Letters to the Editor – Violence, Houston, Alligators, Democrats, Mike Rawlings

Lincoln’s words

In these times of strife, we could find no wiser counsel than that given by Abraham Lincoln at an even more divisive moment in our nation’s history. He concluded his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861, with these words: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have been heated, it must not sever our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, which stretch from every battlefield and patriot’s grave to every living heart and hearthstone throughout this vast land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as they surely will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

We can either heed this advice or continue to pay a high price for our collective failure.

Walter Dunlap, Dallas/Lake Highlands

Pray for America

America is on the brink of civil war. We must all collectively step back and support peaceful dialogue and tolerance over violence. We must also hold the mainstream media, big tech, and government leaders accountable for the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, as they have consistently encouraged Americans to resort to violence to resolve their differences for years.

This cannot be allowed to continue. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I pray for the innocent person who lost their life in this tragedy, for the speedy recovery of Trump and the person who was seriously injured, and I pray that America will heal from this evil that is destroying us.

Michael Pravica, Henderson, Nevada.

Enough juice for a baseball game

Hundreds of thousands of Houston residents were still without power at game time, the lights were on, and it was 72 degrees in Minute Maid Park. Go figure.

William Hughes, North Richland Hills

Our choices are bearing fruit

What happens when the effects of climate change (increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events) collide with a refusal to address climate change and lax regulation? I think we have an example of that in Houston this week.

And in November, we will have the opportunity to vote for the same thing, including further reductions in regulation, through Project 2025. Or will we choose to accept reality and responsible management? Will future generations respect our choices or curse them?

Sue Malnory, Sherman

A reptile smile

Re: “Can’t an alligator get a break? I can see why this area is booming,” Saturday editorial.

I haven’t laughed this hard in decades. Even after reading this editorial three times, I’m still laughing. Thanks for the incredibly funny start to my day.

Michael Taylor, Dallas

Democrats are the extremists

Re: “Screaming Doesn’t Make Lies True,” by Erol C. Orer, Friday Letters.

I find it amusing that Orer says that Democrats don’t want to ban guns. Every major Democratic elected official since 1970 has supported gun laws. They present it as a common sense proposition, but in reality, they don’t want citizens to have guns.

Like Orer, I too own firearms and enjoy hunting. It is my right under the Constitution. Trying to take away citizens’ rights and ignore them is extremism of the first degree. If Democrats want to amend the Constitution, there is a legal process. Just get everyone around the table. Good luck.

I voted Democrat myself, as did my grandparents, but never again. The current generation of Democrats has moved so far beyond Main Street into the failed socialist state that reasonable men like you and me must stand up and defend the center.

Most Republicans are not extremists, if you look at it. We just don’t shout it out loud. We’re busy working and raising families.

Garry Wilhite, Allen

The leader we need

Let’s choose the lesser evil. I really enjoy reading the letters to the editor every morning, in which people I don’t know give their opinions on life, family, and politics, such as the recent letters about the presidential election and its outcome.

One candidate appears senile and the other is a liar and a convicted felon. America needs a four-year president who is not one of those two people at all. We need someone who is mentally competent and moral. Her name is Kamala Harris.

John Bell, Richardson

How about a solution?

I have great confidence in Mike Rawlings and believe he speaks with facts and truth. His column is insightful, but as with others and their commentaries, it contains no recommendations on who should replace President Joe Biden. He, of all people, should know better than to identify a problem without proposing a possible solution.

Diane Gentile, North Dallas

Rawlings is on the right track

Mike Rawlings did an excellent job of highlighting the national dishonesty that is prevalent in both parties today. His list of the many ways the Democratic Party has deceived and outright lied to the country shows how little Americans can trust it and the media.

I was disheartened, however, by how dehumanizing he was in referring to “Trump and his MAGA Faustian sycophants who sold their souls to Donald long ago.” To classify roughly half of American voters in this way shows a great lack of intellectual humility in that they fail to understand that many voters simply want the policies of the previous administration.

This kind of inflammatory rhetoric is unproductive and dangerous. You are worth more than this.

Julie Seymour, McKinney

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