Letters to the Editor – Texas elections bill, Afghanistan, border wall, forest fires, activism

How will that affect our voices?

Subject: “What does the contested electoral law say?” Thursday news.

Thank you for this briefing on the bill that drove the Texas Democrats out of the state. However, it would be desirable to explain in more detail how this bill, if it comes into force, would enable judges to more easily cancel certified votes on the cause of the “fraud”, even in the face of little evidence.

Demand to invalidate votes was at the center of the January 6 uprising at the nation’s Capitol. Trying to do so hit the basic premise of democracy: the will of the people. Preventing such cancellation of the votes of voters in Texas seems to be the most critical argument for democracy and against this proposed law represented by the apostasy of the Texas legislature. That’s why they’re in Washington, DC

Sharon Lathrop, Richardson

Remember the message

I find it strange that Texas lawmakers left the state because they were against voter suppression. Are they not doing this through parliamentary procedures? It may be a legislative vote, but they are denying my representative the right to vote. In a broader sense, they deny me the right to vote for better voter regimes (a subjective conclusion I want to add, but then I want to try to be fair).

You should also think about the message they are sending. With Republican officials back in the minority (which they have been for over 100 years) what do you think they will do when faced with legislation they dislike?

I’ve lived in Texas long enough to know that whatever Republican representatives might try, their opponents’ party would bring them to justice first!

Ernest Leon Morrison, Frisco

A little history maybe?

President Joe Biden’s comment that “Afghanistan was never a united country” is incorrect. In its 5,000-year history, Afghanistan has been the center of vast empires on many occasions. Even the Mughal Empire of India, which built one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, has its origins in Kabul, and that is where its founder Babur is buried.

For example, during the 40-year rule of King Mohammed Zahir Shah, Afghanistan was a very peaceful and united country. You could travel from one end of the country to the other without fear – even American hippies. Unfortunately, Daud Khan, an ambitious cousin of the king, ousted him in 1973 in a coup that marked the beginning of turmoil, war, devastation and the loss of nearly two million lives.

For the past two centuries, Afghanistan has been the victim of Great Games I and II. It is time for foreign powers to leave this war-torn country alone. The withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan is a good first step. A civil war will follow (a proxy war because each faction is sponsored by a foreign government), but ultimately Afghans will find a way to live in the peace they have longed for.

Aziz K. Budri, Colleyville

Up to the generals

How can one be surprised that the Taliban are filling the void created by the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan? Think of Vietnam. Does President Joe Biden really believe the Afghan military can protect his country? Nonsense. If a commander in chief wants to send troops to another country, he should have a clear, achievable goal and then hand it over to the generals. It is then their job, not his.

Sam Myers, Balch Springs

Victim of ambition

Subject: “The border problem is in Washington, not South Texas – leaders can take steps to deal with the surge in migrants and it is not a wall,” by Dennis E. Nixon, July 10th statement.

Thank you Dennis Nixon for this column. As a person who lives and works in the border town of Laredo, you know firsthand what is going on on the Texas-Mexico border. As you pointed out, Texas and other agrarian states have been dependent on Mexican and Central American workers for generations.

These hard workers build our highways in 100 degrees heat. They are janitors, dishwasher, bricklayer – whatever, and they are grateful for the opportunity. Our politicians seem more interested in promoting their political parties and personal goals than advocating for our immigrants. The problem now is that nobody is filling the low-paying jobs for which immigrants literally die.

Anne Hester, Fairview

Sent to do a job

With immigration, Nixon is reminding us of how our democracy should work – and sometimes miraculously does it – without going back to the usual tropes. Our descent into political tribalism could be tempered if we could actually make progress on this and other issues. As Senator Joe Manchin and several others in Washington who have not forgotten what they were sent to know well, Nixon diplomatically suggests that they “do their job.” What a concept. Imagine if the rest of us could succeed by just being disruptive and ineffective in our work and life. Thank you, Mr. Nixon, for an intelligent and well-crafted opinion.

David B. Spiers, Dallas / Lakewood

Here is an idea for you

Regarding the forest fires along the west coast, instead of our home improvement dealers having to buy timber from Canada, perhaps our national forest service could allow our local timber companies to enter our national forests near populated areas, consult with fire departments, and to harvest “control lines” before the fire season. The logging companies and retailers can save international shipping costs, the firefighters can stay ahead, and residential and commercial real estate and lives can be saved.

Ken Dugger, Richardson

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