Letters – Sports history, founding fathers, Fairview, Waymo

Re: “FIFA got it wrong with Balogun,” by Tim Cowlishaw, Tuesday SportsDay column. 

The degree to which news coverage today widens or narrows the lens of history to capture only the current president is shortsighted. Cowlishaw’s piece is principled and nonpartisan. Still, there is a rich and historical irony about this story. Apparently, only this president has ever waded into the waters of athletic competition. Rules are rules. And only this president has broken them, yet again. 

But history is deeper than just yesterday. 

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, with Franklin D. Roosevelt in office, the U.S. Olympic Committee kept two Jewish-American athletes from competing in the 4×100 meters sprint relay. In essence, they were red-carded by their own country, to avoid offending the hosts.  

In that same Olympics, Jesse Owens made history and embarrassed the Nazi regime. Owens, however, later noted that FDR did not acknowledge his accomplishments nor those of the 18 other African-American competitors. 

Criticizing the current president’s every action has become sport itself. To a certain extent, he invites it. But when news stories frame him as singularly unique and controversial, then individuals who want balanced and well-informed discussion should cry foul. 

Marvin H. Lett, Dallas/Oak Cliff 

Re: “The founder were America’s greatest generation — Patriots changed history in pursuit of an ideal,” by Talmage Boston, Sunday Opinion. 

Thank you for printing Boston’s superb piece about our country’s founders being America’s greatest generation. He is spot on. 

I do not know U.S. history as well as Boston, but I do know that our nation almost did not happen. Without a doubt, our founders were the greatest generation. There were so many obstacles that it’s truly a miracle that we became the United States.  

It was those men who believed, who had the vision and persistence, who could generate enthusiasm among the public, and who could lead that made our nation. 

I look forward to reading other pieces by Boston. 

Dorothy Botnick, Dallas 

I am a Fairview resident of nine years and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love Fairview and value being a good neighbor. 

The temple is a sacred place for members of our faith — a place centered on Jesus Christ and becoming more like Him. That is why the ongoing opposition has been difficult to witness. While respectful disagreement is part of any community, much of the public conversation has included misinformation and characterizations that feel unfair and divisive. 

I was especially troubled by statements from Mayor John Hubbard suggesting a campaign to embarrass the church into action. Efforts to shame or pressure through embarrassment do not foster constructive dialogue or mutual understanding and instead create further division. 

His comparisons between the temple and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are misleading. The Tower of Pisa stands about 183 feet tall and over 50 feet wide through much of its structure. By contrast, the proposed temple is 120 feet tall, with a much narrower profile that tapers into a slender steeple. 

At the heart of this issue are neighbors who simply want to worship and contribute positively to the town they love. 

Michelle Countryman, Fairview 

Consider helping your local recreation center and library. I mentored a Plano high school robotics team this past year. With the season over, and the team moving out of its building due to an upcoming remodel, many items needed to be packed for the move or discarded.  

There were a couple of bouncy balls from a previous year’s competition that were destined for the landfill. I snagged them and went to drop them off at the Fretz Park Recreation Center. The staff there were so appreciative of this donation. They made me feel a little like Santa.  

The whole transaction took about five minutes of my time, but I expect this small gesture will provide hours of entertainment for the children who visit Fretz.  

I recommend you visit your recreation center and library and ask what they might need. And if you can provide it, please do so. I am sure you will get more out of it than you would expect. I will save my library story for another time. 

Jim S. Frankiewicz, Dallas 

A quote from the streaming series Fallout seems particularly appropriate to this administration: “Planning is hard. Chaos is easy.”  

We can only hope that this cabinet of unqualified characters is soon replaced by a government of honorable, thoughtful, intelligent, selfless public servants as the founders intended. 

Richard Senechal, The Colony  

Waymo announced they were suspending service in Dallas until they fixed some software issues and could guarantee safe driving. Why have I continued to see Waymo cars going up and down Beverly Drive and along Mockingbird Lane around Central Expressway several times per day? 

Particularly continuous routes along the same residential streets just contribute to the additional traffic on what should be quiet neighborhood streets.  

This morning, the Waymo vehicle was clogging Mockingbird because it was trying to make a left turn onto another residential street where left turns are not allowed.  

These vehicles are not proving to be a positive addition to the traffic along these streets. 

Dorothea Winston, Highland Park 

“When you’re alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go downtown.” Maybe not anymore, Petula Clark. 

Let’s see. AT&T and Fifth Third Bank headquarters, the Neiman Marcus flagship store and the Mavericks and Stars sports facilities are all leaving. 

What’s next? Oh, look up. It’s Pegasus flying north. 

Ed Kominski, Weatherford