Letters to the Editor: When rhetoric foments racist ideology

Unchecked rhetoric can foment racist

ideology and its tragic consequences

Re: May 15 article, "In emergency filing, tech groups ask US Supreme Court to block Texas social media law."

Abbott and other like-minded Texas conservative legislators continue to erode the liberties that most of us are accustomed to, with lax regulation of firearms and their interpretation of the First Amendment.

The ill-conceived House Bill 20 is an open-carry license for social media trolls. This decision by the 5th Circuit Court to override the district court’s ruling and allow HB 20 to remain in effect while under appeal will no doubt thwart censorship of any extremist post by our mainstream social media outlets.

We have had too many media propagated falsehoods with more frequent and tragic consequences.

Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, or the likes of Tucker Carlson, inflammatory rhetoric can foment the development of racist ideology, leading mostly young, impressionable white males to commit acts of domestic terrorism.

Peter Ellis, Austin

Times were better, safer when

the extremists had few followers

Some of the extremist MAGAS, like Elise Stefanik and other conspiracy spreaders, claim a plot exists to “replace” white folks. Even if there was any truth to that ours is a country built by immigrants of many colors. If there was a plan for “replacement” perhaps it should be to replace those who would destroy our democracy.

The times before Tea Party tyrants and MAGA bullies followed Fox News on their current path were better times. The truth was valued, extremists had few followers, the streets were safer, and our democratic system, while never perfect, allowed corrections and improvements without destroying the country in the process. Our children had a future.

Each election we replace some. That is the replacement plan that can decide if our democracy survives.

Norma Watkins, San Marcos

Vanishing mainstays on the Drag:

When change is the new normal

Re: May 18 article, "Wooten Barber Shop, mainstay on the Drag, to close to make way for new student housing."

Another piece of old Austin will soon be gone when the Wooten Barber Shop on the Drag closes later this year. The building that housed the barber shop has been sold the shop is now operating on a month-to-month lease.

Leena Alali, a writer for The Daily Texan, gave us a bit of nostalgia in her article describing how James Nelson, Wooten barber shop owner, cut hair for several decades and made connections with people that lasted several years.

And like so many other small businesses that once were popular on the Drag, those old coffee and donut shops, pizza places, gift stores and bookstores will probably be replaced by multi-story dorms, apartments or condos. I guess that change is the new normal.

Mary Lou Gibson, Austin

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor: May 24, 2022