Watch for suppression
Re: “Tarrant County Elections Slipping — Cutting the number of polling places is latest questionable move,” Friday editorial.
Thank you for covering the hostile actions of Tim O’Hare in this editorial. I was not shocked that O’Hare refused to talk to The Dallas Morning News, saying journalism is dead. I hope not. It is so important that the fourth branch of government informs citizens of the attempts to destroy a two-party system by blatant voter suppressors.
Chuck Noteboom, Fort Worth
Opinion
GOP motives suspect
Given the exhibited bigotry of the chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, the motives of the Republican-controlled Tarrant County Commissioners Court behind the efforts to redistrict, restrict voter access and reduce voting in elections have to be suspect.
Brad Kizzia, Dallas
What Democrats have done
Re: “Democrats at it again,” by Marc Morisseau, Friday Letters.
Regarding this letter, I would remind the author of two things. First, it was Democratic administrations who created the eight-hour workday, the right of workers to organize, the minimum wage, paid sick and vacation leave, the Voting Rights Act, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and gave women agency over decisions regarding their own bodies.
That is only a sampling of the progress made in the 20th century primarily under Democratic administrations. And all of it was for the working man/woman, Black citizens (so cruelly disallowed enfranchisement for years) and protections for the least among us.
Secondly, I remember the Dixiecrats well. As a 74-year-old Southerner and native Texan, I vividly recall their every effort to keep women and Blacks in their places. It was, ironically, the northern Republicans who made the greatest effort and ultimately succeeded in getting President Lyndon Johnson’s Civil Rights Act passed.
As to the demise of said Dixiecrats who did their best to throw up roadblocks, they, to a one, switched parties under Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy. Thus, the genesis of the new Republican Party, still doggedly attempting to stymie the rights of the people to vote and happily supporting every whim of Donald Trump, no matter how much it shatters norms and institutions.
I honestly believe that if given the opportunity, they would take us back to the inception of this great experiment when only propertied, white men were allowed the vote. (I give you Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare).
I hope the good folks of this country will not allow the erasure of our history, whether good or bad, and allow us to continue our pursuit of a more perfect union for “we the people.”
Sally Sumner, Carrollton
Keep libraries open
Re: “Reading can save us — Americans are lonely and anxious; there’s no app for that. Fortunately, we have books,” by Will Clarke, Sunday Opinion, and “Library fans get ready to push back — City weighing budget cuts that could close up to 5 neighborhood branches,“ Sunday Metro story.
What irony! Clarke’s thoughtful essay on reading cites how so many in our society — adults and children — suffer from stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression, caused at least in large part by too much screen time. Then from personal experience, he offers some panacea in the joy and discipline of reading.
But then, on the front of the Metro section, we read that Dallas is planning to close five city libraries. Any city budget is limited, but surely neighborhood libraries are a priority.
Skillman Southwestern is my nearest branch, and I see parents with their children, students and many who probably can’t buy books walk through its doors — not only for books, but also for neighborhood enrichment programs. Larger facilities with longer hours won’t matter if these patrons have no transportation.
Many of us began our library experience at cherished small-town libraries such as cottages on school grounds and in church basements. In contrast, visit the downtown Dallas library and rejoice in the wealth at your fingertips — volumes, newspapers, genealogy records and more.
Neighborhood libraries bring its richness within reach. Keep them open!
Peggy Johnson, Dallas
Pick up a book and share
How refreshing to read Clarke’s take on the value of reading and its role in making our world a better place. It seems that reading might be on the rise despite the closing of libraries, banning of books and letting librarians go.
Online, readers post on Fable, Storygraph and dare I say Goodreads, a subsidiary of Amazon rife with influencers and ads. Reading groups can be found on Bluesky where readers share opinions and authors voice thoughts, promote their books or share their day to day lives. However, interaction might be minimal between posters.
Clarke seems to feel that we need to set aside technology, that we need to connect with one another. He suggests that we make our reading public in a personal way, that we make real connections with ourselves and others through actual books and dialogue, but how?
This could begin in families, in classrooms and even in neighborhood book clubs, yet this requires finding a way to come to terms with technology’s influence and prevalence. One can begin by picking up an actual book, or even an eReader, and share.
Christine Rayl, Irving
Sanctions on Russia warranted
Re: “Readers weigh in on Trump-Putin summit,” Sunday Letters.
I read your letters regularly and was specifically interested in these Sunday letters related to the Trump meeting with European leaders. Don Skaggs’ letter was the only one with complimentary comments on Trump’s leadership. His comments were about Trump’s ability to gather world leaders (not about any action taken).
I believe the European leaders gathered because they do not trust our president to act in Ukraine’s best interest. My takeaway from the meeting is that it resulted in no action and has allowed Vladimir Putin to continue his invasion.
If the president feels the best approach is a peace deal, then why not impose sanctions if the Ukrainian children are not returned or Russia continues to intentionally kill civilians?
Surely sanctions are warranted if these illegal acts continue. The media needs to quit giving Donald Trump an open mic to spread his propaganda.
Homer A. Brown, Broken Bow, Okla.