Letters – Religious freedom, Bible studies, global health, ICE

This Fourth of July, our 250th anniversary as a country, let’s recommit to true religious freedom. This guarantees everyone’s right to believe or not as we choose. When religion and government are separate, we are all equally free to live as ourselves and believe as we choose as long as we don’t harm others.  

As a non-religious person, I rely on this separation to ensure my rights to be a citizen of this country. 

David Troiano, Highland Village 

Re: “The first 250 years — Ideals that founded this country,” by Virginia N. Hammerle, Sunday Timeless in Texas Metro column.  

I like it. I love it. I want some more of it. This piece highlights the awesome American Declaration of Independence, which is one reason why America is the greatest country on earth. It does seem like half the world wants to come here. We need more of these 250-year-old, old-fashioned reasons to be proud to be an American. 

Don Skaggs, Garland 

Re: “She’s proud of America,” by Kay Wrobel, Wednesday Letters. 

Ms. Wrobel, I have always respected your points of view when you post here. I have never once agreed with them, until now. As much as we disagree, you’re right! There isn’t a better place to live than this great country we both call home.  

Richard Boslow, Plano 

Re: “School reading list heavy on Bible OK’d — Supporters cite historical value; critics say it crosses church-state separation,” June 24 news story.    

It’s often been said that “history repeats itself” and for good reason, because it does. In 1921, The Dallas Morning News ran a series of articles in which the “advisability of teaching the Bible in the public schools” was discussed.  

In response, a then well-known Dallas gadfly named Richard Potts wrote a letter to The News, which was published, in which he asked some of the same questions that are being asked today. For instance, whose Bible? The Catholic or Protestant version? Or the Jewish?  

But Potts, a dreethinker, was not so concerned with that question as he was with the notion of balance. If the Bible was going to be allowed in public schools, Potts wrote, he wanted Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason to be taught “alongside of it, to keep the record straight.”  

I agree. If Bible passages are to be allowed in school, then so should passages from a book that calls the verity of the Bible into question. And if certain members of the State Board of Education are not willing to do that, then they should back off. 

Steven R. Butler, Richardson 

Dallas is hosting nine World Cup matches — more than any other U.S. city — welcoming fans and teams from around the globe, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation currently battling an Ebola outbreak that has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases and 254 deaths. 

As our city opens its doors to the world, we’re reminded that global health is not a distant concern. Diseases don’t need passports to cross borders, and outbreaks left unchecked anywhere can become threats everywhere. 

Decades of U.S. investment in global health programs have helped detect and contain outbreaks like this one before they spread further. This isn’t charity; it’s strategy. Just as sports diplomacy builds goodwill and influence, funding global health is soft power in action, protecting Americans while strengthening our international standing. 

As Dallas welcomes the world, I urge our representatives to protect funding for global health programs. Keeping the world safe from disease keeps us safe, too. 

Bukekile Dube, Dallas/Turtle Creek 

Re: “ICE must restore common sense — Removing people who pose no danger is harmful to communities,” by Paul Hunker, June 24 Opinion. 

I could not agree with Hunker more. I would take his train of thought even further. Removing and making life difficult for people who pose no danger is harmful to families and to our entire communities. This is true whether it be noncitizens or our own citizens who have a criminal history but have served their sentence and want nothing more than to become law-abiding, productive citizens with a job, a home and a family.  

Yet, we often make it very tough for them to reintegrate successfully. Prosecutorial discretion, facts and common sense should be the norm for all people. Our laws should reflect that. It would provide for better use of taxpayer funds and allow law enforcement to focus on those who truly are a danger to our communities, which would make us all safer. 

Beverly Thomas, Carrollton 

Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, who knows Ken Paxton’s liabilities better than most, has decided to support Paxton.  His stated reason is to keep the party in control. Considering the damage the Republicans have done in the last 16 months, that hardly seems a worthy goal. 

Leach says James Talarico is a “dangerous liberal.”  When did liberal become a visceral reaction word, similar to calling someone a Communist?   

The common definition of liberal is one who wants to make things better, which seems to describe Talarico.  

One hopes for voters who judge a person by person’s actions rather than the party he or she belongs to. 

Lee Black, Allen 

Re: “GOP elephant lacked permit — Violation adds to scrutiny of Trunks and Humps, who has a record of citations,” Sunday Metro story.  

This story states, “The apparent code violation adds to cruelty raised after Paige’s appearance, which came as the finale to Gov. Greg Abbott’s speech and went viral after elephant urinated on convention floor.” 

Wonder how many noticed the imagery, message, metaphor? 

James S. Roberts, Dallas 

The top photo on the June 25 front page “Blue wave rolls into Dallas” photo package was marvelous. Give Tom Fox a bonus! 

Lynn E. Adams, Garland