Letters — America’s birthday, Star-Spangled Banner, electric cars

In 1975 I was 17, a Vietnamese refugee who landed in Texas with my older sister. We were separated. I spent three months with the Shaddix family, then moved out at 18. 

To the Americans who opened their arms to a stranger, thank you. You gave me safety, dignity and the opportunity to become who I am today. 

I had no scholarships. I worked and studied full time: gas station attendant, busboy, engineer, now physician. I supported 16 family members in Vietnam until I sponsored them here in 1990. 

My parents taught me that hard work and education matter. America, a beacon of freedom and hope, gave me the chance to prove it. 

I watched the 1976 Bicentennial fireworks in Dallas. Fifty years later, my whole family is here because this country let us work for it. 

We are proud to be Americans! 

Happy 250th, America! 

Ke Mai, Richardson 

As we commemorate Independence Day, we reflect on the numerous freedoms that unite us, including the freedom to practice our faith. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I am grateful to live in a country where religious liberty is protected.  

Sometimes, people assume that being a devoted Muslim conflicts with being a loyal American. However, Islam teaches us otherwise. 

The Holy Quran says, “O ye who believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and obey those in authority from among you” (4:60). Also, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us, “Love of one’s country of residence is part of faith.”  

On this Fourth of July, these teachings remind us that our faith and loyalty go hand in hand. 

Danya Mohammad, Allen 

Re: “Through eyes of our guests,” by Gregory Hutchinson, June 26 letters. 

I wholeheartedly agree with most of Hutchinson’s letter except when he implies the MAGA crowd is mainly to blame for the negativity toward our country. This is obviously not true.

Many left-leaning educators teach our kids that America has a mostly shameful past, and we are the leading cause of many of the ills in the world. The vast majority of demonstrations on our university campuses condemning our country come from the left, not the right. 

The MAGA crowd is overwhelmingly patriotic, maybe to a fault. I do think a better acronym for this group would have been KAG, Keep America Great, because most of them really believe our country has always been great. 

Les Gregory, Frisco 

We have all heard and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Most folks know it was written by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and poet, but few know the history behind it. 

Key and a companion were aboard a British truce ship in the bay negotiating the release of an American doctor being held prisoner by the British when the British launched an unsuccessful 25-hour attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812.  

As the battle continued into the night, Key, watching from the ship, was inspired by the 30-foot-by 40-foot American flag flying over the fort. 

Throughout the night, Key could see, over the ramparts (walls) of the fort and with the light created by the rockets and bursting bombs, that the flag was still standing. By the early morning light, he could see that we had withstood the attack and that our flag was still there. 

Inspired by what he had seen, he penned a four-stanza poem on Sept. 14, 1814.  The poem was published in local newspapers and quickly gained popularity. Soon after, it was set to the melody of “The Anacreontic Song,” a popular British tune written by John Stafford Smith. 

The song was eventually renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” After years of advocacy by veterans and patriotic groups, Congress passed an act signed by President Herbert Hoover on March 3, 1931, officially designating it as the national anthem. 

So, as we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, and you sing and hear “The Star- Spangled Banner,” maybe you too will feel the same inspiration and pride felt by Francis Scott Key. (My thanks to sources on the internet for much of this information.) 

Donald Reichert, Garland  

As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution and the growing impact of global warming, one solution is becoming increasingly clear – the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. 

When you factor in that electric vehicles cost 50% to 60% less to fuel, and with fewer moving parts, require far less maintenance than internal combustion engines, eliminating oil changes and frequent brake replacements, the total cost of ownership is now a clear win for the consumer. 

Advances in battery technology have extended driving ranges, while the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure is making electric vehicles more convenient than ever. 

Owning an electric car is a meaningful step toward a more sustainable future. By embracing this technology, we can reduce our dependence on carbon dioxide polluting fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations. 

Jon Miller, Dallas 

The various news outlets have articles concerning people canceling vacations because of higher gasoline prices. I’m wondering if they have stopped to do the math. If someone takes a 1,000-mile trip and averages 25 miles per gallon, they would use 40 gallons of gasoline.  

So, the added cost of gasoline would be from $40 to $60 more than last year. Hardly insignificant, but not a deal changer for most families. 

Alton Trull, Denton