Thanks for coverage
With the unfortunate demise of the daily print edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, I am pleasantly surprised by The Dallas Morning News’ broad coverage of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, North Texas in general and particularly keeping readers informed about the Texas Legislature and state politics. And I’m finding pretty good coverage of Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
That’s why I renewed my DMN subscription this week. And I love having a printed newspaper in my hands again every morning. Thank you.
Jim Pitts, Fort Worth
So much for separation
Re: “Board approves religion-based resolution — Policy states students must be given time to pray, read Bible,” Friday Metro & Business story.
This story details how the Keller school board, on a 4-3 vote, passed a resolution to provide the opportunity for students and staff to read the Bible and other religious texts during the school day.
Opinion
As a lifelong Christian, it reminded me of a passage in the Bible from Matthew 6:6 — “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Apparently, four members of the Keller ISD disagree and voted to allow prayer in their classrooms. According to the recently passed Texas Senate Bill 11, students who receive consent from a parent or guardian can participate in classroom prayer or the reading of religious texts. Those students who do not have written consent cannot be in the presence of the religious practices.
One can only assume that as these nonbelievers are led out of the classroom passing by the poster of The Ten Commandments, they may well hear mutterings or chants of pagans or atheists. So much for separation of church and state.
Tom G. Price, McKinney
Applies to both extremes
Re: “Which way are you going, America? At this crossroads in history, partisans give us preferred narratives and literature gives us deeper truths,” by John McCaa, Sunday Opinion.
McCaa is correct that “creeping authoritarianism include(s) the manipulation of language, the rewriting of history and the corruption of founding ideals.”
These are the tools that the radical left has been using to undermine the culture of America. Michel Foucault reasoned in the 1960s that language does not represent reality. It is used to make rules for what can be said and known in specific contexts.
In the current cultural context today, radicals alter the definition of words to influence social institutions and cause confusion regarding reality and truth. Without firm definitions of what words mean, agreement on constructive action is impossible.
In “rewriting of history,” we see the recent removals of statuary and the renaming of buildings. This reflects a liberal bias. We cannot use these things in teaching about what past generations thought and did. Those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat it.
On corruption of founding ideals, we are shifting away from equality (the ability of each to pursue life, liberty and happiness). Our society was based on each person being allowed to live according to their own will.
Under current “intersectional” constructs, people are allowed a lifestyle, and it must be valued, honored and celebrated by all. This leads to everyone living at their own “intersections,” such as ethnicity, status, gender identity, etc. At each intersection point, we see people demanding that everyone else celebrate and honor them as the supreme arbiter of excellence and a lifestyle that is to be aspired to by all others.
The far left sees this as the peak of what society should be. We should see this as the start of anarchy and chaos.
McCaa’s “Sources of truth” section can be as readily applied to the left fringe as it can to the right fringe.
Alan Johnson, Plano
Hello? PGA of America?
Who’s in charge at the PGA of America?
In 2022, the PGA of America moved to North Texas. Visions of major championships and a future Ryder Cup were the talk of the town.
The PGA’s struggles became painfully apparent earlier this summer during the LPGA Championship. The best female golfers in the world were subjected to a nearly unplayable course setup, resulting in some rounds that exceeded six hours. The most influential lady pros did not hold back in their criticism of the event.
And now we have the disaster that was the Ryder Cup. Unruly fan behavior that set a new low for American sportsmanship. And leave it to the PGA of America to make the terrible decision to hire Heather McMahan as master of ceremonies on the first tee. McMahan led the fans in a vulgar chant against Rory McIlroy. What a class act.
One of the greatest sporting events in America was turned into amateur hour. Who is in charge at the PGA of America and making so many bad decisions? They are an embarrassment for golf and for North Texas.
No doubt leadership is failing and needs a major shakeup. Do it for the good of the game!
Kevin Hall, Dallas
Try biking to the State Fair
You wrote about three ways to get to the fair. There is a fourth way: Ride your bike.
From East Dallas, you can ride up the Santa Fe trail to the front gate. They allow you to chain your bike to the fence. No parking fee, no long walk from the parking lot and it’s all downhill going home. Do it every year.
John Young, Dallas/Lakewood