To the editor:

Regarding Matt Withers’ “Native view,” (Public Forum, April 13), I seriously doubt Mr. Withers understands as much about our home state as he would like to think.

Among non-Native American settlers, my family could not be more Kansan. Direct lines of my family have lived in this state since its infancy. They even founded a town in 1879 that still operates today as a true Kansas community. I and my family, and the majority of my Kansan friends, all voted against the ban because it is bigoted.

Mr. Withers claims that non-Kansan liberals are trying to change his state, but it was religious fundamentalists who created the amendment that changed the state constitution. What the amendment changes, I could most certainly do without in the state I love.

Also, to claim that people move here to “play farmer” is insulting to every farmer and to what my ancestors have done for over a hundred years. No one can “play farmer.” Farming is one of the most financially unstable and demanding occupations in this country. That is why you are seeing family farms disappear at an alarming rate.

Lastly, allow one very proud Kansan to tell another proud Kansan that no community can exist with the “if you don’t like it, then get out” attitude. Whether I like you or not we have to work together, but that doesn’t mean I will allow you to parade around an idea that all true Kansans are against equality for everyone.

Michael Stoecker,

Lawrence