Letters to the Editor – Plano ISD, Republicans, Haitian immigrants, Texas business leaders

Regardless of the parents

Thank you for your excellent reporting, which confirms my belief that most Texans want their school children to be safe. I thought the only villains in this drama were Governor Greg Abbott and his Enforcer, Attorney General Ken Paxton, but after the Plano ISD board meeting on Tuesday, I realized that not all districts are going to do the right thing, even with pressure from Abbott and Paxton were relieved.

With 4-3 votes, the school management decided to give up their mandate for temporary masks with “unlimited exceptions”. The Plano mandate resulted in 92% of parents adopting the mask mandate, only 8% requested exemptions, and an estimated 4% requested philosophical rather than medical exemptions. This masks the clear will of the circle parents. All of this as COVID-19 deaths have now risen to 1,900 a day nationwide.

We believe the Attorney General’s threat of litigation was the primary reason the four board members voted against masks. What happened to let the parents decide?

Robert L. Barrese, Far North Dallas

What do we teach

As I read through the highlights of the recent Texas Legislature Act on What Could Be Taught in Public Schools, I remembered Mark Twain’s observation that “history does not repeat itself, it often rhymes.”

My high school played the musical South Pacific about 60 years ago. At the time it was one of the most popular musicals ever and was presented several times as a State Fair Musical. While not one of the most recognizable songs on the show, “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” expressed the core theme that we are not born with prejudice, but rather acquire prejudice from our families and the society in which we live .

Strangely enough, the school management ordered that the song be removed from our production. Their rationale was never explained. Perhaps they believed we were too young or too sensitive to be exposed to this undeniable aspect of our human nature.

William F. Sanderson Jr., Dallas / Lake Highlands

Did you print that?

Subject: “In Search of Real GOP DNA,” by Chris Tucker, Wednesday Letters.

For real? Why is the Dallas Morning News even printing a letter full of such vitriol? I have sent letters before that criticized democratic politics (not people, but ideas) and knew they would not be published when I sent them. In fact, I’ve never been disappointed!

Now I’m reading a letter ridiculing all Republicans, as well as hateful comments about Senator Ted Cruz and The News is printing it! Is The News helping to fuel the social divide in this country? It definitely looks like it.

Just so you know I’m a Republican (RINO?). I have never and never will support anyone who bullies or ridicules any other country or people (including politicians – they are human, aren’t they?) To keep America great!

Ernest L. Morrison, Frisco

You strike, Governor

I’m pretty much a die-hard Republican. I never voted for a Democrat and I never thought I would. While I agree with many of your conservative agendas, I, Governor Greg Abbott, am appalled by some of your recent positions. The new abortion law is reprehensible and presumably illegal. The government must stay out of this personal decision and let the people involved vote. I am disappointed that you signed this flawed law.

Your dealings with the coronavirus in Texas are terrible, and your stance on masks is not only bad but also dangerous. Let local governments and corporations decide what is best for them. Stay out of it.

Your position on vaccination is flawed in many ways. A thoughtful, compassionate governor would do anything to get a shot in the guns. Your position helps put everyone else at risk.

As the governor, you must use the bullying pulpit to vaccinate people. You must also get companies and local governments to request vaccinations if they see fit.

Because of the monumental inability to make these decisions, Mathew McConaughey is looking better every day.

David Espen, Hill of Flowers

You are human

I can honestly say that when I look at the front page on Monday I feel sick. A great photo of Haitians herded like cattle! My white privilege fell in my face as I saw these people being chased by a man on horseback with nothing but a plastic bag of their worldly possessions. The rider has police on his shirt, which is sure to inspire fear.

This image forces me to see what I don’t want to see or to accept what is going on. How can I stop this or what can I do to solve the problem? These are people. Where is our compassion and our common love for our fellow human beings?

My first anger was that the newspaper made me see this, but we need to be awakened to this act of inhumanity! Thank you, Dallas Morning News, for waking me up.

Judith L. Alderete, Plano

Better wages and childcare needed

Subject: “Democratic Excess threatens Infrastructure Bill – Attempting to dramatically expand government could undermine a useful bipartisan package,” by Glenn Hammer, Sept. 13 statement.

Especially in Texas, one of the stingiest states in the nation when it comes to the minimum wage, and where women who can’t afford a trip to New Mexico are now having to give birth whether they like it or not, it seems the business community would be all for a proposal that would provide affordable childcare for their low-wage workers.

Or is the Texas Association of Business proposing to double the minimum wage – most of which goes to female workers – to a livable level?

Jan Scholz, Denton

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