Yes, the Texas Rangers and Arlington are wonders. But why leave out Tom Vandergriff? | Opinion
Don’t forget an Arlington great
Your editorial board’s enthusiasm for the Texas Rangers and Arlington is welcome. (Oct. 25, 19A, “Rangers run to World Series reflects team’s Arlington roots”) However, I was stunned that Tom Vandergriff’s name was not mentioned. Without the vision and leadership of the former Arlington mayor and U.S. representative, none of this would be happening in our city and North Texas.
With love and gratitude from all us plain ol’ folks in Arlington: It’s been a great ride!
- Martha Walker, Arlington
Vouchers would cheat students
I send my son to Martin High School in Arlington. He benefits from a sense of community there. It offers diversity and inclusion for all students to achieve their best. My son loves his teachers, custodians and band directors, who all come together to make his day brighter.
Allowing taxpayer money to go to school vouchers would mean larger class sizes, lower teacher pay and worse outcomes for our students. Extracurricular activities, such as band, would get cut.
Please join me by saying no to vouchers. School vouchers are a scam to divert public funds from our schools to private schools that are unaccountable to taxpayers and are not required to serve all students.
- Celina Vasquez, Arlington
Yes on Prop 8 for rural Texas
As a local radiologist and physician member of the Tarrant County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association, I want to make sure patients receive timely care. In the Nov. 7 election, we have the power to connect thousands of Texans to their doctors by voting for Proposition 8.
The Texas Legislature approved measures to extend internet connectivity to our neighbors. With stronger internet access, rural Texans, people without transportation and those too sick to travel even 10 miles to the doctor’s office could get the care they need through telemedicine, teleradiology and remote patient monitoring services. Vote for Prop. 8.
- Tilden Childs, Fort Worth
Vulnerable people need protection
“Freedom-loving Texans” such as Mark Davis want to allow businesses to operate unfettered except when, well, they don’t. (Oct. 22, 5C, “Should Texas stop employers from requiring workers to get COVID vaccine?”) Senate Bill 7, as is the case in many legislative actions, has unintended consequences that should preclude its passage.
Not every business needs to require its employees to have COVID-19 vaccinations, but some definitely should. For example, we older, more vulnerable adults living in close proximity in facilities for seniors appreciate management requiring employee vaccinations. Perhaps this is an instance in which the Legislature should not interfere.
- Paul Hartman, Fort Worth
Hate is hate, no matter the side
I agree with Cynthia M. Allen that the far right and far left are united in antisemitism. (Oct. 24, 10A, “Far left, right spread similar hate on Israel”) It shows that education is not necessarily a defense against racism and bigotry. Many German universities were early and ardent supporters of Adolf Hitler. Educated Nazi doctors experimented on Jewish prisoners, and educated engineers and chemists built Nazi death camps.
I would like to think that university students are smarter than other people, but they’re not. They are just as vulnerable to antisemitism and the propaganda coming out of the Middle East about Jews. These hideous campus demonstrations supporting Hamas are proof that universities have created thugs on campus who mirror the right.
- Pauline Rosenberg, Austin
Trump’s rage not protected speech
Erwin Chemerinsky needs to rethink his logic in his Oct. 24 commentary calling Donald Trump’s threats and disparagement in his court cases a First Amendment issue. (10A, “Federal judge’s gag order against Trump isn’t constitutional”) It is because of such incendiary language that we are jeopardizing the very basis of political discourse.
Basic First Amendment principles should require a gag order on Trump to protect everyone from his vitriol.
- Steve Wesstrom, Arlington
