To the editor:

I would like to offer my sympathy to those attending the Wakarusa Music Festival. It seems that you have been met by the “welcome wagon” of Kansas, our conservative politics.

Born and raised here, I have always admired the kindness of our citizens. But Lawrence is a blue island, surrounded by a sea of red. Please, do not judge our loving city by the way you were treated by the state.

Although we can make no excuses for the state, we would like to welcome you! Most of us are so happy that many of you travel thousands of miles to visit our little island.

We hope you return. We cannot make any promises, but many of us will do whatever it takes to make sure you feel more welcome the next time you come to town.

By the way, if Kansas has so much drug enforcement money available, why aren’t we cracking down on the clubs that harbor the worst threats to our city since Quantrill, namely gangs fighting for our “territory”?

It’s time to roll out this “unwelcome mat” to those who visit a certain club downtown, every weekend. Thugs with drugs and guns must be weeded out, but leave the peaceful hippies alone.

Daniel Knight,

Lawrence