Kansas has examples entire world could follow

From industrial leaders like Walter Chrysler, the founder of Chrysler Corp., to aviation heroes like Amelia Earhart to President Dwight Eisenhower, achievement beyond conventional limits is part of the spirit of Kansas.

By LUIS ALBERTO MORENO

Special to The Capital-Journal

I recently visited Kansas for the first time, thanks to a generous invitation from Sen. Sam Brownback. Faithful to the state's tradition of opening up to the world, he came up with an interesting project to have ambassadors from all over the world visit Kansas. I was lucky enough to be part of his second trip.

And I must be truthful: just like anyone who is spending enormous amounts of time in Washington, I was surprised by what I saw. Most people would think all you will find if you visit your beautiful land is wheat and sunflowers. And yes, there certainly are a lot of both in Kansas. It is proudly one of the leading wheat producing states in the nation, and the country's first sunflower oil producer.

But it has also accomplished something that is unique: It has combined extraordinary agricultural productivity with high tech industry. Without losing its rich agricultural heritage, it has thrived in the use of modern technology, and even more importantly, it has opened its eyes to the world.

Located in the heart of the United States, Kansas has one of the fastest growing economies in America. I was surprised to learn that during World War II, Kansas became the most important airplane manufacturing state in the country. Boeing Co., Cessna Aircraft, Learjet Inc., Raytheon Aircraft Co. and several other manufacturers based in Kansas make 69 percent of all general aviation aircraft delivered nationally and internationally. And an amazing 40 percent of all sales in aviation are exported. Kansas, like few other places in the heartland of America, has welcomed international commerce, and fully understood the importance of keeping in touch with the rest of the world in order to grow and prosper.

Another surprising discovery I made in Kansas is people's dedication to learning. The state has some of the best colleges in the region. And I was astonished when I saw the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library in Abilene. Clearly, Kansas has enthusiastically embraced the new economy, where knowledge is the greatest asset. This explains why Sprint, one of the leading telecommunications companies in the United States, is based in Kansas.

But what I found most striking about Kansas is the fiercely entrepreneurial character of its people. Ever since Buffalo Soldiers operating off Fort Leavenworth built roads and strung telegraph lines throughout the state, many sons and daughters of Kansas have carried this same relentless spirit of achievement to unprecedented limits.

From industrial leaders like Walter Chrysler, the founder of Chrysler Corp., to aviation heroes like Amelia Earhart to President Dwight Eisenhower, achievement beyond conventional limits is part of the spirit of Kansas. And this is not just history; you can feel this today in its people. You can see it in their booming economy, in their sense of community, in their being so connected to the rest of the world. Quite impressive for a state with only 2.6 million inhabitants.

This outstanding vision is part of an important heritage, of a land whose leaders have combined boldness and sacrifice in a unique way. Leaders like Sens. Brownback and Pat Roberts. Ever since five antislavery activists founded Topeka, it has held a strong moral leadership.

This kind of moral commitment is something I can relate to as a Colombian citizen. My country is fighting a war on illegal drugs, a problem of worldwide proportions, and one of the great plagues of modern times. It is no exaggeration to say that Colombia has suffered more than any nation on Earth because of the boom in the narcotics trade. We have lost many thousands --- judges and politicians, journalists and policemen --- not to mention innocent bystanders, in our efforts to protect our society from the criminal element.

In this war, Colombia's casualty list grows longer. This is why we can relate to Kansas, the last state to eliminate Prohibition back in the 1930s. This is a state where cocaine consumption has decreased 23 percent since 1995, and heroin consumption is virtually nonexistent. To be truthful, if the other 50 states had the same moral commitment, we wouldn't have a drug problem in Colombia.

Luis Alberto Moreno is Colombia's ambassador to the United States.

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