Why fear my vote?
Re: “Abbott signs off on new districts — GOP’s congressional remap could help keep House control in 2026,” Saturday news story.
Texas legislators just signed gerrymandered district maps into law. I have to ask them — why are you so scared of me?
I’ve lived here for decades. I’ve paid taxes since I was 16. I’ve created jobs, followed the law, uplifted community members and fed the homeless. I’ve done everything that should make me a valued Texan. And yet, as an immigrant, my very existence is treated as something to fear.
Opinion
I was born in South Africa, where people like me were barred from voting simply because of the color of our skin. The world agreed in 1994 that apartheid was a shameful relic of the past. Yet here in Texas in 2025, our leaders seem intent on repeating history — redrawing maps to silence communities like mine.
So tell me: What power do I have that terrifies you so much? Why is equality in voting impossible to grant? Our country is great because it puts power in the hands of the people. That’s the foundation of democracy.
The Founding Fathers trusted the people — not politicians — with that power. So why are you crushing those pillars with gerrymandered maps?
Maybe the truth is simple: You know we deserve a voice, and you’re scared we’ll use it.
Chanda Parbhoo, Dallas
We are ignoring Gaza
Re: “The Consequences of Ignorance — We cannot ignore what’s happening in Gaza,” by Christopher de Vinck, Saturday Opinion.
De Vinck writes, “We cannot ignore what is happening in Gaza.” Sadly, Mr. de Vinck, as a nation, I’m afraid we already have.
Keith Hartline, Denison
The price of detention centers
A Miami judge recently ruled that an immigration detention center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” must close. According to President Donald Trump, a Florida resident, he is interested in erecting detention centers in other states.
Florida taxpayers are now on the hook for $218 million the state spent, in haste, to transform a training airport into the South Florida Detention Facility smack in the Everglades.
This fiasco only reinforces the perception that the Sunshine State is known as “Floriduh.”
David Myles, Aventura, Fla.
Call Chinese Embassy
Re: “Freedom Dying in Hong Kong — Hope for publisher dwindles unless Trump can win his release from China,” Thursday editorial.
Thank you for this editorial. Jimmy Lai is an amazing person. I urge readers to watch the documentary The Hong Konger. Perhaps then they will feel moved, as I did, to call the Chinese Embassy at 202-495-2266 and urge his release.
Kit Odom, Carrollton
Tragedy in Hong Kong
It is, as you pointed out in this editorial, a tragedy in Hong Kong. It’s a wonderful city I have visited many times. I took my wife there near the end of its freedom.
The spineless leaders in Britain, the United States and the West allowed the tragedy. Sorry, Hong Kong, I’m not returning. Nor to Beijing, Shanghai or Baotou. Love you, but it’s over.
David Baran, Southlake
Fear loss of CDC experts
While this editorial regarding loss of freedom in Hong Kong is important and the one about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is charming, where is the concern from the Editorial Board about the decimation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? We are losing our experts in infectious disease and public health, leaving us vulnerable to the next Ebola, COVID, influenza and yet unknown pandemics.
Edward L. Goodman, MD, Melvin R. Platt, MD; Steven Levy, DDS; all of Dallas
About Democrats …
Re: “What Democrats have done,” by Sally Sumner, Aug. 27 Letters.
Sumner recites the untrue, but persistent myth that Dixiecrats “to a one, switched parties under Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy.” Fact is, of the 21 Democratic senators and 91 Democratic representatives voting nay and two voting present regarding the 1964 Civil Rights Act, only Sen. Strom Thurmond and Rep. Albert Watson, both from South Carolina, switched parties.
The South didn’t elect its majority of Republicans until 1994, long after the Dixiecrat era. South Carolina Republican Tim Scott is now the longest-serving Black senator in history. By trying to rewrite history, Democrats are calling attention to their own racist past.
Ken Ashby, Dallas
Lucy’s got the ball
Trying to figure out the consequences of the news from the Cowboys about Micah Parsons, a frightening image came to mind: I see Lucy holding a football for Charlie Brown to kick. Lucy is wearing a green/yellow helmet and Charlie is wearing a helmet with a star. We all know what comes next. I’m definitely an old-timer.
I don’t believe there is a team in Cowboys history, pre- or post-Jerry Jones, that has given them more grief than the green/yellow team I will not name. Will Cowboys statisticians back that up?
When the money is on the line, the green/yellow team wins out. We are now guaranteed another couple of decades of domination by the green/yellow team.
Mike Stern, Dallas
A golden, losing franchise
Re: “The Golden Touch — The Dallas Cowboys haven’t sniffed a championship in 30 years. They’re still worth $12B,” Aug. 24 Business story.
First in sports franchise valuation ($12 billion). First in 2024 National Football League revenue ($1,250 million). Last in National Football Conference championship appearances (29 years and counting). Ownership decisions are a boon to the owners, devastating to the players and disappointing to the fans.
The sideshows of interviews, “blue carpet premieres” and carnival barking cannot hide results. 0-29 is astoundingly bad. Yet again, ownership set the team up for failure in 2025 to run the most important metric of success to 0-30.
Stan Thiebaud, Dallas