Our divided house
Re: “Trump ally killed at college event — As information evolves, details remain elusive aout shooter, motive,” Thursday news story.
I was devastated to read of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Regardless of how you feel about his views, we used to live in a nation where you had the right to be wrong — where you could express your opinions without the fear of being murdered.
Today, however, we are devolving into a Third World banana republic where violence is commonplace and even permitted as a means to achieve political aims, which has seriously polarized our nation.
We have forgotten how to forgive and have dialogue, and this dehumanizes us all. Conflicts will never be truly resolved because too many lack empathy. This, more than anything, is destroying our democracy, which normally seeks to resolve conflicts peacefully instead of by force.
Opinion
The murder of Charlie Kirk should be a wake-up call for all Americans. In the words of Abraham Lincoln quoting the Gospel of Mark: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
May God have mercy on our struggling and divided nation. I proffer my deepest sympathies to Kirk’s family.
Michael Pravica, Dallas
H-E-B is good neighbor
Re: “Some oppose plan for H-E-B — Grocer’s push for first Dallas store meets headwinds as residents cite traffic concern,” Wednesday news story.
While reading some citizens expressing opposition to building an H-E-B, I flashed a wry smile when I read Jeff Olson’s reaction to the whole meeting. These individuals are NIMBY in its purest form: They want nothing.
Living in Allen, H-E-B has been an outstanding neighbor, being involved in the community and good stewards to the citizens of Allen. H-E-B will benefit this neighborhood, even those who live in gated communities.
Progress will occur, with or without you.
Greg Neubauer, Allen
We’d like one up here
I will assume that the “some” in this headline is made up mainly of folks who have not experienced the joy of an H-E-B shopping trip. Those of us in the Sherman-Denison area would appreciate it if you would pass the word that an H-E-B anywhere in Grayson County would be celebrated. We will all be there on opening day, as would our neighbors across the Red River.
Ken Kelley, Pottsboro
Why not Valley View?
Locals’ concerns over a proposed new H-E-B grocery in North Dallas (Hillcrest and 635) are understandable. After all, as fine as one might be, the area is already congested and bracketed by at least four very large and quality food stores.
The blowback by residents is rational and another example of how, as Dallas Morning News pieces have exposed again and again, ours is a city both top-down and bottom-up poorly and thoughtlessly mismanaged.
If H-E-B feels North Dallas would serve their long-term goals, it would make sense for our city planners to have insisted such a new store be put in at Valley View, that ready and waiting otherwise perpetual eyesore — only one main intersection west — that has ample access, ample parking and would serve precisely the same demographic area without detracting from long-term (and long-standing) residential goals. But, no. That would be too rational.
Robert M. Lebovitz, North Dallas
Editorial was spot-on
Re: “Immigration Ruling Big Step Back for U.S. — Constitution should protect us from questioning based on how we look and speak,” Tuesday editorial.
I believe The Dallas Morning News deserves praise and respect for taking a clear stand against the Supreme Court’s ruling that allows law enforcement and immigration agents to shake down people in Los Angeles based on looks to challenge their citizenship status. I was sickened.
I often disagree with the stands, or lack thereof, The News takes on many issues, but you got this one right!
John Love, Dallas/Lake Highlands
City needs new data vendors
Re: ”Sheriff: No need to redo jail tech — She says she’d rather upgrade software than replace it completely,” Tuesday news story.
The entire way that the government purchases software services is broken. The new court software cannot talk to the old jail software. The new jail software has already been purchased, but it will cost $6.6 million over five years. Nonsense!
They need to look outside their current vendors for their data transformation needs. There are plenty of companies that would love to do this for much less and not on a cost-plus basis, but on a fixed contract, all or nothing. They will only get paid at the successful conclusion of the data migration.
I recently retired after a software development career that spanned 46 years. I will volunteer to do the data migration for a mere million dollars and also promise to donate half of my after-tax earnings to local charities. What do they have to lose? Show me the problem, and if I don’t solve it, I don’t get a dime.
John Baima, Garland
Get rid of the grass
Re: “Trying to avoid a crisis — How does Dallas-Fort Worth factor into the state’s water plans?” Tuesday news story.
There is an easy first step to water conservation: Take out the grass. Plant pollinator-friendly plants, trees and flowers instead. Grass requires a lot of water and fertilizer, and does not provide nourishment or a habitat for the birds, bees and insects we need to sustain us. Use gravel around the plants. Or wood chips.
The longer we wait to take this step, the harder water conservation becomes. Ann Drumm has written a wonderful letter about the results of being willing to make a change. Worth of a reprint, I think.
Thank you, Dallas Morning News, for publishing an excellent story about this problem.
Ellen Taylor Seldin, Dallas