Both of us stem from Western European nations, emerging from colonial status to independent nations. Canadian baseball, basketball, and hockey teams compete in common leagues. This year, the Toronto Blue Jays made it to the World Series, the crowning achievement in the “The Great American Pastime”. We also share thousands of miles of boundary and the Great Lakes.

All of this harmony has been shattered or threatened by the ignorance and petty conduct of the President of the United States. He has arbitrarily and illegally (in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the NAFTA treaty which Trump signed) placed tariffs on a wide variety of Canadian goods. Trump also refuses to deal fairly with Canadian representatives to address the situation. I feel like an apology is in order.

Please forgive the U.S. for creating this awful fissure between us, and be patient with the American people. Most of us feel the same way.

D. Craig Dance, Lexington

Puppet Barr

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., has nothing to say for himself. I mean, he literally has nothing to say for himself. His ads for the U.S. Senate race tout his loyalty and 100 percent support for President Donald Trump. There is no mention of any achievements Barr has attained for the 6th District. Nor does he lay out plans to address the issues facing Kentuckians such as inflation, rising health care costs and affordability.

You would think that a representative who has served almost seven terms in Congress would promote his accomplishments and plans as the pitch to get voters to promote him to the Senate. But, based on his TV ads, Barr has not done much for the 6th District nor does he have plans to do much as a Senator. His chief credential is his unwavering loyalty to Trump and his eagerness to do as Trump dictates. Surely, Kentucky deserves a Senator who can think and act independently for the best interests of Kentuckians.

Barr, who has proved he cannot speak or think for himself, is not that candidate.

Rena Wiseman, Lexington

Edited by Liz Carey