In my book, 10 Commandments in Texas schools isn’t religious — it’s just about history | Opinion
Secularism is just another faith
There is no such thing as religion-free education, as Mark Davis discussed in his April 28 commentary “Commandments, Bible bills for Texas schools misguided.” (15A) Secularism is a religion (essentially the basis of humanism/atheism) just as is Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and any other faith. The question is never whether to present a religious perspective, but what perspective to present.
Davis writes: “The best argument for religious neutrality in education … came from people of all faiths who recognized that religious teaching should come from parents and churches, not from government schools.” I submit this was because they were naive to the effects of secularizing all education.
Early public education in this country used the Bible as a primer. Most believed it. Having the Ten Commandments in schools is not a violation of the First Amendment, nor does it establish a particular religious perspective. It is a view the U.S. has honored since before its founding.
- Mark Carter, Benbrook
Navigates a complex district
The votes at our house will go for Rick Herring in Fort Worth City Council District 11. We vote for Rick because of his experience working with the voters and because of his ability to collaborate to work on the issues this mixed-up district faces.
The fact that he doesn’t speak Spanish in a Hispanic-majority district is irrelevant. Jim Lane was a wonderful representative for the north side, which has a large Hispanic population, and he was not bilingual.
We appreciate all the candidates who chose to run, but Rick Herring is head and shoulders above the others in ability to coalesce an almost impossible district. If the establishment candidate wins, the majority of council members will still live west of Interstate 35W. Once again, everything will tilt to the west.
- Don Boren and Wanda Conlin, Fort Worth
Keep momentum in Haltom City
Haltom City voters, join me in keeping An Truong in the mayor’s office and Marian Hilliard on our City Council. Consider that during their time in office, the property tax rate is almost 6 cents lower in the last two years and down almost 9.2 cents since 2017. More than 1,000 residential units with more than 2 million square feet have been added, signaling a sustainable increase in our local economy. While accomplishing this, the council has funded street improvements, a new fire station, a senior citizens center, a law enforcement facility and a much-needed new City Hall.
Truong and Hilliard have more than earned our trust for another two years.
- Bill Lanford, Haltom City
A place for deputies to train
Commissioners might accept a plan to build the sheriff’s office a $45 million training facility. (March 7, Star-Telegram.com, “Tarrant County explores new law enforcement training center for sheriff’s deputies”) But it would save taxpayers millions of dollars to have sheriff recruits, deputies and jailers train at Tarrant County College’s Northwest Campus.
It offers a comprehensive law enforcement academy. It has a 20-lane indoor firing range. It has simulators to give trainees experience in making quick decisions in dangerous situations. It has a vehicle driving pad for trainees to practice.
The only thing TCC Northwest does not have is an armory, but it might have enough land to build one. Why not increase enrollment by having this academy serve the sheriff’s office’s needs?
- Doreen M. Geiger, Fort Worth
